Thanksgiving....

Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday. I loved spending Thanksgiving as a child at my Grandparents house and getting together with my cousins. We weren't a big family, and we didn't live particularly close, so it was nice to be together laughing and having a good time. We'd annoy my mother with our "cackling and heehawing"! My cousin, Susan and I can still sit at a table together and out of the clear blue start laughing at the same time!! It was also a time for making a Christmas wish list out for my grandparents. There was a lot of love, and always plenty of delicious food. I think I miss family gatherings the most, and stores being closed on holidays so that families had to spend the time together, I've tried to keep that tradition with my children. I think that commerce has been particularly greedy in wanting to get a every dollar they can so feel that we need to shop every single day. Ridiculous!!!

Today we were all together to visit and share in the big meal. It was quite delicious and it didn't take long to get full. Naps are always an asset for Thanksgiving as well. Love naps! I had to get the camera out and irritate the family for lots of pictures. It's all about the good times and the memories...they'll appreciate that one day. Even with the toughening economic times...there is so much to be THANKFUL for, we are truly blessed.

a time of reflection....

The other day I received a call from a co-worker to inform me of an acquaintances loss of their beloved child. These circumstances are always so heartbreaking and tend to leave us not really knowing what to say without fumbling. The struggles in life affect us all, financial status has no bearing, nor do the jobs we hold, the cars we drive, or the house we live in. Tough decisions were made by these brave and heartbroken parents, the loss of their son has gone to save many other lives, so even though he has pasted to be with the Lord, he lives here on earth in other people. John 12:24 "Truly, I tell all of you with certainty, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone. But if it dies, it produces a lot of grain". The Memorial Service was to not mourn the loss of a young man, but to celebrate his precious life. May God Bless them.

Yesterday was our Anniversary. It has been a looooong time that we've been married. There have been joyful times, sad times, times full of laughter, some with sickness,others with challenges, but never has it been dull. Anniversaries like birthdays give us time to look back and reflect and remember the very best of times and to think about the future.

This week I got sad news about an acquaintances child that passed away tragically. Just observing this couple there was much love and joy that I can only imagine was magnified when they with their children, I can't imagine the deep anguish that they are experiencing at this time, especially so close to the holidays.I can only pray that the dear Lord gives them the strength to move forward and to soften the pain in their hearts.

There are no perfect lives, like on t.v. We must work hard each day at living,to take joy in the simplicity of little joys, and cherish the very best days, since these will be the memories that we'll look back on. So, in celebrating our anniversary we look back on the night when we met, I the graceful one who tripped and fell going up the purple shag carpeted stairs of a night club in Bermuda, and my husband who stood at the top of the stairs with a row full of his buddies all holding a Heineken, asked me if I was okay when I finally reached the top of the stairs. Mortified, I said yes, and there were snickers of laughter from his friends.....We married six weeks later, in an old New England Church on a hill, with a small group of family and friends. I'm still graceful, he's still kind, and we still laugh a lot, and love each other.

ELECTION DAY!

Today was election day! The lines in some places where quite long yet quite short in others. Go figure! Some of us voted by absentee ballot, some took advantage of early voting, and some, waited in line on the traditional voting day. I'm just glad that it wasn't hot and humid. Paul and I went and voted this morning. As we were signing our names Natalie called to say she voted, Manuel is voting now. Caitlin did absentee balloting. Friends from across the country went out and voted as well. It is our civic duty. Callie voted in school. I got caught up on a few things today, I can't believe how behind I've gotten. Two classes this semester....ugh! Class tonight, must study.