Thanksgiving
Awwwww, Thanksgiving and I'm feeling Thankful, Happy and Blessed!!! The Happiest time of my year.
I am looking out my living room door windows on to the little frosted over lake, just a dusting of snow, simple beautiful setting. My last evening was spent with one of my best friends Julie. We had drinks here, we then headed to Cincinnati for dinner and a UC Bearcats Basketball game. We had great conversation and just ran into to so many people we knew, that local small town feeling!! At the very end of the game as we were readying to walk out I see my two cousins and their husbands and one son. It is always so good to see them, lovely genuine people what you call the salt of the Earth. We spoke, got caught up and hugged tightly. My cousin Anne, who said, "I use to babysit you when you were little" said in my ear, "I still pray for you every day". So wonderful to hear and know that people in this world are praying for you, a great end to a wonderful night!
My Thanksgiving started a week ago when my youngest son Dan and his wife Emily arrived from Seattle to spend the week with me. The following day was Thanksgiving and it was arranged that my oldest son Rich, wife Kara children Gabe and Bianca, along with my Daughter Jackie, husband David, children Aiden and Evan would all come to my condo to celebrate our private family time. It is literally the one time of the year where we all see each other!! It is Christmas to ME!!
After we have a few hours together some then head off to the my family's traditional football game with the extended family. I usually just stay home with the daughter in laws, we clean up to then head to my sister Janie and Doug's house for our extended family turkey dinner. The family is getting pretty big and about to get even bigger, Dan and Emily have announced that they are expecting their first child, my fifth grandchild in June!! I am overjoyed with the news, especially since the youngest, Bianca is already 7, it is most welcoming to have another little one in the family. This will be the first addition to our family that Dick will not be here to meet. I feel the timing is for a reason because we will have had four years since the his loss by the time the baby arrives.
Bittersweet the events Dick is missing but I have felt him in my life in some ways more than ever. I now believe I have needed the quiet time in my life to finally appreciate the life I had. I think in the past, when you are in the hub bub of life we are so caught up in what we have to do, what needs to be done that we miss the gift of the people around us. I now appreciate the gifts of having Dick in my life. His intelligence, his giving side, the ability to strive to get a job accomplished. Given with all the challenges Dick had in front of him on a daily basis he was able to fight the battle and still show that he was a man of great faith, no matter the obstacles, he would want to get readied for work each day and Mass every Sunday.
I am blessed to have my wonderful parents in my life. I am so happy that I am able to take them to Mass and spend a little time with them. Blessed to have my mother in law, and was able to have a beautiful visit with her. Blessed that I was able to give back at the local food bank and spend some quality time with folks who are less fortunate but were able to fill my heart with love, and I look forward to my next visit.
I am so happy and Thankful for so much in my life, I look forward to the next chapter!!
I am looking out my living room door windows on to the little frosted over lake, just a dusting of snow, simple beautiful setting. My last evening was spent with one of my best friends Julie. We had drinks here, we then headed to Cincinnati for dinner and a UC Bearcats Basketball game. We had great conversation and just ran into to so many people we knew, that local small town feeling!! At the very end of the game as we were readying to walk out I see my two cousins and their husbands and one son. It is always so good to see them, lovely genuine people what you call the salt of the Earth. We spoke, got caught up and hugged tightly. My cousin Anne, who said, "I use to babysit you when you were little" said in my ear, "I still pray for you every day". So wonderful to hear and know that people in this world are praying for you, a great end to a wonderful night!
My Thanksgiving started a week ago when my youngest son Dan and his wife Emily arrived from Seattle to spend the week with me. The following day was Thanksgiving and it was arranged that my oldest son Rich, wife Kara children Gabe and Bianca, along with my Daughter Jackie, husband David, children Aiden and Evan would all come to my condo to celebrate our private family time. It is literally the one time of the year where we all see each other!! It is Christmas to ME!!
After we have a few hours together some then head off to the my family's traditional football game with the extended family. I usually just stay home with the daughter in laws, we clean up to then head to my sister Janie and Doug's house for our extended family turkey dinner. The family is getting pretty big and about to get even bigger, Dan and Emily have announced that they are expecting their first child, my fifth grandchild in June!! I am overjoyed with the news, especially since the youngest, Bianca is already 7, it is most welcoming to have another little one in the family. This will be the first addition to our family that Dick will not be here to meet. I feel the timing is for a reason because we will have had four years since the his loss by the time the baby arrives.
Bittersweet the events Dick is missing but I have felt him in my life in some ways more than ever. I now believe I have needed the quiet time in my life to finally appreciate the life I had. I think in the past, when you are in the hub bub of life we are so caught up in what we have to do, what needs to be done that we miss the gift of the people around us. I now appreciate the gifts of having Dick in my life. His intelligence, his giving side, the ability to strive to get a job accomplished. Given with all the challenges Dick had in front of him on a daily basis he was able to fight the battle and still show that he was a man of great faith, no matter the obstacles, he would want to get readied for work each day and Mass every Sunday.
I am blessed to have my wonderful parents in my life. I am so happy that I am able to take them to Mass and spend a little time with them. Blessed to have my mother in law, and was able to have a beautiful visit with her. Blessed that I was able to give back at the local food bank and spend some quality time with folks who are less fortunate but were able to fill my heart with love, and I look forward to my next visit.
I am so happy and Thankful for so much in my life, I look forward to the next chapter!!
Comments