Thanksgiving 2012

Happy Thanksgiving from us at Salispuedes








On this Thanksgiving morning, I awoke around 4:30 a.m., thinking of the tough things my family has faced in the last few months. Wow--seems like most of us have either had health, financial, or other  issues!! But I read an online article this morning that made me stop and be grateful  for my many blessings. It talked about being "not dead". The author was glad he was "not dead". But the trick is to "be alive"--to enjoy our life and be grateful every day!! One of my goals has been to "enjoy the moment", but so often I find myself living in the past or future instead of the present.

So,this morning, I choose to focus on  some of the things I am grateful for this Thanksgiving day:

First of all, my family-especially my sons and their families.
My grandchildren.
My mother's  continuing improvement  from her illness
The special man in my life and his family
My animals and the joy they bring me daily
My co-workers who are so supportive
The beautiful fall weather we have had this year
The fact that I live in this the USA.
My continuing stable health
Friends
Being able to live in the country.
Having an abundance of  the necessities of life--food, shelter, love

I feel renewed this morning--and determined to enjoy this holiday season day by day--to try to recapture that childlike pleasure of the holidays. Wish me luck!!

Thanksgiving Thoughts

What am I giving thanks for this Thanksgiving??  There are almost too many things to list - where do I begin?


I guess first of all, I'm thankful that I'm still alive and kicking this Thanksgiving!! :)


Then, 

My sons are at the top of the list. I am blessed with two fine men. I love to be around them and always know I can count on them.  I respect and admire them.

I'm thankful for two wonderful daughter-in-laws. I'm very lucky indeed that they always welcome me into their homes--they are the daughters I never had.


Next are my special  grandchildren--all four of them--3 grandsons and a granddaughter. They are all caring young people with good values and loving hearts. I love them with an intensity I never thought possible!  They just melt my heart.  Plus, they are loads of fun!!


My step-daughters and children  have always been so good to me! From the very beginning of my marriage to their dad, they have welcomed me into their family.


My extended family (brothers,sister, sister-in-laws,  nephews and nieces, great-nephews and great-nieces, etc.) They are the best. I know that any one of them would be available if I needed them. How many can say that of their family? Plus, they are all intelligent, caring and fun people.

I"m grateful to have my 89 year old mother still with us and able to be independent. She is the smartest woman I know.

Living in the country is a dream come true for me. The land has always called to me. I gather strength from just being out with nature. Every day brings a new discovery.

My animals are a great source of joy for me--I do believe they are what keeps me going, even when I doubt my ability to carry on. Every one of them has a different personality. I love the smell of horses, the feel of their coats. The cats are fascinating to watch. And my dog is  always begins the day on a happy note. It's impossible to be in a bad mood when a little dog is wiggling all over, so glad to see me in the morning, the cats are rubbing against me, and the horses are nickering softly.! What a great way to begin each day!!

I'm grateful for my "angels on earth", people who have come into my life just when I needed them.

This will strange, but I'm grateful for having COPD.  It has forced me slow down and learn to appreciate every minute of life. I'm taking pleasure more in the little things--the sound of a leaf falling, the sunrise through the trees, my dog being a bundle of joy in the mornings, a cat purring in my lap, the changing seasons,  etc.

I'm grateful to have a fun job and good people to work with.

I'm sitting at my computer, looking out my front windows at the dawning of this Thanksgiving day. I'm very grateful that all my family is safe and well. I'm grateful that we have had the blessed rain. I'm very grateful to be living in America!  God has truly blessed me. So, all in all, I'm a very happy person!!!

My Brother, Allen

My brother, Allen, died last week. Technically, he was my half-brother, but I never thought of him that way. He lived with us one year when he was in high school. He was my hero then! He taught me how to drive (brave person). I have never forgotten his stress on keeping your eyes on the road!  Back then I was very shy and insecure and he helped me a lot that year. He always was available to listen and made me feel very special. We practiced the jitterbug, learning to do all the fancy moves such as sliding me under him and over his back. I'll never forget the night he came to the Friday night dance after the football game and danced with me! It made my night!!!And when he came home after being in the Marines, he taught me some judo moves.  We lost touch through most of our adult years. Then when I moved back to Texas in the 90s, we got re-acquainted. Even though we hadn't been in touch for years, when I asked him for advice after my husband died, he stepped up and helped me with the final legal work to settle the estate - and listened to me rattle on. :) . He was always so gracious and nice to me and made me feel welcome in his home. Unfortunately shortly thereafter his health began to fail. I had such mixed feelings-sad for him and at the same time, angry because I felt that his lifestyle choices led to his illnesses. At one point he was on a ventilator and not expected to live. I went to the hospital to sit with his wife while they unhooked the machines, expecting him to die, and there he was, sitting up and eating breakfast! A miracle man!! He told me then that every day was a gift!  He would call occasionally and we would have a long talk. My sister-in-law, Liz, and I developed a nice friendship and I seemed to spend more time with her than him.  But he always told me he was so glad I was her friend and how much it meant to him.  Then Liz had a heart attack, and they were both down. They moved to Canada a few years ago to be close to Liz's family. I knew when they moved that I would not see him again and I did my grieving then (I thought). His health deteriorated even more and his quality of life was pretty poor. I talked to him a few times on the phone but kept in touch mainly through Liz. He had several more hospitalizations over the years and last week, finally, was unable to go on. It makes me so sad that his life choices led to his early death. I wish I had understood him better .I wish I had talked to him more about our childhood and what led to his changing as an adult.  I will miss him--I choose to remember him as that boy in high school who was my hero! Thank you, Allen, for being such a good brother!!