Thankful, once more and always…

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The turkey is roasting and it smells delicious. B and O, my wife and daughter, are still out of town. They’ve loaded the car, but haven’t hit the road, yet.

I’ve alluded to it in the last several posts but haven’t been direct. B’s mother and my mother-in-law, my favorite mother-in-law, I might add, passed away a week ago Monday morning. The funeral was last Saturday. Her wake, funeral, post-funeral gathering was a beautiful tribute to a wonderful woman who led an extraordinary life. She leaves behind three children, a son-in-law, a daughter-in-law, and seven grandchildren. We will miss her.

the church – built in 1850, it is magnificent and on the National Register
one of the wreaths on the church door, grandma loved lemons and yellow roses

I drove home with W, my son, Sunday afternoon. He slept, I drove thinking about the two days I had to teach my 8th graders.

Instead, I thought of all of the parts of my life for which I have to give thanks.

I am thankful for so much. I am third.

I am thankful for my faith in God, who has sustained me over the last several years as our families have struggled with loss.

I have a wonderful family, a great wife and kids, and a great dog, too. My mom, step-mom, my brothers, my wife’s brother, sister-in-law, her sister, and all of nieces and nephews, who are strong role models for my two children and always make time for them.

I am thankful for so much –  I could go on. But, I won’t, I need to get moving on Thanksgiving dinner and all of the fixings. The turkey is roasting and it smells delicious. I need to make the cranberry-orange sauce. I am trying something new the store bought relish was sold out, so it might be good, it might not; but I’ll never learn if I don’t try.

Below is a video about cranberries and the recipe I’ll use. I found it last spring when I was teaching environmental science. It’s good.

It’s hard to believe, but I’ve been blogging MakingtheDaysCount.org and tweeting @MakingDaysCount for five years plus and this will be my sixth Thanksgiving post. I re-read them all, there are links below.

It’s amusing how time blurs lines and memories. And yet, while reading each post I can remember each word, except for the typos. I left them.

I am thankful for so much. I am third.

Today is going to be a great, it already is. I am thankful. Making the days Count, one day at a time, one day to be thankful for at a time.

What makes you thankful?

12 thoughts on “Thankful, once more and always…”

  1. I’m thankful for words, for cheese, for well-timed Norah Jones songs on my Pandora. I’m thankful for the heart to try and overcome mistakes and obstacles. I’m not strong enough to be thankful for the mistakes and obstacles. Maybe someday.

    I’m thankful for you, my friend.

    Reply

    1. The cranberry dish turned out well – I added orange zest to the recipe – 1/2 while it cooked and the other 1/2 after cooking, then folded the finished relish into cherry jello and then cooled it until it set. Tart and sweet, perfect as a side for entire meal of turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, and green peas. It is good to have my family all together and yes, grandma and grandpa were missed. We will always remember them. Thank you.

      Reply

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