Monday, November 17, 2008

THANKFUL






Seems like decades ago . . . when I first had a journal/blog on that other place . . . can't say the name right now or I will lose my thankfulness . . . I asked others to post on their blog or in my comments the things they were thankful for. I actually asked them to do it every day. Of course I had to make an entry every day for the month of November leading up to Thanksgiving. I loved the posts and comments. So . . . for the next 10 days, I want to talk about my thankfulness. If you'd like to join me, put a comment here or post something in your blog and leave me a link.
I have so many reasons to be thankful, but if I tell them all today, I won't have any left for my next entries. I will start with a few things.

I am grateful for my mom. She's been gone 11 years now, but a couple of nights ago I saw her in my dream. I usually don't see her face in my dreams, but I saw it this time. Mom had undying love for her 4 daughters and many grandchildren. She had faith in me when everyone else had given up. Of course I was/am the baby ~ 8 years younger than my next-oldest sister, and she spoiled me. She encouraged my creativity and my love of learning. One of my most treasured memories is when she came to my college graduation (I was 41 years old). As I crossed the stage to receive my diploma, I saw her at the back of the room crying tears of joy. I am so thankful that the Lord let me be her daughter.

I am thankful for each of my 5 husbands. Each one came into my life and loved me in their own way. I learned about myself with them. Well, I'm still learning with Rob. I grew emotionally, learned my weaknesses, gained wisdom and a strong(er) will with each marriage. I am very grateful now to have stopped marrying. (Whew!)


I'm grateful that the sun rose today and I with it. Sometimes I wonder if we know how very precious each day is. My last husband died in the space of a day. All the tomorrows we had lined up were not to be. When I waken every day, I remember that my "wild" days alone could have taken me off this earth. Really. One day 43 years ago, I gave my son up for adoption. Another day 16 1/2 years later, he found me. I have had so many days that were not all that great. There have been at least 100 times more good days than bad. I look forward to tomorrow. Because after all, if I wake up I will have at least one more day to be thankful.


I'm not sure how to put this . . . I've been watching my state burn once again. I have cried over the losses. Just north of me in Montecito over 200 multi-million dollar homes were lost. I'm grateful I don't live there. I am so very grateful that so far, no one has died as a direct result of the fires. I am also thankful that as awful as the fires were to watch and read about, I am still human. One of God's kids, as it were. It hurts, but I am happy that I still care enough.

I'm grateful for you . . .

5 comments:

sober white women said...

I have been watching the fires as well. So far we are safe.
I miss my dad and sometimes he will come and visit me, but never in person. He only appears as a beam of light. I do however hear his voice when he does come to visit.
Kelli

Chris/cacklinrosie101 said...

So glad to see you posting again. This whole new world here is trying and strange but today, I am thankful for my children; my two daughters, in particular. They came to my job and took me out to lunch. I'm most thankful that my oldest, Becky, had a smile on her face again after struggling to crawl out of the black hole. Love n Hugs, Chris

friedmsw said...

Thank you for sharing! I am very blessed that both of my parents are still living. They are getting their bathroom remodeled! I am so happy for them!

Pamela said...

I've never had a dream about my mom, but I think she's visited in other ways. Terrible about the fires. They were just awful.
Have a good night.
Pam

Barbara said...

what a beautiful post, I posted about what I am thankful for before I read your post, I am glad we are thinking alike.
I like the idea of posting daily what we are thankful for.
Barbara