Day 23 & 24

Day 23: Today I am thankful for the changing off the seasons.

I am thankful to watch the changing of the seasons.  Even if it means colder weather is coming I enjoy the fall with the colors of the leaves.  With the cold we look forward to springtime which reminds me of life when everything greens up and blooms out.
 
Day 24: Today I am thankful for my brothers. They both were on loan to us for far too short a time but I am thankful for the time our family had them with us and the memories they left with us.

I really don't know what else I can add to this one.  I miss them both terribly but am thankful for the time we had.
  

Day 22: My Daddy

Day 22: Today I am thankful for Daddy. His birthday is today and as hard as it is to believe he would have been 81 today. I don't think there ever comes a time that missing him gets any easier.

My daddy has been dead for 13 years and I miss him now as much as when he first died.  I think when we lose someone we love that it is something that we never really get over.  We just learn to live with it, adjust and adapt.  When someone we love dies they leave us great memories but I also think that each one takes a  piece of us with them.  I miss my daddy but I am thankful for the time that we had and the memories I have of him.

Day 21: Yes, I Am Behind

Day 21: Today I am thankful for my business and all the clients that are truly friends.

I have a fairly stable business which is pretty amazing giving the climate of the industry.  Many of my clients I do consider as friends.  I find it very touching that as their insurance agent there are many of them when we finish an appointment they hug me and tell me they love me.

Day 20: Family

Day 20: Today I am simply thankful for family. I personally think I have the best one that a person could be blessed with.

I have written on more than once how great my family is.  We aren't perfect, but then no body is, but it is without question the most awesome thing to know you are always there for each other.  As I mentioned to the minister who did Mama's funeral, we may not always agree, we may not necessarily like what the other is doing but there is NEVER a time that you doubt the support, help, and love will be there when you need them.

Relationships

Day 19: Today I am thankful for the relationship that my daughter and her mother-in-law have. Her mother-in-law is a sweet lady who welcomed my daughter into her family and for that I am thankful.

I am thankful for this relationship and that my daughter and her mother-in-law each like and respect each others position.  There are many in-law relationships that are strained at best and I am thankful that is not the case here.  (Oh and her husband has a pretty cool mother-in-law too.  LOL)

Day 18: My daughter

Day 18: Today I am thankful for Janelle. I am incredibly proud of the woman she has become. We have a very close relationship that over the years we have come to learn is not typical of all mother-daughter relationships. I don't tell her enough how proud I am of her.

There have been ups and downs as there will be in any relationship but we have managed to work through them.  I love her dearly and thank God for her each day.  She has become so much of a better mother, woman, and person that I can ever hope to be.  As I have mentioned in previous posts, I wish I could take credit for that but it really does take a village. 

Day 17: Friends

Day 17: Today I am thankful for Ethel, Dumbass, and Elaine. These are the 3 dearest people in the world to me who are not blood related. Each of them are like family to me and have stood by me through a lot of things and sometimes have stood behind me to hold me up. My life is far richer because of them.

I have known Ethel the longest and Dumbass and Elaine about the same amount of time.  There is much comfort in having that support group that you know no matter what they are going to be there for you even when you have screwed up.  Knowing that no matter what they will be there for you without being judgmental, knowing that they are there to laugh with, cry with, or just be and whatever is ok.  Many people will never be as blessed as I am because of these 3.

Day 15: Books

Day 15: Today I am thankful for books and the love of reading. And, yes I still like to hold the book.

 

I love to read and have all my life.  As much as I appreciate technology I still enjoy having that book in my hand.  I get kinda panicky if I am about to finish one book and don't have another to start on.  I have been heard to say if you can read and read well you can teach yourself almost anything.  Well, maybe not brain surgery but you know what I mean.  Thankful today for the love of reading.

Day 16

Day 16: Today I am thankful for God the Father who created everything and is still in control of all things, God the Son who selflessly gave himself to die for my sins, and God the Holy Spirit who is always with me and always reassures me that no matter the situation everything will be ok.

 

For some of you who read regularly you have heard me say before that God has a plan and  God's plan is perfect.  It is a liberating feeling to know that God is ultimately in control.  I am thankful for that still voice that reminds me of these things when I need to be reminded.

Day 14: Humor

Day 14: Today I am thankful for humor. I have learned over time that sometimes there is as much healing in laughter as there is in tears. Oh, the tears are necessary sometimes but sometimes laughing till you cry brings the same comfort.

I have written about this before, but I really am thankful for humor.  As my daughter has said we are a family of 'bright siders'.  We have very little trouble  finding humor in just about any situation.  I love those laugh till your belly hurts, tears streaming down your face moments.  Humor and laughter have served me well and today I am thankful for them.

Modern Appliances

Day 13: Today I am thankful that to wash a load of clothes I can put them in a machine and turn a button on. I don't have to draw water to fill a washer and 2 rinse tubs up then run each piece through a wringer 3 times. After the machine stops I simply transfer them to another machine, turn another button and they come out dry and didn't have to fight the elements to get them hung on a clothes line (although that is a nice option to have). I am thankful that to cook I only have to adjust a few knobs not split wood, bring it in the house and keep a fire going in a wood stove in order to prepare a meal. Yes, I am thankful for modern appliances. Oh, and coffee.

For the majority of my teenage years this is exactly how we washed clothes and occasionally cooked.  The brother next to me in age probably got in more arguments about who should draw the water to wash with than anything.  I thought since I either had to help with or do the washing he should draw the water.  He didn't always see it that way. I am thankful that these chores are easier now.  I would not want to go back to living that way again, yet I am thankful I know how.

My favorite word

Day 11: Today I am thankful for my favorite word, through. We all go 'through' things and get 'through' things. The beauty of the word is that no matter what we are going 'through' we will eventually come out on the other side. If we are going 'through' something it means we are not stuck in it. There is light at the end of the tunnel that is not a freight train.

There is really not any more to add to this.  Pretty much sums it up.

Day 11: Veteran's Day

Day 11: I like everyone else are thankful for all of our veterans today. I am also thankful for the families that watched them go into the armed forces, many having to wonder if they would ever see their loved one again.

I am truly thankful for those men and women who served and are serving in our armed forces to protect the liberty we enjoy in the United States.  But, I always remember the families that were left behind not knowing when they would see their son, daughter, wife, husband, sister, brother, father, or mother again.  For so many watching them leave would be the last time to ever touch, hug, or see them again.  For all of those I am thankful.

Day 10: Mama and Daddy

Day 10: Today I am thankful for Mama and Daddy. I have often heard and said it myself that you don't appreciate your parents until you are an adult with children of your own. But I don't think you truly appreciate them until they are gone. Daddy has been gone for 13 years and Mama not quite 3 months. They both loved us and worked hard to provide for us. How I wish this morning that I could tell them how much they truly meant to me and how much I appreciated them. We all only have a short time here on earth so don't let too many of those opportunities go by without telling people what they mean to you.

Our parents were not saints as none of us are and the fact that both are dead does not mean that I am remembering them different from what reality was.  But sadly I think that losing someone close to us helps us to prioritize.  There are some things now that when I think about them are really very trivial.  There is so much of life that we take for granted and don't appreciate until the opportunity is gone.  Sometimes we just need to stop and re-evaluate what is most important to us.

Day 9: Music

Day 9: Today I am thankful for music. Old Rock and Roll, old and new country, bluegrass, Motown, beach music just to name a few. As shared in a conversation with a friend this week, it really does soothe the savage beast.

There is some type of music that is always right for what ever mood I am in.  I enjoy music tremendously.  My husband did not realize how important it was when we first met that one of the first questions he asked was what type music did I like.  It would not have made nearly the impression if he had asked what was my favorite tv show. 

Day 8

 

Day 8:  Today I am thankful for this group that calls me Aunt Connie (well one of them calls me Mama but that is for another day).  It has been amazing over the years to watch my nieces and nephews grow.  Most of them are adults now and I am very proud of all of them.  It is also intriguing to watch them develop in so many different ways.  They truly are a blessing.

 

 

 

Coffee

Day 7: As I reflect every day on the things I am so blessed that I can only come to one conclusion. The scales are tipped very heavily in my favor. But, for today I am simply thankful for coffee.Day 7: As I reflect every day on the things I am so blessed that I can only come to one conclusion. The scales are tipped very heavily in my favor. But, for today I am simply thankful for coffee.

That first cup of nectar in the morning that helps to bring the body awake.  Yes, being a life long coffee drinker, today I am thankful for coffee.

Happy Birthday

Day 6: Today Bobby would be 67 years old. Today I am thankful for the 21 & 1/2 years that God loaned him to me. He loved me unconditionally and there are many wonderful memories from our life together. There is still not a day goes by that I don't think of him and part of my heart will always belong to him.

Those 21 + years over all were very good.  That is not to say we didn't have some difficult times but we worked through them together.  He wasn't perfect but for that time in my life he was perfect for me.  Today I can recall those memories and even with a touch of sadness I can smile.

Thankful for 2 more sisters

Day 5: Today I am thankful for 2 more 'sisters', Mercy and Grace. Without either I don't know where I would be today and God has provided both in much greater quantities than I deserve.

I have no way of knowing how much Mercy God has extended to me.  I do know the greatest act of mercy was Jesus dying on the cross for me.  There are, I am sure, multitudes of times that Mercy has been extended to me that I don't even know about.  Grace is what gets me through most days.  Grace comes in more forms that I can even begin to imagine.  I am thankful for both of these 'sisters' today

Nov. 4, 2013. Today I Am Thankful For

Day 4: Today I am thankful for memories.

Sometime during the last weekend that Bobby was alive Patricia and Mama were at our house.  I remember setting on the porch watching the grandchildren play in the yard and watching Mama and the thought came to my mind that losing your memories would be one of the most awful things in the world.  With Alzheimer's disease we don't know if the person still has those memories because the person loses the ability to communicate.  I would like to think that they are still buried there somewhere and would bring that person comfort.  My memories do bring me comfort.  I remember after Bobby died there were times that a memory of him would come to mind and it brought tears but after a period of time I could recall those same memories and they would bring a smile and a sense of comfort.  So today I am thankful for memories and oh, how very precious they are.

Sisters

Day 3: Today I am thankful for my sisters. God has blessed us with a close relationship that through the years I have come to learn is not true in every family. There is never a moment we doubt each others love and support.

After Mama died I commented to my sisters that in the past year our immediate family had been reduced by half.  One sister said it used to seem like so many of us but now there are just the 3 of us.  We have other family and that is also a blessing but these two girls and I are all that are left of our immediate family.  There are times we don't agree and even moments where we might not like each other or like what one of us is doing.  But, be assured there is never a time that we are not supportive of each other.  You always think that other families are the same as yours as far as the support and love  you have for each other.  Yet, over the years I have come to realize that is not true.  We not only love each other but we like each other as well.  We enjoy each others company and always have a listening ear for each other.  Yes, these girls are a true blessing to me.

Peace

Day 2: Today I am thankful for peace of mind.

I am thankful for that peace of mind that comes from knowing that I have treated people fairly, that I have not created turmoil by being mean or unkind.  I am thankful for that peace of mind that allows me to go to sleep at night and not be kept awake by something that I said or did to someone that caused problems.

Blessed Assurance

Today begins 30 days of Thanksgiving.  I am going to try my best to have an update everyday.

Day 1: Today I am thankful for the assurance of Heaven. With so many already gone it gives me great comfort to know that I will see them again.

With a son, father, husband, both brothers, and a mother already gone on, it does give me peace to know in my heart I believe all of them are in Heaven.  My faith assures me that Heaven is a real place that believers go to when they die.  I also have faith in my own relationship with Jesus that gives me the assurance that I will see them all again.