Thanksgiving 2012

Things I am grateful for:

Patrick and the kids.  They are the reason I get up every day.  They bring me more joy and love than I ever imagined.  Even on our worst days, I know that Patrick and I are good parents who are raising pretty awesome kids.  And, if I get to know that every day, how lucky am I?

My sisters.  In the past 18 months we have mourned the death of two parents, planned two funerals, emptied a house of 45+ years of stuff, sold our childhood home, traveled to and from Iowa countless times (some more than others) and yet our sisterhood remains intact.  You hear the horror stories of siblings fighting over estates (big and small) and while it hasn't been a perfect journey, as no journey with siblings with strong personalities and ideas can ever be, we found our way to mutual agreement on almost every issue.  I am so proud to call these women full of love and laughter my sisters.

Mid-West Friends and family.  I am so very grateful for all the friends and family who came together to help my sisters and me this year.  Aunts, Uncles, cousins,  friends from college, high school and yes, even grade school came to the house at 5110 Ovid.  They made countless trips up and down the stairs tossing things into the dumpster(s), making trips to Goodwill, food pantries and recycling centers. They fed us, they housed us, they cried with us and laughed with us.  They broke bread (and splashed wine) with us.  They filled us up when we had no more to give.  I am so blessed by all these people.

My  writing group.  We write, we laugh we cry, we write a little more.  We write, we share, we read, we write a little more.  Sometimes we share a glass of wine (or two) but mostly we share our stories, our lives and push each other to be a little bit better than we were when we walked in the door.  I am grateful for their inspiration, encouragement and belief. We fly a little higher for knowing each other.

All of you.  I am so grateful for you that stop by my page, read the words I share with you. You encourage me to keep posting.  You praise me publicly, you send me private messages when something I write touches you.  You remind me that I am a writer and that I should continue to put pen to paper.  You make me fly.  

I am also grateful for:

John and Debby Wohlmut (who are the TOPS!)

Chocolate

Patrick's graduation from Grad School

Grant and Alana Byington

Our Village of friends/family who help shape our children with love and laughter

red wine
Reverend Anton DeWitt and the congregation of First Congregational UCC (Portland)

Mindless "crime-porn" TV
Denise and Scot Wicker

Cracked pepper Lentil chips

Pandora's Broadway show-tunes station

library cards

My book club
SBB #1

Girls night out (I need more of these)
Fr. Michael Amadeo

Date nights ( I need more of these )

President Barack Obama

Family movie night
Trudy Bradley

Did I mention my husband?
Spaghetti
Julianna
Skippy John Jones
Dr Who
A roof over my head
Jen Raynak
Slappycakes
Nutella
And you... yes you!
And so much more...  I am grateful every day.