So Much to be Thankful For . . .

This is a picture of the Sonoma Valley (where we live) in the fall.  To drive through this little valley right now is a breath taking experience.  The colors of the trees, the vineyards and the moutains are so beautiful.  It's nice to be the passenger in the car and be able to look around and take it all in.  When the fall colors are at the peak of their beauty I always have the conversation with myself, hmmm, "I think I like fall the best!".  Of course I have the same conversation with myself in the spring as the daffodils are sprouting up, the trees are getting their leaves and everything seems to come alive, hmmm "I think I like spring the best!"  But the colors of nature that we are seeing right now are definitely something I am thankful for.

We had a fun little outing the other day.  Mike has been home from work for the whole week of Thanksgiving due to furlough days and the holiday.  So he decided we would go out and take some pictures of him and the kids for their Christmas card.  He decided they would go visit some of our Charlie Browns, Woodstocks and Snoopy's that are still around town and get the pictures taken.

We started looking for Charlie Brown's in 2005 and Mike's boys were 2, 4 & 6 when we started.  Here's a picture of us then:

So, we went back over to the Ice Arena and re-created the picture the other day.  Now the boys are 8, 11 and 12.  And of course Mike now has Benji as an additon since the first picture.  Here's our newest picture.

Look how the kids have grown!!!  We had such a good time!!  Now, of course, you have to see the picture with Benji in it!

Well, this isn't such a great picture but Benji's in it.  Anyway, we had a really fun time, lunch out and a good time was had by all!!!  A day to be Thankful for!!

Our daughter Tina, got here on November 17th and she's basically been sick ever since she arrived!!  As of today she's planning on trying to find a walk in clinic and seeing someone on Monday, hoping of course that she feels better by Monday.  She was feeling a little better on Thanksgiving and was able to see Erik, Seni and the kids.  She also went down to Connie's and saw Gena and her family & Tony and Hayley.  She'd seen Katie a few nights before so she's seen almost everyone.  Jeff's supposed to come up today, by that time she should have infected everyone!!!  I'm kidding, I'm kidding!!  BUT, having her here for the holidays is always something to be Thankful for!!

I have been trying to jazz this blog up forever.  I even bought a program to make it better.  Unfortunately I can't figure out the program but thinking I was going to try and make it look better I worried about losing the almost 3 years of blogs that I've been writing.  Basically it's been a little diary of my life since 2009 when I started it.  I found a site where I could have my blog entries put into book form and decided to do it just to be sure they would be saved.  The book doesn't have any of the side items that I put in but the blog posts only.  I got the book already and am very happy with it.  Here's a picture.



Front cover



 Well, this is one of the "things" I don't like about creativity process of creating this blog.  I cannot get the 2 covers side by side.  So at this point I'll just have 2 large blank spaces and keep writing.

Back cover

So, even though it's frustrating, I don't have time at Christmas to figure out how to do "it" better, so for being able to write my blog I am Thankful!!

Every night as I crawl into bed and get warm and comfy I thank God for his Blessings, which is the same as being Thankful.  So for me, it always starts with my FAMILY!  Kent, Mike, Tina, Erik & Jeff ~ my daugher-in-laws Seni and Paula (her children Kaleb & Santino) and my son-in-law Max ~ my grandkids, Cyrah, Matt, Joe, Zach, Chloe, Benji and Rhone ~ My Mom and Dad ALWAYS, my sisters, Connie, Cathy & Susie, Connie's kids Tony, Gena, Katie, their spouses Hayley (not yet but close), Ryan & Jared, Connie's grandchildren Justin and Julia ~Cathy's daughter Amy ~ all of Kenny's side of the family, his Dad who died an amazing 20 years ago, his Mom, sisters Louise, Diana, their husbands Frank and Martin, my nieces and nephews, Rob, Renee, Rhonda, Marty and Danny and their spouses Craig & Russ and their children who are our great nieces and nephews Alisha, Jeremy, Tyler, Cassie, Amy, Emily and Kylie ~ my cousins, Judy, Janet, Linda, Marti and Christine and their families ~ all of my Grandmas and Grandpas, my Uncles and Aunts and Cousins that have passed away ~ my friends, Sandi, Linda, Yolanda, Marie, Linda Robertson Groobin, Fred, Bill C & Pami ~ not in my family but the service men and women who have put their lives on the line in the name of our country America.  Now, obviously I don't name all of the people mentioned above every night when I'm saying my prayers but there are nights when I come close.  I'm sure I have left someone out or maybe several someone's out but I truly feel I AM BLESSED!!!  And Thankful!!

As the Christmas season approaches, I always try and "do" too much.  I have great plans of things to make, to send, to let people know how special they are to me.  I'm thinking maybe I won't put so much pressure on myself this year.  Maybe I won't become possessed by starting another project and being disappointed because I didn't finish it.  I'll let you know how I do with this, on one hand I'm getting older and a lot slower in everything I do, on the other hand I really enjoy giving to people.  We'll see how it goes.

One of the major things that I am thankful this year is that my husband, Kenny, is back to his old self again.  He can be grouchy and aggravating and seemingly cheap and those things are all part of who he is but he also is nice and caring in ways that aren't going to get much attention.  So, after a long year of recouperating, he's BA-A-A-C-K!!!  I am Thankful!!!

I hope everyone that reads this blog had a nice Thanksgiving and enjoyed the long weekend.  Now we all need to gear up to get ready for Christmas!!!

My thought to leave you with today is:  Start a gratitude journal, find 2 or 3 things to be thankful for every day and write them down.  You'll be surprised at the things you take for granted daily that actually make you smile and makes the day a better day, writing them down helps you to appreciate the little things in life!!!! 

Until next time . . .