Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all!  Actually it's over already but it's still Thanksgiving weekend and a lot of people are still celebrating. 

I have a lot to be thankful for.  My family especially.  I have two wonderful children, three with Mandy.  Two beautiful grandchildren, Charlotte & Oliver (the lights of my life).  I have a sister that I love dearly.  Her family is just an extension to mine (one great neice and a super husband, one nephew, one brother-in-law, and two of the cutest little great-nephews you'd ever want to know).   I have a brother and sister-in-law that I have come know much better these past years.  They're great.  They too have two children and grandchildren.  And are also part of my extended family.

I have a job -- and there's a lot of people out there that don't.  Most days I like my job, some days I actually hate my job.  But I think that's the way a lot of people feel about their work.  I'm 65 years old and doing some thinking of retiring in a couple of years.  I have 28 years in at New View and would truly like to make the 30 year mark.  I have some health problems.  They come and go.  They make me neverous at times.  I also have some very dear friends that are always here when I need them.  Without my friends I know that there would be days when nothing would matter . . . .  they get me through some of those dark days!

Traditionally on Thanksgiving I get together with some of my family.  This year was a little different.  Jim & his family were just coming back from a Disney trip.  Glee & her family all got together with Ron's side of the family.  It's pretty cool when they get together as there's a pretty good-sized bunch of them.  This year they were here in Dubuque at Jim & Diane's.  I'm sure they had a great time.  Barb was able to come for a few hours and then was off to her Dad's for dinner and home for a weekend full of things to do.  I usually put up my tree and decorate my house on Thanksgiving weekend.  Last year my tree died!!  I had bought a pre-lit tree and for some reason, the majority of the lights gave up last year.  By Christmas I had two whole string of lights still lit!  Barb and I decided that we'd just put addtional strings of lights on the tree for this year.  Her plans were to come in Wednesday night, have breakfast with me and then head out for her dad's.  She requested meatloaf for supper so it was almost done when whe got here.  She also brought me a new tree!  It's very pretty.  Has the LED lights and one of the colors is purple.  I love purple lights!!!!  We had supper, did some quick clean-up and put the tree together.  It's got all the bells and whistles that a person could want.  I think we have it figured out!  It rotates (if you want it too).  The lights can fade in and out, blink, stay on all the time, etc.  There's like 7 different combination that you can use.  I chose the lights steady at all times.  It looks real nice.  Barb did a great job of putting it together and helping put ornaments and garland and beads on it.  I have two special new ornaments this year.  One from Hawaii (my sister's gift) and one of the painted inside ornaments from Estes Park, Co.  This one is a believe one.  Barb brought it back for me when she went out to help close up the cabin!   We deocrated on Thursday morning before she left for Harry's.  She drug the majority of the boxes up on Wednesday night.  That's a job in itself.  Actually the majority of them are still sitting here in my living room. 

I slept a lot on Thanksgiving Day.  I have no idea why, but I did.  I have the living room finished and the majority of the kitchen finished.  I still have to put together my JOY tree.  First I must check to see if I have any lights that work for that tree.  I'll put it together later this afternoon.  If the lights don't work, I'll get them this coming week and finish the decorations.  That tree doesn't take very long.  And it looks pretty decent sitting in the corner of my short but sweet hallway!

I have some gifts already bought and can begin to wrap them.  We're celebrating Christmas here on the 15th.  Don't know if I'll be with any of my family on Christmas itself this year.  Things change.  My children have started traditions of their own and the old ones go by the wayside.  I'm looking forward to spending some time with Charlotte & Oliver.  They're both growing and changing so quickly right now.  Especially Oliver.  He's trying to walk, but finds that crawling is so much quicker!  By our Christmas gathering he'll probably be running all over the place.  It will be great having them here.  Jim and the kids came in May but Mandy hasn't been here for a couple of years! 

I have a list of things to buy.  I basically know what I'm getting everyone, now just have to wait for the payday to purchase them!  I also have a trip to Des Moines before the holidays.  I'm planning on driving down on Thursday morning, spending the night in Ankeny and heading back on Friday morning.  It's board packet week for me and I'm pretty sure we won't be ready to send it out on Wednesday!  That's life!  Maybe I can get some shopping in in Ankeny before Barb comes home on Thursday!  We'll see.

It's getting colder . . . and Christmas will soon be here. 

Here's hoping everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving and looking forward to the holidays.  God Bless.