My Thanksgiving Day 2013

Did anyone else go to the stores last night? I tried it, but walked away feeling sad. I went to Target to purchase a tv (already knowing that if we hadn't stood in line for a long time, we wouldn't get one). 50" LED tv for $225 - Wow such a deal!

After having dinner at home, we finished at about 4:00 p.m. Thanksgivings are just not the same when you don't have family around. Our family is scattered across the US, so the only way we get to spend a holiday with family is to pay alot of money for airfare. We live in California. My sons, Tim and Chris, and their families live in Georgia. My son, Andy, and his family live in Colorado. My mom and sister live in Ohio. My dad lives in Las Vegas, NV. I have a daughter, Jenny, who lives in our city, but her man decided they would go to Las Vegas to eat dinner with a friend. So it was my husband (Pat), daughter (Bekah),  son (Steve), and myself. I had invited my father, but he did not choose to come. I did speak with all of those who are not local on the phone. Thank you Lord for phones. I even received a call from my cousin Eric in Pennsylvania.

It was overall a good day. The dinner was delicious and I really enjoyed cooking with Pat. We watched Nemo and Bill Cosby was on the Comedy Network. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time. Laughter is very good for the soul. It is something that we should do more often.

After we ate, everyone went their separate ways. Bekah upstairs to her computer. Steve left. Pat had to go to sleep as he had to be to work at midnight. I watched some tv and played mahjong on my computer.

In the age that we live in, I guess that you have to plan activities (like board games) or interactions will be very limited and shallow. Oh, and I failed to mention that the two kids that ate here (one 35 and one almost 16), did not offer much help. Families are not the same as when I was growing up. Maybe I am just not a good parent or something. Next year will be different. Possibly need to spend more time on a game plan, or just go out to eat somewhere else, or maybe invite some friends

So instead of just sitting around, Bekah and I went to Target (like I said earlier). Her boyfriend met her there. So there I was all alone doing something that I hate to do - shopping. I never saw them again in the store. All of the tv's were in someone else's cart. As I walked around the store watching all of the greedy people hoarding their great deals, it made my stomach hurt. There was a deal on pillows ($3.00 each). I put four of them into my cart. After looking around at all of the congestion in the store, my mind was changed about my purchase. A young couple was walking (with no cart) and had two pillows they were carrying. Heading back to the pillow area (to put my pillows back), I offered them my cart. They took the cart and two pillows I had left in it, and I was headed out of the store.

I saved more money than anyone in the store because I spent nothing! And for that I am truly thankful!

With a Thankful Heart

Sometimes I wonder, "Am I truly thankful?" When I was growing up, my Dad drilled it into my head that we need to be thankful. He grew up during the Great Depression, so I'm sure that his depth of thankfulness was greater than mine will ever be. He would tell us when we ate our dinner that we had to eat it all. During his youth I'm sure there were days they went without food, so he didn't want to see us waste a drop of it. He was always using the phrase "waste not want not." This would really get under my skin. But, in retrospect, his perception of daily food was totally different than mine was.

As an adult, I went through a time in my life where (with five children) food seemed scarce. If it wasn't for people helping my family to survive the day, we probably wouldn't have. God sends people to help you sometimes. My family made it through many hard times by the grace of God. My experience is not the same as my father's, but the Lord has taught me to be grateful and thankful for all that he has provided.

Most of all I am thankful to be part of God's family. He is my motivation! He helps me through every circumstance that I come across on my journey. He has blessed me with a loving husband, Pat, who I wouldn't know what to do without. He has blessed me with my six beautiful children, and 13 grandchildren. God's grace is sufficient for me, and I will live for Him.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!