Today......

the list would take hours to post but a few of the things that I will be giving thanks for:

my husband is alive
my children are are alive
our family is together

I am surrounded by people who don't have those three things. I have a neighbor who won't be with her children because her husband decided this year that he didn't want to be married anymore and so the children are with him out of state. Jim has a couple of friends who are divorced and then after the divorces had major medical events that have left them impaired in one way or another and they are alone in their difficulties. And then there is Bill

How could I even think about complaining about anything? I've been blessed beyond all measure.

Thanksgiving

I love, love, love Thanksgiving. I have been so blessed in my life and I am grateful that we have a "holiday" set aside for being Thankful.

I have wonderful memories of childhood Thanksgivings with all the cousins and aunts and uncles. Everyone would come and spend the day and we would build wonderful forts in the barn out of haybales. In those days we didn't have a television set so there were no football games to dictate the schedule. It was such a different time and lifestyle.

But one thing hasn't changed and that is that I have been blessed. I took a few minutes the other day to sit and address Thanksgiving cards to send to all my clients from this past year. I was amazed at how many there were. I am very grateful to have been involved with each of them and they have all left an imprint on my life.

I am behind on Thanksgiving preparations this year but I have decided to not stress about it and just enjoy it. Now that three of our children have "flown the coop", family dinners are even more special. We will be missing one this year which will be really strange but everyone else will be here and I'm looking forward to enjoying time spent together. (I'm also planning on hours of music, hint, hint Jessica)

Heavy hearted

Today is a day of great sadness. My heart is heavy with compassion for a husband and daughter. Almost exactly 3 months ago his son/her brother was killed in a tragic car accident. He was 19 and ready to start his freshman year in college. Yesterday his mother could no longer stand the grief and took her own life. My brain cannot even begin to imagine what Bill is going through.

Hug someone close to you and tell them you love them.

Black and White

I am so glad God designed the world with color. Can you imagine what it would be like if all we saw was black, gray, and white? How boring! I think my favorite fall tree is the sugar maple. I love it when they are three colors. So beautiful! God could have created the world in black and white. The song "How Great Thou Art" comes to mind. I've been on the road a lot this week and as I was enjoying the trees I tried to think about what it would be like without the beautiful colors.

Made me thankful for color, sight, and the change of seasons! I'm glad I live in a place that has changing colors with the change of seasons.

Lack of support

There are too few resources for moms who struggle with perinatal mood disorders. Here's a story of one mom's experience http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/blog/2007/11/06/my-voice-didnt-soothe-him-my-touch-didnt-comfort

Stressed?

Is there anyone who doesn't have some kind of stress? I don't think so. Everybody has something. But it's the response to stress that determines whether we become stressed out. Ran across an article this morning about stress and pregnancy--http://babyfit.sparkpeople.com/articles.asp?id=24

Crying babies

Babies cry. Some babies make just barely enough noise to let their parents know when they have a need and then the need is easily met. Some babies cry around the clock and there never seems to be an explanation. Parents try everything they've ever heard and the baby still cries. Found an interesting article to share http://www.sltrib.com/ci_7372319