Happy Thanksgiving

When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed, when you are discouraged thinking all is lost.  Count your many blessings name them one by one....

Thanksgiving dinner is over.  Leftovers put away, all the pots and pans washed and dried. I'm back home, in bed, tired from the busy day, but so happy to be able to have had the opportunity to cook the dinner with my daughter's.  Show them how I do the turkey in a bag.  Explain how to make REALLY good dressing.  Share the secret of my sweet potatoes. Thankful to have had this day. 

In the quiet solitude I wonder if I'll be around next year.  If not, will they remember the lessons today? I start to drift off to the dark place of gloomy cancer thoughts.  And then I shake away the darkness and fill my mind with those blessings I am so thankful for on this day.

Wonderful loving parents. Four beautiful, smart, responsible, loving kids. My grandkid's smiles when they see me.  Laughter.  Footprints in the snow. Cushy and warm socks.  Hugs. Memories of wonderful camping trips spent with family.  Playing guitars with my daughters, cousins, friends...making music.  Tennis, running after the balls and making a winning shot. Molly, my cat. My sisters and brother.  Cloudy days.  Sunny days.  Sledding with my grandson.  Driving with my husband and listening to Garrison or Click and Clack.  Trips to Europe.  Train rides with spectacular views. Pizza. Mexican food. Doctors and nurses who show they care.  Full moons and starry nights. Down pillows. Hot baths. Holding hands with my husband, grandkids or kids. Kisses that get sloppy.  Friends who understand that many days are difficult. Friends who weren't scared away by cancer.  Online friends I have never met. The fresh clean smell after a summer rain.  Finches on the feeder. Flowers, especially wildflowers. Vibrant colors. Hostels. Road trips. The perfection of imperfection in art, nature. Cards. Christmas lights. A husband who is my best friend.

Happy Thanksgiving.  

Doesn't Get Better Than This!

I know there are a ton of blogging mom's commiserating with each other over the trials and tribulations of motherhood, dirty diapers, toys everywhere, laundry that never gets done, etc., etc., etc.  I'm sure it's out there, but I haven't seen much from the Grandma's point of view. I'm now wondering, after reading my kindred spirit of a cousin's blog, about the special moments of Grandma-hood and why I haven't touched more on those many magical moments.  Yes, being a grandma, it's a beautiful and wonderful thing!

I just returned home from a babysitting gig with two of my daughter's three beautiful, bright and bouncing off the wall kids. What a blast to give them dinner (prepared by mom before she left) play games, chase them around the house while they squealed with laughter, easily tricking them into picking up their toys, playing hide and seek, getting them ready for bed and remembering that truly wonderful smell of baby lotion and then at the end of my time with them having them run and give me a big hug and kiss when it was time for 'Grandmama' to leave.   And how much fun it is to leave and hear them crying and screaming that they don't want to go to bed and know I'm not the one who has to deal with it this time around!  Spoiling grandkids must be the reward for raising your own kids into productive, responsible adults.  Grandkids are God's way of saying, "You managed to raise your own kids without too much damage, so now I give you grandkids who will love you unconditionally, who you spoil without worry and who you can turn back over to parents whenever they become too difficult."

Truly, it really doesn't get much better than this! Unfortunately, only grandma's can really understand this whole magical thing of being a grandparent...okay, maybe some grandpa's!