Gratitude

"But Thanksgiving is more than eating, Chuck. You heard what Linus was saying out there. Those early Pilgrims were thankful for what had happened to them, and we should be thankful, too. We should just be thankful for being together. I think that's what they mean by 'Thanksgiving,'

Charlie Brown."

 



Although in my mind, Halloween officially kicks off the Holiday Season... Thanksgiving certainly is the beginning of that special time of year!  I have learned this Autumn to appreciate it.  IT being Autumn.  Summer is by far my favorite time of year.  Guess it's because it is generally dirt-free - And in a like manner - Spring is my least favorite because it means showers and mud - Winter - well you just have to love it with the holidays, and movies, and hot tea, and good friends, and Christmas music, and cozy blankets.  So Fall just normally went unnoticed by me - just a quick break from Dog Days of Summer to hey let's go Christmas shopping. 

Being in a different home and a different town this Autumn season is probably why I took the time to notice the change in the new trees, in the new neighborhood, the city parks, etc.  I have been walking the country roads and also watching the change of seasons.  Learned it is much nicer to walk the dog with it being 70-80 degrees than when it was still 99 degrees at 10 p.m. 

I don't decorate my home for fall - don't own any decorations.  This year I purchased a wreath for the door and a rug for the floor. 

Outside flower pots (one of my favorite things in life) are disposed of, moved to the shed, and ready for winter.  Patio furniture tucked away in a nearby shed.  Autumn has arrived and winter now closely behind.

And now I get reflective - - - it should really be called the Season of Reflection for me - from now until the New Year.  What was good this year?  What was bad this year?  Did I get things done I set out to do?  Is it a year I would like to forget?  Or one of my best? 

As I write this blog I can hear our granddaughter in the basement with a friend "playing restaurant".  I was down there just a bit ago for coffee and an ice cream sandwich, make believe of course.  We have had her with us for what will be 5 days and celebrated her birthday in a big way!   Husband is in the basement watching K State Basketball.  Dogs are resting comfortably in their new homes.  I am planning a menu for Thanksgiving Day.  My father-in-law and his friend and my dad are coming for lunch that day.  A small, quiet group. We are traveling to our daughters for Thanksgiving celebration on the weekend and Chief's football game!    Family is planning to come for Christmas.  Health abounds for the most part for all of my family. 

So you see, I am appreciating the season I tend to forget, knowing that I am blessed many times over.  If you are reading this, I pray for you to have a great Thanksgiving with family and friends.  Find some time for yourself to "reflect" and count your many blessings . . . go ahead . . . name them one by one . . . (right here on my blog if you'd like!)

AND if you would like to join me in carrying on with a thankful heart in 2013 read about one of the projects I am looking forward to in the New Year!!

Project for 2013

The Gratitude Journal came from Pinterest and had a different look but that's the fun of Pinterest, it's all about ideas and creating and re-creating from those ideas!  The original journal was entitled 365 Things I Am Grateful For in 2013.  My sister and her daughter, and I will be keeping similar journals for 2013.  My aim is to record at least a journal entry each day of something I'm thankful for or blessed by each day and then use pictures and words to decorate journal pages with whatever is on my mind for the week.

Happy Thanksgiving!