Here in our home the last few days have been a whirlwind of getting the ideas together for dinner, the shopping and prep for this years Thanksgiving dinner and get-together. We are all looking forward to it and somewhat dreading it at the same time. In the last 2 years we have lost 5 beloved family members...I know there are so many of you out there that have your own losses of loved ones this year...my heart and thoughts go out to each and everyone of you. With our family as I am sure with many of you, our get together will be kind of small this year, everyone is grown now and making plans of their own, but so far in our house, it will be my mama, my sister and her 2 beautiful children, my husband, my girls and myself and even though some of our most loved ones will be missing from our table they are here... in our hearts, thoughts and memories, as I am sure they will be in yours.
Thanksgiving is a wonderful day, it reminds us not just of all the yummy foods that I and I am sure some of you :) give yourself free license to enjoy as much as you want even for just one day or like me the left over heaven that is the WHOLE weekend (lol, I can always start my diet Monday) But most importantly reminds us...sometimes thru our painful losses...just how much we truly have to be THANKFUL for.
The wonderful June of Laughing with Angels did a beautiful post on this HERE and it inspired me to write my own...
Please indulge me a lil moment...
Even with so many losses to our little family there is still so much to be thankful for...
Me..myself...I am thankful for...
Our family being in good health and even though some of our family members are off with plans of their own, they are still with us in heart and spirit knowing that we will see each other through out the year on special occasions and on my favorite get-togethers of all...the just because :)...
That we have gotten a blessed chance to stay in our home...because so many others out there are not, and we are very close to being one of them...My prayers & thoughts go out to all those that have lost their homes or are in the process of...Things have to get better regarding this...they just have to...I don't think anyone should give up hope on this. But all prayers on this, for us and everyone else in this situation are welcome :) beacuse we never know how quickly our lives can change...
That we have a warm (well kinda, in a 1916 house, you can only get so warm :) home filled with the love of our family and good food to keep our tummys full...what else is there be at this moment for me to be more thankful for? Well good health...How in the world did I forget that one...
That even though we are missing some of our loved ones so much it hurts to breathe...we have been blessed with the gift of memory...to bring forth all those cherished memories of all those our hearts so miss...
That I have "met" so many amazing woman & men, here in Blogland that have so enriched my life....so much more that I could ever imagine....
That I "met" my wonderful friend Dawn of The Feathered Nest that is so full of love and understanding and gave me the gift of this Beautiful blog she made for me....that has so changed my life and given me so much...I cry just to think about how much it has enriched my life in so many ways!
That I am soo blessed to have so many amazing people in my life that love and support me unconditionally and trust me....I can sometimes make that not so easy...(who knew...right....lol)...
Thank you Chris...my own mr wonderful...for keeping my head above the water... when I was only too happy and ready to let the tides pull me under....
Now...I ask for just one more indulgence from you....(well in this post at least...see if anything I try to be honest....and your welcome :)...
Thanksgiving other than for the good foods and the days off from work, and getting to spend time with loved ones, well...I will be honest...since I was a child this was the reason I liked the holiday, for I had many more "important" ones ie...Christmas, my families birthdays...MY birthday...Hey I never said I wasn't some what selfish :) & yes we consider birthdays a holiday in our home...we celebrate you the whole day...week if you have been extra good :) lol
But these last few years with all our family losses...things in my mind and heart have changed....See like I have shared with you before....My dad...he made all the other holidays about us...Christmas, birthdays..forget about it...he made us all...his focus...But...Thanksgiving was his holiday....we all made it about him, his favorite foods, the whole family getting together...even if everyone came in shifts on the actual day or over the long weekend...but we all understood...it was his day....the day he ate the dreaded sour cherry pie in a bowl with milk over it :) yes...he always said it was a "Southern thing"...you Southern ladies will have to tell me if that is true or not lol He had so many favorites...chicken noodles with lots of gravy over mashed potatos turkey n lots of gravy.. and my ham! He LOVED my ham, our last Thanksgiving with him, I took it over whole to save time and cut it once we got there....he saw the pineapple on top of the ham...and had a fit...like only he could...lol I can laugh at this memory now :) He HATED pineapple (in my defense, who knew?) ...he was so mad that I had it on there and I told him" But Sonny, I have always made my ham with pineapple" he said "since when Dammit" lol like I said, he was a pistol and never held anything back :) I said in reply..."like since I made my first ham....the pineapple juice is even in the sauce I make to baste my ham....you ALWAYS tell me how much you love it and how sweet and moist it is, my stars your a big ole grump butt :)"....(dumb..dumb...did I mention DUMB on my part!) I shoulda just said I'd take the slices off the ham....but nooo....we loved to go rounds with each other...did I mention that before? lol
Well to my heartbreak now....he didn't even have a bite of my ham...I could see his mouth watering with each slice someone took from the platter (not to mention the dirty looks he kept giving me and the grumbling :) but he stuck to his guns...If I only knew that this was our last with him....I would have cut the dam ham at home and bought it on a platter like I always did...If I had only known.....oh god....give me a moment.....
This year...I will bring it to my mamas table on a beautiful platter and we will all have an extra piece in his honor....along with all his favorites...minus the sour cherry pie...although knowing my mama...it might be at the buffet...just incase anyone gets brave...I just hope she adds a lil sugar this year :)
The picture below is of our Beloved Sonny, where he was his most happy...besides being with all of us...his family...although he and my brother Perry loved playing golf together (it was their time)...it is a loss his group of friends and my brother couldn't get over and their weekly golf group broke up (I hope my brother will one day enjoy it again, I truly believe our dad would have wanted that)...to them all...I am so Thankful for giving my dad much deserved fun and happiness and a reason to leave the hospital...see I promised I would drive him around the golf course chasing all the hot big chested lady golfers...Sonny...so sorry I didn't get to keep that promise...We love and miss you more than words can say...but are FOREVER THANKFUL for the honor of having loved you in this life....
Besos to you all and until next time,
Remember to be Thankful for all your blessings no matter how small :)
***June...sorry I broke that long ass post promise :) Besos & hugs to you anyways!
Rose ~
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14 comments:
Another beautiful post from your lovely heart.
My wishes are for you and your family to have a full and joyous Thanskgiving.
Hugs!
Nancy
You are just so sweet and kind, can't imagine you being stubborn!!!
I love your posts, so truthful and full of love. I am wishing for you and your family to have a peaceful and Happy Thanksgiving, enjoy each other and love in the moment!
Hugs,
Margaret B
Hi Rose, thank you for your wishes... and may you and your family have a wonderful thanksgiving gathered together in happiness and thankfulness, and as you say with lots of laughings and delicious food and lots of LoVe.
Muchos cariños
María Cecilia
Oh Rose, please always feel free to break that (long-assed post) promise anytime, as I absolutely love them. Anything from your sweet heart gets a read from me. But you do have to quit making me cry! Your Sonny will be with you all this year and for every year after, because of the love that you have for him. What a gift you must be to him, and everyone in your family.
I can't believe how many wonderful people I have met through this experience, and you are a treasure. We have a lot to be thankful for!
Enjoy Thanksgiving with all of your loved ones here and 'there', for they will certainly be with you.
Beautiful post!
Hugs,
June
Dear Rose, you sweet thing - that was lovely. Tender and sweet memories. What a blessing and joy you were to your dad and to all your family, I'm sure. I know you were because you are to your blog friends right now and in every post. I do know what you mean about so much loss. Remember that I lost my mother, brother and husband this year, and so I know how wonder Thanksgiving will be but still a little painful, maybe awkward sometimes. You and I will be experiencing much the same things and feelings. Lord, I ask that you help Rose and I to make it through this time. Lord, we need strength and blessings and help us to be a blessing also...
Cynthia K. (Beauty and Blessings)
Me again, Rose. I forgot to say how tickled I was that you joined as a follower of my blog. Thank you dear - I am honored.
I also thought that maybe your Sonny and my brother had one of the same problems - it's called "stubbornitis"!!!
Cynthia K.
You always write such beautiful posts...love the P.S. for June...too cute.
Dear Rose,
What beautiful sweet memories you have shared.
Your post is full of such sweet and lovely things.
May you have a wonderful and joyous Thanksgiving, with your family.
Thank you for your friendship.
Sending hugs to you, my friend.
Carolyn xo
Good morning Rose,
Love your long a@# posts. When I see that they are going to be long I always wait to read them when I know there are not going to be any interuptions and I can take my time and enjoy them. Because of Thanksgiving preparations and stuff I didn't have time to read it until right now though. Anyway, I always love your posts. Thank you for always being honest and open...Hope you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I know Sonny was having his own feast in heaven and sending you all this blessings. Thank you for always being so sweet and kind to me. Until next time querida amiga.
Besitos,
♥Ana
Rose- What a wonderful tribute to your Father. We miss them don't we? But those wonderful memories are what sustain us. I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Hi Rose, thanks so much for stopping by and your sweet comment. Hope you had a great Thanksgiving and weekend, Theresa
Dear Rose...
Your post today was so precious to me. Thank you so much for taking the time to write. Between the death of my Grammy and the Alzheimer's of my beloved father...sometimes smiling through the holidays is more than my heart really wants to do.
It helps to know my grandmother is a peace....sighted again after being totallly blinded by Glaucoma for 15 years. I pray for my father to find this same peace as the tole of langishing in a pitiful hospital bed is something he would not want to be doing. I'm thankful he doesn't know.
Blessings to you for sharing your heart with me and for telling me so much about your Grammy. God is so good...isn't He?
Blessings to you and love~
Rebecca
Rose
Just found you tonight and have enjoyed what I have read so far. What a lovely post for Thanksgiving. We all need to take the time more often and give thanks for everyone in our lives.
Hope to visit again soon
Maggie
Beautiful post dear Rose- I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with blessings. Thank you for the kindness that you spread.
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