I am not sure how it happened, but somehow Thanksgiving has crept up on me this year!!  I mean where in the world did 2016 go?   Anyway, it dawned on me the other day , that I had better start making my list of goodies I will be preparing this year for my family.  I am asking for some help this year from you though!!!

Most families plan Thanksgiving around what family members they have to go visit.   I moved our family from California to Tennessee 16 years ago, and when we did that, I had to develop some new Holiday Traditions.   Prior to our move, I would generally do a Thanksgiving meal with my hubby and kids, and then we would head to my mother in law’s house and do another dinner there.   We would almost always try and plan a trip to my mom’s house. (another 5 hours away) read more

Five years ago, I went and bought a journal, that I sit on our table by the TV in the living room.   The book is called our Thankful Book.  Each day, every one in the family has to write what they are thankful for .   I  know that now, you will see it all over Facebook and other Social Media sites, where people post what they are thankful for each day.   To be honest , I have done that once or twice.    But I want to point out, that I can’t easily go back and look at those posts.   This post is to share with you a better way that I have been having our family state what they are Thankful for. read more

I find myself sitting here exhausted but so beyond happy after all the fun activities of the day.  I have to confess though, I was slightly stressed at the beginning of the night, and let’s just say I wouldn’t have received the “Mom of the Day” award!!
When I woke up this morning and thought about what we had planned for the afternoon, I got exhausted just thinking about what the night would bring.   I want to say, because of my disabilities , I was a little concerned I would be able to do it all, but thankfully I have some great daughters that helped me get through the night!  I knew it was going to get busy and crazy with trying to coordinate not only the granddaughters that are living with me, but also making sure that timing worked out with my daughter , her fiance’ and the newest 6 month old granddaughter.   In addition to that, it was important to me to meet up with my best friend of 16 years and her crew of kids , sometime throughout the night.    As long as we have known each other, if she was living here in town, we meet up and do Halloween trick or treating with  our kids.   We joked about it last year, because now our own children are grown and no longer trick or treating, yet here we are 16 years later and we still find ourselves out running around town with little ones. She is raising 2 grandchildren, that she has since adopted, and  in addition to them she is a foster parent and has 2 extra little ones this year.    I don’t envy her at all, and honestly I am not sure how she does it.   She has 3 kids under the age of 4 yrs old , plus a 9 or 10 yr old!   When I think of her , two things go through my mind…..#1, she must be Super Woman and I have just never seen the cape , and #2 there is no way at my age I could take on what she has!   I love her dearly, and am very thankful that she is there for those babies! read more