Thanksgiving but no turkey

I have always thought Thanksgiving a great holiday. During my year in Chicago I was able to experience a full on Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings, and it was my first tasting of pumpkin pie. I had heard about it, but the idea of a vegetable/dessert combo was puzzling to me.... well, let me tell you that I was a convert after that year!

Food aside, I am attracted to Thanks Giving.. dedicating time to be thankful. Cicero said that gratitude is the parent of all virtues. I get that.... When I am truly grateful for what I have, I am less likely to be selfish, greedy and proud.
"Gratefulness is the key to a happy life that we hold in our hands, because if we are not grateful, then no matter how much we have we will not be happy -- because we will always want to have something else or something more" Brother David Steindl-Rast

Thanksgiving shouldn't be an annual event, but a daily event. I'm a nicer person when I am truly grateful, but it's a state of mind, a habit and needs regular exercise.

"To educate yourself for the feeling of gratitude means to take nothing for granted, but to always seek out and value the kind that will stand behind the action. Nothing that is done for you is a matter of course. Everything originates in a will for the good, which is directed at you. Train yourself never to put off the word or action for the expression of gratitude." - Albert Schweitzer

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity.... It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow."
- Melodie Beattie

Today I am grateful for:
A hometeacher who, although he is continents away and hasn't been our hometeacher for 6 years, still prays daily for the wellbeing of my family and who took the time to check up on me because I hadn't written for a long time.

A hometeacher whose love of gardening means I am reminded of him every time I tend to my vegetable garden. He shared of his bounty every season, and each visit he would bring us vegetables or homemade jam. He had bumper crops because he made a deal with God to always give away more than he kept.

A hometeacher who performed the blessing/naming of my youngest two children, and who drove out late in the evening to give a blessing to my sick infant who had been admitted to hospital.

A hometeacher who didn't miss a single month for 2 years, and who always made us feel that he truly loved us and wasn't just there in order to cross us off a list.

A hometeacher who is the kind of person who makes me feel that through knowing him I am getting to know the Saviour because of the way he lives his life.

Simply grateful

for my mother....

In the 2 years since she passed away I have had many occasions to miss her presence here. All those little happenings in my life, the antics of the children where I still automatically think of calling my mother to share. But, I believe that she looks in on us once in a while and I tell the kids this. They are thrilled at the thought that Bestemor is keeping an eye on her precious grandchildren.

I am grateful for having such a mother in my life, and grateful for the warm relationship that we had. What prompted this reflection today was something I found during a closet clearout. I found my journal from 2 years ago and a copy of the eulogies offered at my mother's funeral. Her minister and friend described her like this:
"She took trials, sorrow and joys for what it was and lived a quietly righteous life. She did not make herself noticed, but represented the qualities a society needs.
One could gain wisdom by listening to what she had to say although she never lectured. She was a person completely without bitter feelings, although occasionally discouraged and saddened by her afflictions. I know of no other person who's managed to remain upright, keep the gleam in her eye, the humour and wit, like she did. Of stature she was so small you almost worried about breathing too hard in her direction, but at the same time she was stronger and more resilient than most of us. Our family experienced being part of something essential and rich from the day we got to know her. This incredibly strong little person taught me more about life and living, sorrow and joy, of strength and faith than I have ever learned from voluminous books".

My mother had many trials and afflictions throughout her life, but at the end she said - and truly felt - that she had a good life. I feel honoured to be her daughter and if I can even gain a fraction of her qualities, I would be glad.

Until we meet again........... hvil i fred, mamma!

Sunflowers

I love sunflowers. They make me feel all happy and cheerful. I particularly love the way they turn their heads to follow the sunlight. Bit of a reminder to me of how I should live my life. With that in mind I think I need to better remember the happy things, the things I am being blessed with. So I will start listing them. And on Monday I shall go buy some sunflower seeds and plant a row in our garden!

Gratitudes: This evening I am grateful for my family especially my children who are the little sunflowers in my life.