"When I'm worried and I can't sleep
I count my blessings instead of sheep
I fall asleep counting my blessings
When my bankroll is getting small
I think of when I had none at all
I fall asleep counting my blessings"
I have an immeasurable amount of blessings for which I am beyond thankful. This isn't even the tip of the iceberg, but I find it of utmost importance to sit down and recognize my blessings every so often so that when I have a moment where I find myself wallowing in a pool of my own tears I can put everything into perspective by remembering all that I have been given.
1. Family
Dad: My dad recently started a new job and up until two days before Thanksgiving, he was committed to working Thanksgiving day. That meant missing my delicious dessert breakfast and coming home to a late Thanksgiving dinner, and then getting up early the next morning to do it all over again. I'm thankful my dad found out he didn't have to work Thanksgiving and was able to spend the entire day home with his family.
Mom: Every year my mom makes our entire feast and doesn't ask any of her children for a lick of help. Do I think she's crazy? Yes. But I'm so thankful for a mother who provides, doesn't demand, and loves unconditionally.
Gram and the memory of Pop: My grandfather, Pop, would occasionally volunteer to pray at our holiday meals. It was a deeply emotional prayer thanking God that he was alive one more year and able to spend the holiday with his family. I'm thankful for his memory and thankful to still have my Gram with us.
Siblings: This Thanksgiving, not only am I thankful for my birth siblings, my siblings by marriage, but also for those that are my siblings not only through birth. I'm grateful for those I got to spend part of the day with and those who are always with me in spirit.
Hubby: My blog says enough for why I'm thankful for my husband, but this picture says even more:
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My love for eating food has been ever present. However, my love for cooking food has not always been. My mother dragged me to a pampered chef party at my Aunt Terry's house the year before I was to be married. All the women were going around answering the question, "What do you like to cook?" When it came to me, I honestly blurted out, "Nothing. My husband is going to starve." I'm thankful for this inexplicable love of cooking, baking, and being in the kitchen.
I'm also thankful for the tradition of my family dessert breakfast. You can read about how it began and what last year's was like here: Thanksgiving breakfast. I'll be posting over at www.theorangestrainer.blogspot.com a few new recipes I did this year.
Like this candied bacon:
And these cinnamon rolls:
And this cranberry butter:
3. Relaxation
It is hard for me to take time to relax. I have to be severely ill or interested in watching a movie to actually "relax". Thanksgiving is one of the few times during the year that my couch and I cozy up together with absolutely no regrets.
4. Holidays
Holidays and the traditions within them are a blessing. I know that I can take the likeness of Tevye from Fiddler on the Roof when it comes to traditions and holidays. I have a controlling love over them. Unlike Tevye, who followed tradition because it was all he ever knew, I think I have such a firm grasp to mine because some of the best times of my life have been spent within moments of family traditions.
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| This was a last minute cell phone shot. I love it. |
There are many who can't be home during this time of the year. Sickness, location, careers, and more keep many separated from their loved ones with no consideration of what time of year it is.
This is a tough one to remember to be thankful for. It is something that we often take for granted.
Of course we will be home for the holidays.
Of course we will hug our family members once again, eat together, laugh together.
I'm thankful, just as Pop always was, for another year to have the privilege of being home with my family.
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