Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving came in smoothly with family and left abruptly with hurt feelings for all.   Can't even begin to go into it all...but today I want to focus on the positive things that occurred during those precious 3 days.

• I am thankful for the beautiful smiles of my niece and nephews.  They are growing up so fast.  
• I am thankful for the excitement that our daughter had while playing her little heart out.
• I am thankful for the time I had shopping with my sister for all the groceries needed.   We haven't been able to do that for sooo long!
• I am thankful that Mom gave us her card to let us buy all kinds of goodies to help make the dinners and Thanksgiving a success.    
• I am grateful for the great weather they had in traveling to our house.
• I am thankful that all kiddos were healthy.
• I am grateful that dad didn't go into shock and give me a lecture about our new car.
• I am grateful that the kids seem to sleep OK for being in unfamiliar surroundings.
• I am thankful that I saw C. acting beautifully and is growing up nicely...even without meds anymore.   I hope she can maintain without them.    I really miss her and would like her to stay with us for a week if you're willing.    You know I will be her ONLY AUNTIE.
• I am thankful that Mom & Dad took the kids to the nearby park on Friday.
• Thank you G. for complementing me on how I cut my pickles and sliced the turkey just the right size for the little ones.   That made me feel good. 
• Thank you for admiring the kitchen and letting me know that you liked it.   That also meant a lot to me.   I value your opinion.   
• I am thankful for all the delicious breads, cookies, pumpkin-pie and your home-made biscotti, your yummy toffee bars and the cappuccinos rocked G!    The Strata for brunch on Thursday was a hit and I need the recipe for the yummy salad with the Gorgonzola cheese and cranberry stuff.   How did you make that salad dressing?
• Mom I loved the chex mix, breads, cookies, pies and appreciate all the meat and cinnamon rolls you stocked our deep freeze with.    I just made homemade beef and noodles tonight and they were delicious!    
• I am grateful for the massager that you brought.   It is now on my wish list for hubby to buy me for Christmas.

I am so sorry that my sister felt unwelcome and left early.     We could have had such fun shopping and taking the kids to do fun things in the city over the weekend.    I know the Thanksgiving meal was chaotic and wish it would have gone differently.       I will call her but knew we both need the quiet distance for a week or so.   

I will say that just like what I'm learning in al-anon...it was similar that weekend.     I did not cause it....I cannot change it.....I cannot cure it....and so on.         It is so hard to set boundaries and not internalize when people are not happy with me.    But for the record sis....I am sorry and did treasure the time we did spend together.   Maybe someday....we need to get away...just the 2 of us for a spa trip or something like that-without kids or husbands.    

I know that even though I am working on loving detachment with my husband....it seems like I'm only being successful at the detaching-without love towards everyone.   I am a work in progress.    And I will never be perfect.       I love my family dearly and want God's best for all of us.    So G.   if you're reading this-sorry for everything.    I love you.        

I wrote this post but somehow didn't get it online....I have another crazy post to write about last weekend when I'm not so tired.   But tonight....I am grateful for my warm home as it is beginning to snow.   We are supposed to get our first measurable snow of the season.   Probably around 3 inches.     During my 16 years of teaching (I'm on a 2 year leave)...whenever snow was even in the forecast, I would watch the 3 local weather stations, The Weather Channel and constantly flip channels to see if it would snow the required 5-6 inches to cancel school.    The phone ringing to say "School is Closed" was just the BEST feeling on a cold morning.   So tonight I am grateful that I will go to bed knowing that I don't have to go to work in the morning.    I am also grateful that hubby will not have to scrape his windows at 5:00 in the morning when he leaves for work, as we now have our cars in a garage.

I need to just give God praise and just enjoy the morning with my sweet dolly (my 4 year old daughter.)   Have a sweet peaceful night.