Counting our Blessings

From bees to hot cocoa to Jesus to microwaves to Duke basketball, our family has had a lot of things to be grateful for this Thanksgiving!

We made a long list (fuzzy slippers, democracy, colors, stickers, hot showers, kitty, mirrors, central heating, the Cycle of Life...) and I had the best of intentions to make a clever decoration that incorporated all of them.

I obviously didn't get that far, but at least we made a thoughtful list!  We truly have been so blessed, it's overwhelming how fortunate we are when we really stop to think about it.  Makes me realize how important it is to be grateful, and to remember our blessings in the midst of all that may be awry in the world.  It's so easy to get discouraged when reading headlines or watching the news, but it's just as vital to recognize the good in the world as it is to stay aware of world and national affairs. 

I'm grateful for Thanksgiving, the Holiday (quickly becoming eclipsed by commercial endeavers regarding Halloween and Christmas) of Gratitude to help us take a step back and be grateful for this nation, those who have sacrificed for freedom, and all the blessings that come from living here.  Not to mention our families, friends, health, and all the intangibles, as well as physical luxuries.

 

We had a lovely Thanksgiving Day - lots of good times around the dinner table with our friends and my little brother (who is now much taller than I!)  Most of our family lives on the west coast, so our holidays are usually filled with the company of fellow military families in the same situation.  We had a great time and all 10 kids actually got along really well for the entire afternoon/evening, which was a huge blessing in itself!  :-)

 

Here's Uncle John getting showered with attention from my kids - they love their uncle!

Okay, sneak peek of the firepit....ALMOST finished!  Still need to scrub the top of the firepit with muriatic acid to remove the mortar haze, and put pea gravel in the bottom of the pit, and finish laying the stone path, and plant plants all around.  When it's all done I'll do a special post just on this big puppy of a project.  We haven't even used it yet because the mortar is still curing and it's actually been below freezing at night for nearly a week!  Too cold for us, fire or no fire. 

But, in the spirit of thanksgiving, at least the cold prevents a bunch of new weeds from cropping up in all that dirt, and we don't have to mow our huge field in the winter!  Blessings all over the place.

 

Comments

[Edith]

What a lovely, thankful post! I know we'd all be happier if we continually focused on our blessings.

[Wendi]

Great Post Shelley..like you Thanksgiving is one of my FAVORITE holidays and I too feel like it gets overlooked or forgotten...we also talked about what we are grateful for and filled up our branch tree with leaves....

Your firepit looks amazing and I hope you get a chance to enjoy it!! Aidan says to tell Hyrum hello and let him know that he is getting baptized and is SUPER excited. Hopefully next year we will get a chance to see you guys and catch up!!!

[Beverly Atkins]

I can't believe it. As I was rolling down reading I thought I need to ask you how the fire pit was coming and here it is. It's amazing (am I boring you with that word? it just fits!) I know you all are going to enjoy it. I love the stone. Can't wait to see the post.

[NANCY PROCTOR]

Dear Shelley,
My husband Larry told me about you and your blog - and all the incredible things that you do. Taking a quick look at your website, I totally agree.

I am more of a curator, a gatherer of community events, issues, program on the outer banks. WWW.obxcommongood.org which mophed into a facebook page, calendar and volunteeer hub.

Love the fire pit. We tried to put in a 7 circuit maze about 6 years ago but flying pests drove us out. There is a lovely one at the Episcopal church in Kitty Hawk

Blessings and Peace

Nancy P.B