Thanksgiving...

Dear Cupcake and Peep, 

Let's face it, sometimes the complications of life can get in the way of remembering all that we do have to be grateful for.  The holiday seasons the last few years have immeasurably been a trigger for me to jump to emotional extremes.  It was just before last Christmas that Daddy was hospitalized for extreme pneumonia  As scary as those months were it is very real in my heart to be grateful that he is home with us doing well and life is back to normal.  In my spiritual mind I often practice the meditation and prayer on being grateful for the challenges.  I learn and grow so much in those times I can't loose sight of the brightness that guide us through the turmoil.  I hope to pass this quality on to you guys.  Looking at the "bad" things in these terms has helped me cope and move forward many times.  It does seem though lately those tests of my resolve have been coming regularly.  The Thanksgiving and then just after the New Year in 2011 we lost both Papaw Elmo and then a couple of months later Mamaw Mergie after stays in hospice care.  That was rough!  Just after Papaw's funeral finished totally out of the blue on the way home we heard that Grandpa Tim was in the hospital awaiting major life or death heart surgery.  That was a rough one!  The year before that, 2009, we lost Great Aunt Judy a few days before Christmas REALLY out of the blue.  Then this year Daddy was so sick, Grandma LaJean got blood clots after a hip replacement,  GG passed, Daddy's young Aunt Kelli passed a couple of days after GG proceeding a grueling battle with cancer, Mommy's Uncle Buzzy died two weeks ago from a ruthless lung disease!  There are other things but you get the point!  In the middle of all of this crap Daddy has a contagious intestinal thing.  He is pretty miserable and sad that it will keep us for the first time, ever from spending Thanksgiving with extended family.  It has been hard approaching GG's birthday and the holidays without her.  We are going to make the best of it with the Thompson four here at home.  Mommy is gonna bake a chicken and several sides and we are going to spend it together here.  I am so grateful we have the funds to buy such yummy fixings and prepare them under our warm and cozy roof.  That all seems like so much doom and gloom but damn it!  I am still very grateful.  Daddy made it through his illness last year!  Grandpa Tim recovered well from that surgery!  All of our relatives who died in hospice's care were in control of their end days with dignity and peace.  My Uncle Buzzy changed so many lives just before the holidays with organ donation (I am in such awe of this).  Bahboo just successfully underwent his 4th joint replacement, an ankle, with no complications.  Uncle Gary and his family are closer to us now.  WE HAVE BABY HAZEL WITH US THIS YEAR!  I mean holy cow!  Who saw that coming?  

Cousin Nellie and Ryan have a baby boy due in a few weeks!  We have continued positive relationships with Hazel's birth mom WW and Henry's birth mom JoJo.  We are so grateful to learn the depth and caring of our friendships this year, as well as the level of continued support from our families, special mention to your Aunties Krispie and Curry who are there at a moment's notice in an emergency with special touches and love.  I am grateful that after a decade of building our family we have a perfect little set of a Henry and Hazel.  That is what I am going to focus on today. 

Love, Mama