Let The Thankfulness Begin!

Today is November 1st.  Are you thinking what I'm thinking? "Where has this year gone?"

It was one of change in our home and thankfully, unlike it's predecessors (aka 2011, 2012 & 2013) those changes were overwhelmingly positive and have left me full of hope.

I like that about 2014.

November 1st is kinda the unofficial start of the holiday season, don't ya think?

In a few weeks we'll be in the throes of it all. The 4th Thursday will find us (hopefully) surrounded by family & friends, stuffed to the gills, going through the sales paper to plan our Black Friday attack and from that point, it's on but for now ...

Right now ...

We have time to think about the past ten months. What they held. What changed. What we wished had changed.

I have no idea what season of life you're in.  You may be exactly where you want to be or very close to it. The thought of that makes me happy for you --- whoever you may be.

But wherever this post finds you, I challenge you to take the time to look around and count your blessings. Some will be obvious to you. Others you may have to seek out.

I suppose it's unfair of me to assume your 2014 whizzed by as quickly as mine did but whatever it's speed, I pray it treated you & those you love with kindness.

Let the thankfulness begin!



Unforgettable.

That's what you are ... 

unforgettable: adjective,  earning a permanent place in the memory; impossible to forget; indelibly impressed on the memory ...

I'd say that pretty much sums you up, January Twenty-Fourteen. You with your brutal temps. Your ice & snow freezing mountainous rural roads, making travel treacherous and nerve-racking.

 

 

Our storm door --- frozen over.

Thankfully, there was good in you.

My Sailor and his family were home for 11 days after a two-year absence. This made my heart very, very happy.

 

My grandgirlies were finally together. Giggle galore!

"Please Nana. Can we have a slumber party?"
 



Looks like I said "Yes" ;)

My KyKy loving on her Papaw.

 

Our family welcomed a new little one. My niece, Lauren Brooke was born ...

Girlfriend weighed in at 9 lbs. 14 oz.

 

And the next day, we celebrated my cousin Greg's 50th birthday.

 



Even a non-snow lover, such as myself can appreciate that you had your moments of beauty.

 

 



So January 2014 ... you were not without your charms.

I think Nat King Cole summed it up perfectly ...  "unforgettable in every way and forever more, that's how you'll stay" ...  You've made your mark and you'll not be soon forgotten.

Go on now. It's time for you to leave. It's February's time to shine. With that thought, I'll close with a prayer ...

"Dear Lord, please don't let that stupid groundhog see his shadow"

Mom Years

 

My oldest son & his family left today.
I've had a good cry.
My heart is heavy.
Residual damage.

Which goes to prove what I've long suspected to be true.
Proof that it never gets easier.

He'll be 34 in 13 days and yet, as I watch him drive away, my heart doesn't seem to be able to differentiate between the screaming infant placed on my sterile-draped abdomen early that January morn and the handsome, broad-shouldered sailor who has traveled the world.

Is there a difference?
None that I can tell.

 

Don't get me wrong.
My head gets it.
My heart does not.
Which is regrettable on days such as this.

It had been two years since he'd been home.
That's a long, long time.
Especially in mom years.

In case you didn't know,
Mom years are even longer than dog years.
Of course, I just made that up.
But I challenge you to find a military momma who disagrees.

Before he left there was mention of another visit this year.
This Summer perhaps.
As wonderful as that would be, history has taught me to err on the side of caution.

So for now, I'll cherish the memories of the past eleven days.
I am truly grateful for the time spent together.
I have enjoyed every moment.