Happy Birthday! And Happy Thanksgiving

                        Daughter #1's first birthday:

                                   And her 24th:

                 Our yearly Thanksgiving traditions --- watching the Macy's Parade:

                    And cooking our brains out:





  These are the best pies in the world -- my mom made them.       Chocolate:
                       Pumpkin --- note the little leaves on top (and please comment about them.  The   woman is extremely pleased with her leaves).
           And one of my favorites, cherry:
          

           Can life get any better than pie and an empty glass of red wine?  I think not.

     So the food has been eaten --- well, maybe less then half of it was eaten.  My family is not known for eating large quantities of food.  In fact, we're more known for eating ridiculously small amounts of food, but that is for another post on another day.

Anyway, the leftovers have been stored and the dishes washed and put away.  The girls did the cooking, the boys did the cleaning.  That was something that Jim always did.  Every family holiday he'd grab his brothers and his sons and they'd do the dishes.  He'd also do the dishes at friends' houses after we'd have get-togethers.  Which reminds me that I wanted to thank my friend RS for cleaning up the other night.  He made me think of Jim .... and I smiled.

     So we are stuffed.  Mom and D. are heading home.  We have friends coming over tonight to watch the UT-A&M game (cuz we're neutral territory).

     And I am thankful.  

Don't get me wrong ..... I'm incredibly sad, too.  I miss him SO much that it makes me cry to even type those words.  There shouldn't be a huge hole in my heart, or in my children's.  There shouldn't be a huge hole in our home.  

But there is.

And we continue to live.  With holes.  And with hope.

I am thankful for my God and His grace.  And His presence and comfort.  

I am thankful for my children, who each remind me of their wonderful father.

I am thankful for my family -- all of them, the ones who are related to me by blood and the ones who are related to me through love -- Jim's family.

I am thankful that my Mom and D moved down here to be close for help and support and love.

I am thankful for my friends.  I would not be here if not for so very many of them.

I am thankful for Jim and the time we had together.  

I am thankful for his love for me that will last a lifetime.

I am thankful for his provision for our family.

I am thankful for our health.

I am thankful for my church.

I am thankful for my job.

I am thankful that I have tennis.

I am thankful, most days, that I am here.

And I am thankful that so many people care about me and support me and are there for me... and here for me.

Oh, and most of all .... I am SO thankful that Daughter #3 brought her dog, Miley, with her to visit because it made me realize that I in no way whatsoever want a second dog.

Happy Thanksgiving to all and to all a good night.