November begins.....

So November is finally here! It is almost holiday time. Three weeks from today is Thanksgiving. It is very difficult to believe. While my favorite time of year is near, it is also a very difficult month for me. It always has been. There has been a lot of loss in my family and friends in this month. My aunt passed away this 28 years ago this month, my daughter is named after her. We went through the first of four miscarriages in November 1986. Valarie was 10 months old. Both my James grandparents died in November. Papaw in 1981, Mammaw in 1994. And probably the most devastating thing that has ever happened to date was November 23, 2009 when we were kicked in the chest with cleats, the day Rick's brain tumor was discovered. But November also brings joy. It begins the holiday season. Thanksgiving is a very meaningful time for me. My family has always celebrated Thanksgiving and Christmas together. My Papaw James was always very insistent about that. So while November brings some sadness, it also brings joy. Joy in the Precious Memories from all my 53 years during this time of year. There are many, many excellent memories from this time of year. All the Thanksgivings growing up waking that morning to the aroma of a roasting turkey with breakfast on the table. The anticipation of the holiday meal that was to come and the joy when my grandparents would arrive. Some years, we would go to their house. We would get there early and help Mamaw finish cooking. While we were waiting, Papaw would sit in his chair and peel yellow delicious apples. We would take turns getting to get the peelings and throw them onto the fire. The crackling of the coal fire and scent of that burning peel is as fresh in my memory as I write this as it was 40 years ago. Even as teenagers, we enjoyed doing that so much. 

Memories of my first Thanksgiving as a nurse:  I worked the night before and was glad to be home to enjoy Thanksgiving with my family. It is also the day I moved out from my parents house to being a roommate with 2 other girls .We had a three bedroom trailer. One friend's mom said: "she won't last a month on her own" - I have never moved back into my parents house since that day in 1978. 

Our first Thanksgiving in Massachusetts was in 1987, but we were able to fly home for 2 or 3 days and had a good time. Our last Thanksgiving in MA was 1989. We went to bed Wednesday night to a starry sky and woke to about a foot of snow Thanksgiving morning. Reo and Pam Davis who were GM folks from Cave City who also had moved to MA for work then on to Saturn and Jack and Aurora Little joined us at 30 Warren Avenue Marlboro MA for a big turkey dinner that day. I will never forget. Reo had worked the night before and Pam and I were finishing up cooking. Reo was lying on the couch napping. Rick went to the door, thought it was Jack and Aurora. It was Jehovah's Witnesses out soliciting. He was listening intently to their promotion. I went out and interrupted, I needed his help. They went on their way. Our next Thanksgiving, Nick was 2 months old. We were Thankful to be back home even if we actually lived in TN at that time. 

Even through difficult times and sorrowful times, there is always something to be thankful for. Sometimes we just have to look a little more closely at it. Even when the tumor was diagnosed, we could be thankful for so much: that he never suffered a seizure, he never suffered pain, even after surgery, that we had as many years together as we did, that we had two beautiful grandbabies, (really had 3 more we didn't know about yet) we had our family, the list goes on and on. 

If you decide to participate in the November Thankful For posts, please remember your posts are your own. No one is here to judge what you are thankful for. It is each persons decision what to post. You might look at other posts to get ideas if you'd like, or just think about it. There is no format, no right or wrong way to post. Just post, read and enjoy. You will be blessed! 

Last year, our posts were so heartwarming and I was blessed every day to read them! I expect no less this year! 

I love all y'all!

To be continued...........

I've Got So Much to Thank Him For

WHEN I LOOK AROUND AND SEE

THE GOOD THINGS HE DOES FOR ME

I KNOW I’M UNWORTHY OF THEM ALL

BUT HIS BLESSINGS HE FREELY GIVES

I OWE MY LIFE TO HIM

I’VE GOT SO MUCH TO THINK HIM FOR.

CHORUS :

AND I’VE GOT SO MUCH TO THANK HIM FOR

SO MUCH TO PRAISE HIM FOR

WELL YOU SEE NOW HE HAS BEEN SO GOOD TO ME

AND WHEN I THINK OF WHAT HE’S DONE

AND WHERE HE BROUGHT ME FROM

I’VE GOT SO MUCH TO THANK HIM FOR

VERSE 2 :

AND SOMETIMES WHILE ON THIS WAY

I KNEEL AND I STOP AND SAY

LORD THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU’VE DONE FOR ME

AND ONE DAY I’LL REACH HEAVENS SHORE

OH PLEASE LET ME KNEEL ONCE MORE

I’VE GOT SO MUCH TO THANK YOU FOR

REPEAT CHORUS ONCE + TAG 1 & 2 :

TAG 1 & 2 :

AND WHEN I THINK OF WHAT HE’S DONE

AND WHERE HE BROUGHT ME FROM

I’VE GOT SO MUCH TO THANK HIM FOR

2 : THANK HIM FOR