Remember Your Blessings

As I sit here on this Thanksgiving morning in the warmth of my home, in front of my 46 inch Bravia HD watching the Macy's Day Thanksgiving Parade (one of the highlights of my year), I thought about the 2 big turkeys that I am about to get ready to cook, about the refrigerator full of prepared food waiting on my family, and my mind went to my "children" at school. I work at a school where 98% of the students qualify for free or reduced lunch. Yes, some may not be truthful on their applications, but most are. I work with children who are often hungry- and they will tell you that. They get breakfast and lunch at school- but that means that some of them go long hours without a good meal. I shudder when I think about the weekends for many of these precious children. I do what I can- and I have a principal that has a knack for spotting hunger and trying to deal with it, but it is sad. We are soooooo blessed. We have such a bounty that I have had to work hard to get some of the bounty off my booty this year! Have you ever really been hungry? Hungry when you did not know that eventually you would get a meal, or pull into a drive-through for a burger and fries? About the only time I have ever been truly hungry may have been times following surgery or tests when food was not an option- not because I could not get it. I never remember being hungry as a child, although we had some very lean times when Daddy would be on strike or when the mines closed. Somehow my precious Mother kept us fed- she was a good manager! So, today when we pass around the counter, think of those who may not have this blessing and thank God. My Mother's favorite saying was- "Save by the Grace of God, go there I"- food for thought!

Blog Rerun

This is a rerun from 2006. My niece, Leslie, who resides in California wrote this and I wanted to share it again. We are so looking forward to Thanksgiving and Peanut Butter Pie! Enjoy.

Thanksgiving – Dixie Style

When I was asked to write a blog about my favorite Thanksgiving memory, I was flooded with so many, I had a hard time choosing what to write about. When I was younger, Thanksgiving was a time to hang out with my family and eat great food. I really didn’t think much about the holiday beyond that. I left my hometown of Birmingham, Alabama five years ago to pursue an acting career in Los Angeles, and Thanksgiving certainly carries a lot more weight for me now than it did then. No matter what, I go home for Thanksgiving every year. Now, instead of it being about hanging out with my family, it is about reconnecting with my family. While I used to enjoy eating great food, I now savor aromas and tastes I can only get when I make that 2,000 mile trek home. So many things I used to take for granted about that time of year in the South I don’t anymore: hearing the crunch of leaves underneath my feet, feeling the bristle of wind whip my hair around, watching those long red sunsets through the crisp air. Those are just the moments by myself. After spending the better part of the year alone in my little Los Angelian apartment, it is great to be surrounded by my family: loud, boisterous, welcoming, loving, and always ready to have a good time. In addition to eating all the great food (I’ll get to that in a minute), we spend the evening playing Balderdash and other competitive games like it’s the Olympics, draw names for who we will buy gifts for at Christmas and catch up on what’s going on in everyone’s life. The food, ah, the food. Like any Southern family, we have enough food to feed a small nation. It all tastes good, and it is all bad for you. My very favorite dish is my aunt’s peanut butter pie. When I tell people this, they say, “Oh yeah, I’ve had peanut butter pie” to which I quickly reply, “Oh no you haven’t!” How do I know this? I HAVEN’T SEEN THEM AT ANY OF MY THANKSGIVINGS! My aunt makes the best peanut butter pie ever. I’ve always associated peanut butter pie with Thanksgiving, and now that I travel cross-country to eat it, she makes two for good measure. It may sound silly, but knowing I will get that peanut butter pie the fourth Thursday of every November brings warmth and security to my life. I may not know how successful my acting career will be, but hey, on Thanksgiving I get peanut butter pie. I may be separated from my family for the vast majority of the year, but end of November, I get peanut butter pie. If nobody appreciates my talents and sacrifices, I STILL get peanut butter pie. I have friends who moved to LA from other parts of the country like myself, and many of them talk about how they can’t go home because of the cost of air fare, time off of work, blah, blah, blah. I simply reply, “Well, I have a date in Alabama with a peanut butter pie.” I can’t remember who it was who said the simple things in life bring us the greatest pleasure, but I couldn’t agree more. As you can see, the pie isn’t difficult to make, but I think it is the love instead of the ingredients that make it so great!
From my Aunt Susan:
Ingredients:8 ounces Cream Cheese
1 cup Powdered Sugar
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter1
6 ounces Cool Whip
1 pre-made graham cracker pie crust
Directions:In a large bowl, mix the cream cheese, powdered sugar, peanut butter, and cool whip until well blended. Pour into the pre-made pie crust. Refrigerate. For a more peanut butter taste, use 2/3 cup of creamy peanut butter.
Leslie McGuirkPasadena, CA

Food for Thought

BE THANKFUL
Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.If you did, what would there be to look forward to?
Be thankful when you don't know something,for it gives you the opportunity to learn.
Be thankful for the difficult times.During those times you grow.
Be thankful for your limitations,because they give you opportunities for improvement.
Be thankful for each new challenge,because it will build your strength and character.
Be thankful for your mistakes.They will teach you valuable lessons.
Be thankful when you're tired and weary,because it means you've made a difference.
It's easy to be thankful for the good things.A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks.
Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,and they can become your blessings.
~~ Author Unknown ~~

Well, Dr. Phil would be happy

I bit the bullet and gave away most of my too big clothes. Pray I made the right choice! Dr. Phil says give them away, so I did.
We are okay- still trying to cope and still praying for Josh and Katie. It still seems unreal for me, so I know it does for them.
I am looking forward to Thanksgiving. We have much to be thankful for, even in light of the loss of this past week. Life is truly a roller coaster- and we are strapped on for the ride as long as we are on this side of eternity.
My co-workers have been wonderful to me since I returned on yesterday. I have had gifts and tokens placed on my desk, hugs, cards, and tears shared. I am blessed beyond words to work where I do. I also found out we had been selected as a Title I Distinguished School, which is a rare honor. I am going to San Antonio in February to receive the award, along with my principal and assistant principal. We will be there from Thursday until Sunday. Should be fun!

Blog Therapy

Thanks for all the sweet comments concerning the loss of the baby. I think blogging is pretty good therapy. I think we write things that we might not verbalize- and that we respond with words that we might not be able to vocalize.
We are all still trying to cope with this loss. I have this great mental picture of my dear mother reaching out to take this sweet baby's little hand and welcome him or her to eternity. I can see MaMa Studdard making certain that God turns up the thermostat because there is a little baby in the house. I know that Bill and Lila Mae have to be there on the welcoming committee, as well as so many others. Lila Mae probably has that baby a quilt made! While I certainly do not know how Heaven works, thinking of images such as these helps to ease the pain. The sun will rise tomorrow, Lord willing, and with each day we will move forward. For Josh and Katie, the move will be slower- but we are here to hold their hands and to help them as they deal with the emotions of this loss. Continue to pray for us. The concern and love that have been shown truly means a lot to me, and I know to Katie and Josh, as well.

Our Hearts are Sad Tonight

Our hearts are sad as our sweet, unborn baby has been lost. I have never lost a baby, but tonight I have lost a grandbaby. We had such anticipation, as we have with the other grandchildren, and now we feel very empty. Though this baby had been in our lives just a short time, that does not minimize the hopes and dreams that we all had for this wee one. Katie and Josh are heart-broken, as this was a much wanted and loved sweet soul. Please pray for all of us, but especially Katie and Josh. Hannah hugged her daddy for such a long time tonight- she seemed to sense his hurt and put her sweet head on his shoulder for the longest time. Katie will be having a D & C tomorrow, so hold her in your thoughts and prayers.

Pray for JaKiera

Please remember to pray for our transplant baby. Temeka talked to Mary yesterday and JaKiera is going through the same thing Mary went through last week. They are doing a biopsy today and she said she would let us know what was going on. She has been readmitted to the hospital, which I assume is because of her age. They had hoped to return to Mississippi on Friday, but I am certain that is not going to happen at this point.
Mary went to the movies yesterday! They were the only ones in the theatre, so we will not give her too hard of a time. Her bloodwork is improving and they hope to get it all adjusted where her shaking will stop. Thankfully- NO ITCHING!

Random Monday Morning Thoughts

I have had some random thoughts on this Monday morning, so I decided to blog. I have been thinking about how wonderful the month of November truly is, and not just because it is my birthday month. November is like the threshold to the holidays- and, like most people, I love the holidays. I enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas because of the opportunity to celebrate with my favorite people- my family. We have been blessed to have parents, children, grandchildren, siblings, in-laws, nieces, nephews, and even our children’s in-laws to celebrate the holidays with us. I enjoy fixing the Thanksgiving feast and watching those around me enjoy the meal. What fun. I also love the period of time between Thanksgiving and Christmas- the shopping, Christmas carols, food, gatherings, you name it. I can hardly wait! This year, of course, will be even more wonderful since Mary has her new liver and will be feeling better. We might even string some lights on her!
Christmas is so exciting, especially when there are little ones around. Our Christmas Eve and Christmas day have been made so special with the addition of the wee ones. For several years it seemed like we had “older” kids, but since Addi’s arrival, the little ones have been resupplied. Our family has always been on the “smaller” side, but I think we have made good progress at moving into the “mid-size” range. I am not certain what the numbers are for “mid-size” but I will just say we are.
One of my mother’s wishes was that her family remain a “family”. I think she would be proud of us.
In other news and notes- we are going to take a trip to Gatlinburg this week. We are leaving on Friday morning and we will be back on Tuesday night. While a little short, 4 nights is a nice get-away. I am excited to see all the decorations- it is beautiful during the holiday season.
This morning when I got out of bed I thought to myself that I had no aches or pains. How great. Prior to losing this weight, my back would hurt me if I stayed in bed very long. I guess it was a “touch” of arthritis, but now I never notice it. Is that not good? I have been blessed to not have many of the “fat” folks problems- diabetes, high blood pressure, etc., but I knew I was a ticking time bomb. I still have to give myself a lecture when I am around food- like this weekend, but then when I get on the scales, I am thankful that I did not give in. Reality is- if I can just hold on until I go to bed, once I get up I am not even hungry. I usually wait until about 9 or 9:30 to eat something in the morning, and even at that I am not just starving. I always tell myself if I give in and eat, especially at night before bedtime, I will not even realize that I have eaten it come morning- does that make sense? David put us up a new flat screen digital TV in front of the treadmill. He was walking when I left for work- so I am going to have to get on there and add the exercise to my program. I think having the TV will take away from the boredom of just walking by myself.
Well, enough random thoughts. Am I the only one looking forward to the holidays???