This Thanksgiving I am so thankful for the things I have in my life. I choose not to agonize over the things I don’t. It would be so easy to lose myself in the depths of despair over the fact that my parents are no longer alive to celebrate with or that money is in short supply. I may not have all I want, but I have all I need.
It seems life is never easy, but I get G0d’s purpose for life’s struggles. He wants us to depend on Him for strength, be thankful to Him for all blessings no matter how small, and value the priceless things in life that can never be replaced. Therefore I am thankful that unlike last year, my husband will be home for Thanksgiving. I am thankful everyday for the companionship and devotion of my children who march through life at my side. I am thankful that except for a cold, my family is healthy. I am thankful for a car that runs, a roof over my head, and my dear sweet pets who snuggle against me to keep me warm at night.
I am thankful for the wonderful parents I was blessed to have, and even though they are no longer here I am thankful for the precious memories I have of them. I am thankful that G0d blessed me with the ability to cook and magically create a delicious meal. Even though it would be great to have the newest shiniest SUV to drive, I am thankful I don’t have the hefty payment that would go with it! I am thankful for my blazer and the fact that is paid for. I am thankful for the kind neighbors that have befriended me on both sides making me feel less alone. I am thankful for dear friends, precious memories, and the promise of tomorrow with no mistakes.
I am thankful for the outlet to express myself on this website and those precious folks that read my words, watch the music videos, and in doing so gaze directly into the depths of my soul. I am thankful for the feedback I receive from my readers through their comments. I am deeply thankful for all the friends it has brought my way. Mostly I am thankful to have learned the valuable skill of taking life one day at a time, and learning to laugh, even through my tears. Until next time when I give you another glimpse into the life of a trucker’s wife.
Some of my earliest recollections from Thanksgivings past included not just one huge meal, but several. Not only did my mother make a huge spread, but I also had three sets of Grandparents to share Thanksgiving with. Usually, we would have a meal at home that my mother prepared on Thanksgiving day. Then we would travel to each of the grandparent’s homes Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Turkey, turkey, and even more turkey!! By the end of it, you came close to growing feathers and saying “Gobble, Gobble, Gobble!”
Although I have memories of attending the Thanksgiving festivities of all three sets of Grandparents, my dad’s parent’s celebration always stood out. For one thing, there were always a lot more people. I had 5 sets of aunts and uncles at that gathering plus a slew of cousins, with second cousins coming along later on.
On holidays long tables were set up end to end down the center of the living room into the master bedroom with chairs lined up on both sides dominating Grandma‘s farmhouse. Grandma sat on one end of the long table, and Grandpa on the other. Behind Grandpa there was always another table set up in the master bedroom and all the cousins fought to get to sit alone in the bedroom in that special place of distinction.
The table was set with Grandma’s best tablecloths, red and clear glass plates, silverware, and water goblets. When it was time, we would all gather around that massive table and joined hands much like the Who’s down in Whoville singing “Count Your Blessings”. Then Grandpa would lead us all in prayer. Grandpa always mumbled when he prayed and he was so far away that usually I couldn’t make out what he was saying. Somehow you would figure out when he was finished by the loud proclamation of “Amen!! and then we would go single file, out the front door, through the garage, into the kitchen where all the wonderful food awaited. Usually it was always colder than a witches tit in the Klondike outside, and by the time you got back into the house, the heat from the kitchen steamed up your glasses so you couldn’t see three inches in front of your face.
Since I was the youngest, I was always finished eating before anyone else and antsy to get up and run around with my cousin. The only problem with that is that with all the tables and chairs, you couldn’t squeeze a mouse fart out once you were seated. We got around that too by having a merry ole time crawling under the network of tables to wherever we wanted to go.
When everyone was finally finished eating, the women retreated into the kitchen to wash dishes and the men set to work taking down the tables. In their place, a few card tables were erected and quite a few rousing games of Euchre and Yahtzee were played. Sometimes Grandpa would dig out his home movies and the whole family would gather in the living room to watch. Other times, everyone would just visit.
It always amazed me that no matter how many grand kids there were, and there were a G0d’s plenty, Grandma and Grandpa would always give us hugs and kisses when we arrived and when it was time to go home. They had so much love for each and every one of us and instilled in me the importance of family, thankfulness of blessings, G0d, and faith.
Sadly those long lost Thanksgivings are only a memory as many of the key players have passed on from this life. Their smiles and laughter will never be forgotten, and I can still hear the family singing “Count Your Blessings” in my mind. I can only hope that I can instill the same sense of family, love, and tradition in my own children. Until next time when I give you another glimpse into the life of a truckers wife.
“Well color me happy, there is a sofa in here for two!!” When I saw the BFF challenge for this week, that was the first thing that came to mind. The whole concept of appreciating the little things in life with an exuberance of a little kid jumping up and down clapping my hands in glee ! There is nothing better than laughing till my belly aches and tears are flowing down my face until I am choking on myself! I love bouncing on balloons till they bust or mooning someone shamelessly and running away laughing myself silly in my wake! Laughter makes my life sparkle with color and is a very important ingredient to life.
If it weren’t for my husband and children who I hold near and dear to my heart, even the reddest rose would seem as lackluster as a gray dingy gym sock that has visited the washing machine one to many times. The little things in life color my world with happiness! The best times happen when my husband is home. Most of the time, magic happens when we are together. This summer a typical weekend would be spent zooming around the neighborhood with my husband and kids on the golf cart, watching my family zooming around the yard on 4 wheelers squealing in delight, and spending time swimming in the pool. Those weekends were highlighted with barbecues where the whole family gathered around the grill together as whatever succulent meat happened to be on the menu sizzled to perfection. Our laughter rings through out the times we spend together. I can honestly say that there is nothing better than seeing that big purple semi truck backing into the driveway! The kids and I are always out by the road waving him in like a bunch of lunatics!
Whether listening to hard rock, rousing country, or the soothing classics, music colors my life in every emotion from happiness to sadness. I can’t imagine my life without music. I have loaded all my favorite tunes onto my phone and love to let it play non stop in the back ground as I go about my days. Like my husband and children, without music my life would be drained of color. It seems everything goes a lot better with music. I write better, clean faster, concentrate more, and the best perk is my mood is elevated a million times over just with the pounding feel good beats of my favorite tunes blasting in the background.
Since I have been young I have loved all the colors. I see favorites in G0d’s greatest creations: the flowers, the birds and butterflies that flutter through the sky, and the beauty of the bluest oceans waves crashing on lush beaches with the prettiest sunsets in the distance.
Without the love of my husband and children, the best of G0d’s creations, my menagerie of pets, and the music that drives the heartbeat of my life, everything in the world would be drab and grey and lifeless. There are so many blessings to be happy for! Home, health, family, pets, love, music, writing, gorgeous art, and nature! So color me happy!! I am so blessed to appreciate the people and things that make life worthwhile. I intend to keep living my life in full color!! Until next time when I give you another glimpse into the life of a trucker’s wife.
