Understanding and Acceptance

Today I am so very Thankful that there are people in my life who are understanding and accepting even when it is hard.  I have friends and some family who are there for me even when it makes no sense and even when it is hard to understand.  I can only hope that I can be that kind of friend myself.  Acceptance is a beautiful thing!

Online Friends....

In this age of social media, there are lots of things to be wary of but I have found some of the most wonderful friends there!  These are people that I will more than likely never meet face to face but we have a close friendship and share dreams, joys, heartbreaks and more on a daily basis.  Since I don't leave home much and have little or no extended family, these relationships are so special to me.  Today I am so very Thankful for each of these special people!

My Little Blue Machine

Today I am so very Thankful for my little blue laptop!  It is my outlet to friends, family and so much more.  It is through it that I learn more than I ever imagined and it has allowed me to teach myself to do things I thought I would never be able to do.  I also shop, travel and read books and articles I would never have access to.
It is small but mighty and it holds within in it my memory and my brain.  I do Love my Little Blue Machine.

My Hubby

Today I am so very Thankful for my Hubby!  Now there are some days I would like to smack him, but most days he is pretty awesome.  We have been together for 30 years and married for 28.  He is a great Dad and my best friend and he puts up with the pups and loves them too.  He is kind and he even cooks and buys groceries. Jackpot!!!

Cooking and Baking....

Today I am so very Thankful for Cooking!  When I was growing up, the best times in our family surrounded preparing and eating good food.  Now it is a small thing that I can still do for my family.  When I was working I didn't do much cooking but now I love to try new recipes and sometimes they even turn out pretty good.  :-)  Cooking good food and enjoying it with friends and family is such a wonderful part of life!

Thanks for Your Service....

Today I am so very Thankful for the eight years my Dad served in the Army as well as all of the others who have and continue to serve in the Military.  I love this graphic because Daddy drew a comic strip for the army newspaper where he was stationed.  I have his scrapbooks and some of the newspapers and I just love to look through them and see the close friendships he made during that time so far away from home.

Sunday Dinner.....

My family is very busy and scattered around town here locally.  But on Sunday's we all try to come together and have a meal.  Everybody can't make it every week but they come when they can and even if they can't stay and eat they try to visit.  All week I think of things I would like to make and trying new recipes.  We have a couple of very close friends of the boys who join us as well.  It is a wonderful time to reconnect and get lots of hugs.  Sunday Dinners are the best kind of Joy!!

Home Sweet Home....

Each and every day I am so very Thankful for a place to call Home!!  For years I worked long hours and was away from home from dusk to dawn.  Now I am so very thankful that I can enjoy being at home and that we have a place for the Boys to come home to!

My Daddy......

Today I am so very Thankful for my Daddy.  I lost him a long time ago when I was at a very young age.  He was not the perfect father - not the kind you read about or hear immortalised.  But...he was my Daddy and he gave me things I didn't get from anyone else.  He had a wonderful sense of humor and was a prankster and he would do just about anything to make me laugh.  He loved art and gave me a love of all things creative.  He was not a hugger or gushy with praise and love but I knew and I loved him dearly.  I still remember being so young and sitting with him while he worked crossword puzzles.  While I never known what it is to have a Dad in my adult life, I carry thoughts of him with me and he still gives me a smile every day. 

Women.....

Today I am so very Thankful for all of the Women in my life.  From family that includes incredible Daughter's-in-Law to wonderful women friends, life is only made richer by the Women I share it with.  I can't imagine my life without these awesome wonderful relationships and I am so Thankful each day for every one of them.

My Deceased Diswasher....

Now I know if you hadn't already doubted my sanity, this one will make you scratch your head.  My 27 year old dishwasher decided to go ahead and die on Monday night.  The kicker is that it was full of Sunday's dishes and if you know our house, Sunday dinner's dishes are huge!!  Sooooo I had to empty and rewash everything in there and dry (ugh!!!) them and then put them away.  But, doing this actually was kind of fun and not as bad as I had anticipated.  It brought back memories of when Hubby and I used to wash sinks full of dishes and enjoy every minute of the time...and I do love a sink full of hot sudsy water!!  Now----ask me again in a few months and I will more than likely grouse about this inconvenience, but for now I am thankful!  Thankful that this old dishwasher lasted longer than most, thankful that a dishwasher is not a necessity in life, thankful that I have dishes to wash, food to eat and all that goes with that.  It has been said that we must be thankful in all things - find the joy and the good.

Beautiful Wild Birds.....

Today I am so very Thankful for the wild birds that visit our backyard.  A few days ago I spotted one like this and found out that he was an Eastern Blue Bird.  He was just beautiful and so fat and fluffy.  He only stayed for a few minutes but it was just enough to bring joy to my day.