Give Thanks...For Thanksgiving

 Because of scheduling issues, our family gathered yesterday to laugh, share stories, and food. It was your typical Thanksgiving celebration. The only downside is not everyone could make it, that and the dog...

Still, it was a wonderful time.

I sometimes can't believe just how blessed I am.

Without doing any research, I still believe Thanksgiving to be an American holiday. I know other countries have adopted other American holidays and cultural events (many, America adopted from other countries to begin with...), but I think Thanksgiving remains ours.

Over the years, the gatherings have changed. As a child, it was our immediate family and sometimes others would come from out-of-state or we'd go there. Eventually, my siblings and I got married and moved away, starting our own families, our own traditions, but we'd always check to see what we were doing for Thanksgiving.

Family.

Now, years later, our own children are marrying and having children of their own. Now, they must check with their other families to see when they're gathering to see if they can make it to their celebrations. Life is a circle, or as some would say, the circle of life.

Yesterday, I spent six hours in the car. Thankfully, the weather and traveling companions were good. It was worth every minute. Helping move the biggest treadmill I've ever seen upstairs was not something I thought I'd be doing but, many hands made light work. Not only was it our Thanksgiving celebration, but also my son's birthday. I hope it was a good one.

For the past several years, I've blogged on Sundays and included the hashtag #GiveThanks. Truth be told, I could use that hashtag every time I blog...sometimes it's just hard to see all those blessings. Today, this week, this year I'm thankful for my health, my employment, the physical things we have, but most of all, my family, and since last Thanksgiving, I include my "other family" as well. 

Sometimes, I can't believe just how blessed I am.

Truly Blessed...

 Like millions of others, we gathered yesterday and broke bread with family. We did more than eat, of course. The day is more than the sum of its parts.

It's Thanksgiving.

My wife and I were fortunate enough to have our four children, two children-in-laws, and the grandbaby attend. We also had my son-in-law's family all meet at my wife's mother's house. After the big meal, we gathered for a photo...to preserve the moment in pictures. 

I'm appreciative of photos. 

It's a snapshot of time, of the event that brought us together. When I look at the photo, I wonder how life will change in the upcoming twelve months. The grandbaby will look/act/sound much different. He'll be running around getting into things, as toddlers are wont to do. The rest of us will be a year older as well.

God willing, we'll all be around to celebrate, whether we gather at the same place or not. God willing our health will hold--maybe even improve, though statistics say otherwise. Will I be able to look at these pictures at next year's Thanksgiving and smile at the wonderful memories created, or will will the picture mean more, will it show more?

Time will tell.

We had a wonderful day, stress free (except if you count stress on clothing...), full of great food and good times. When I look at these photos I'm reminded yet again how blessed I truly am.