Things Money Cannot Buy

Thanksgivings come and go so rapidly and by them we measure the launch into the holiday season. It's a day we love to celebrate in my home. It would be difficult to recount how many Thanksgiving meals I've prepared over the years.

It takes a couple of days of preparation to cook all the yummy traditional foods we look forward to with great anticipation.

We realize the importance of having a grateful heart at all times around here. We are so blessed with so much. I'm not even thinking about material things although we are ever thankful for the things that make us comfortable as humble as they are.

This year, for so many reasons, I am especially thankful and feeling a bit sappy this morning.

Maybe it's all those onions I've been chopping.

No, this is what happens when I'm the only one awake in the pre-dawn hours.

My heart is overflowing with gratitude for the blessings that reside deep down inside. They are the ones that keep me a grounded, sensible girl.

I give thanks first of all to my God and Savior, Jesus Christ. "O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;For His lovingkindness is everlasting." He is the air I breathe.

I'm so, so thankful for family and friends near and far today. For my parents who are both still with us and very much a part of my life. For my children (and their spouses) who love me unconditionally and with longsuffering patience even with all my glaring flaws. Each one of them (my children~ not my flaws) makes my world spin ... they fill me up with the best laughter, joy, and goodness a mom could ever hope for.

I'm so very full today with thanks for the gift of my late Grandmother's tattered and misspelled original recipes in her own handwriting. She was THE best cook and a mentor to me at the stove all my young life.

It wouldn't be a proper Thanksgiving without her pecan pie at our table each year and long after she has been gone.

I'm grateful for veggies picked straight from the garden to give our celebration meal that fresh, personal touch...

... for fresh herbs and beans out of the garden in November

... for the rain the last two days that got us all caught up on our moisture levels.

... and for the end of it today with sunshine and cool temperatures in the 70's on tap.

And grateful...

for peace of mind, joy in my soul, and health in my body. For truly those are the most basic things in life and the things that keep me steady... the things that money cannot buy and that no one can take away.

... for the purity and innocence of grandchildren to remind me what life is really all about. They keep me steadfast and my mind fresh with childlike perspective. Most grateful for their tender, sweet voices that fill up my life to overflowing. For helping hands to eagerly help make Thanksgiving decorations. For laughter and sweetness and love abounding without hesitation because they see life with all hope and goodness ahead of them.
And grateful...

especially for Mr. Meems who has lovingly supported every one of my crazy ambitions for 31+ years and counting. I can't imagine spending one day of my life without him.

For each of you. The friends I know who read and the friends I don't know who read. Imagine creating a blog (on a whim) about gardening of all things and somehow folks actually browse to it on purpose and leave kind comments ... fascinating.

I'm grateful and I wish each and every one of you a most Happy Thanksgiving day (and holidays~even if you don't live in the U.S. ~always good to be thankful right?) from the depths of my heart. Meems