With Gratitude.....

At Mom and Dad's Thanksgiving 2007

My favorite day of the year is Thanksgiving. I love all things Thanksgiving. From the pie, the sweet potatoes, our family stuffing, the Macy's Day parade....the list could go on.

I truly love the process of thanks - and being thankful. Two days before my son was born, my mom and I saw Oprah Winfrey and Maya Angelou speak at a conference in Boston. They were in these beautiful outfits in this "living room" setting. We, the audience, were like flies on the wall of their conversation. I carry so many of their comments with me. Today, I am mindful of one of those points. Maya (I say it like I know her) spoke of giving thanks - even when it is not a situation that you would normally give thanks to. Are you having a hard day, are you in a tough situation, are you stressed out, are you having health problems - give thanks. Pause and give thanks. Be thankful that you have this experience to learn from, to live with, to grow from.

Today, I can think of a few things that I might not normally say thanks to. I will be pausing and giving them their due time. I am sure we all have a few - and that is not lost on me. We are all faced with challenges that test us - but they ultimately -make us who we are.

Today I will also be pausing, like I do every day, to give thanks for all that is bigger than me. My family, my parents, my doctor, my home...I am blessed more than I can even imagine. My thanks for the journey that I am lucky enough to share with so many I love.

True Lab

Last week, our dear dog Scout became an official member of "Doggie Heaven" as we lovingly refer to it at our home. Scout has been a member of our family for 12 years - she joined us when we had another lab, Dixie. Dixie was the dearest lab you would ever meet. She was gentle, calm, and loved to sneak on the couch when we were not home - so it only seemed fitting that when we got Scout we thought she would follow suit in the calm, loving ways of Dixie. Were we ever wrong. Scout was feisty, determined, stubborn, sometimes sweet, and playful. She tended to back talk - especially to me - who she thought she could push around by intimidating. And sometimes she did.

Like the odd couple, Dixie and Scout formed a friendship. They were protective together when we welcomed our son home from the hospital. Neither one would leave his side or his swing or his play bouncy seat. A few years later Dixie passed away leaving Scout solo. Scout continued her feisty ways - but she did not have a friend to impress so she settle down a bit. Years when by, we welcomed our daughter home and Scout was protective all on her own. The kids have gotten older and Scout loved to play with them. In the last few years, we called her a weekend dog - I think between her fear of walking up stairs and her back legs starting to fail, she did not venture in the area of the home we "live" in. But she loved the weekends, she came to life playing with the kids in the yard and keeping helping Michael company during renovation.

So it was with a heavy heart that we said goodbye to Scout last week. I already miss the back-talking bark she gave me each morning right when I turned around and headed up the stairs- even though it made me jump - but I am happy she has joined her pal, Dixie, in "Doggie Heaven"