Thankgiving Weekend Ramblings

************************RAMBLING ALERT*******************

What an odd weekend this has been for me. No turkey this year (my husband and his brother wanted ham for a change). No father-in-law at the table complaining how cold it was and talking about how much warmer it is in Florida.

This is the first year in ten or more that I wasn't out with the other nuts at 3:30AM looking for the "best" deal on Black Friday. Our Chrstmas tree, which usually makes an appearance Black Friday afternoon is still tucked away in the basement and probably will stay there until next weekend although we did take advantage of a beautiful Sunday afternoon to get the lights up outside. I have 25 Christmas cards completed and I have about six projects I will most likely finish before Christmas because I won't be out going nutty shopping.

I think that this year more than any in memory I am thankful for everything I have. While my husband and I both have jobs the economy has hit his industry hard, making the finances tighter around here than ever before and in tightening our belts like so many others in this nation it has given us both time to reflect on what is really important and shopping isn't it. I sat in my craft room and marveled at my own excess. I have stamps that have never seen ink, ink that has never seen a stamp and a full gamut of bling, baubles, ribbon and the like that I couldn't use in a year (or two or three...).

So, to cap off my intorspective post, here is a partial list of some of what I am thankful for...

God and all the blessings he continues to grant us
My husband and son and family
Our health
The friends I have
Our jobs (especially mine that provides great health care)
Living in a country where I can stand on the street corner and share my beliefs with anyone who will listen
My sisters...the two related by blood and those of the heart
My students, who so wonderfully teach me about life
My silly dogs, Mulder and Scully, who love me no matter what and always wag their tails when they see me

I am also grateful for my cyber friends. Your comments have brightened many a day for me.

Lori