I am hoping all my family and friends have the best Thanksgiving ever.  There is not a day that goes by that I don't stop and give thanks to God for all the wonderful blessings that have been stowed upon me.
This year we were saddened by the absence of Scott's father.  We had spent every holiday with him and we missed his warm smile.  We are comforted  knowing that he is not suffering and is no longer in pain!!!

Years ago when I was a little girl growing up in Long Island, my girlfriends and I would sit and dream about our futures.  We would imagine what our husbands would look like, how many kids we would have, and what their names would be.  I couldn't wait to be a  Mom.  I  couldn't wait to have babies.  I  loved being pregnant.  And I love being a Mom.  So much, in fact , that 17 years after my last child was born, I became a Mom again.  And I have enjoyed every  minute of it.  I am lucky.  All my children, even the ones not living home, live with in 4 miles of me.  I get to see them a lot.  But on Thanksgiving my heart always fills with joy as we meet at Scott's brothers and we are altogether.  And to have Paul and Jenn there as husband and wife, it made this Mama proud!!!!

Scott, Sierra and I started out the day with a wonderful walk down along the Hudson River.  It was a beautiful November day, bright sunshine, crisp temperatures, and no breeze.The mountains stood out against the sharp blue sky.  The only thing to  mar the moment was the fact that my camera battery died and I had not brought the other, charged battery.  I did get a few shots but not as many as I would have liked.  We then stopped at m y brother's house, but he also had decided to go and take a walk.  We came home and I called my sister who lives in Maryland.  She is actually in Florida and enjoying some relaxing time there.  I so miss having her closer for the holidays...but she surprised me with the news that they will be up this way for  Christmas!!!!!

We went to Scott's brothers and had a most delicious meal...oh my did we eat....and eat...and eat.  I try to remember though, the many children and adults in our world who are going hungry this  Thanksgiving.
 I know how fortunate we are that during this difficult economic time that we both have decent jobs And we have much family time.  Scott and I both work full time jobs but we both pull in the driveway together at 3:35.  We both get done at 3:30 and each of us work with in one mile of our jobs.  We have lots of time to spend together and have some time for ourselves too.
So I extend a Happy Thanksgiving to you all, and I hope your lives are as blessed as mine!!

Please click on this if you are interested in doing some holiday shopping and making a donation to some very worthy causes.  One of the receiving organizations is Pearl River Outreach.  This group of caring individuals help find sponsors for children, many who are from Sierra's orphanage.  Through Pearl River Outreach, we sponsor a sweet little boy named Aiden!!!

How great is my love...

During the past month or so I have been thinking about and rejoicing over the wonderful family that God has blessed me with.  The day of Paul and Jenn's wedding was a day I will never forget.  A I watched my sons and my precious daughter...my heart over flowed with love for them all.  Our family also officially grew that day with Jenn becoming our daughter in law...but she had already been included in our hearts.  Many people came to me that day..telling me how special the relationship between my boys is.  And how sweetly they treat their little sister.  The love I feel for them is like nothing else.  The unconditional, no matter what, even though you are all so different, kind of love.  As I look at pictures from that day...I see it...I feel it ...all over again...an amazing love I feel for my family.

I used to wonder about the idea of God sacrificing his child for us.  I thought I wasn't Christian enough because I knew I could never sacrifice any of my children for anything.  I would give my life for them in an instant but I could never send them to die.  Well this 52 year old brain finally had her light bulb moment!!  I was at our church Women's group meeting the other night and we start with a  devotional.  My friend was reading scriptures that told us how  much God loved us.  "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son"   And then..... I ...finally...got...it!  God doesn't want us to sacrifice our children.  What he saying is this'''Hey you parents...you know how much you love your children...you love them so much you would do anything for them???  You put them first ...you protect them, guide them, teach them etc.   Well guess what...I LOVE YOU EVEN MORE THAN THAT!!!!"  All of us...every day...every hour...every minute...every second of our lives  God loves us... more than we can ever imagine.  Wow...and so to my children I say this...you all know how much I love you...how you have blessed me every day of your lives...how parenting all of you has been my greatest joy..how I have been so proud of what you have accomplished..but you know what...God loves you even more!!!!

Check out Leslie's blog.  I have been bloggy friends with her for over three years!!

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