Tag Archive for: Thanksgiving blessings

Thankful

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With Thanksgiving right
around the corner, I’ve been thinking about gratitude. I’m one of those “glass-half-full”
people who likes to live in the now and focus on the future, but at times like
this, a look back feels right.

It might be a cliché to
be thankful for family, friends, health, and home. The horrible fires in
California and the loss of life and home, however, are a reminder of how
quickly both can be lost. 

Here is Washington state, our fires rarely rate a
mention on even regional news. I remember the fear of watching the fires on the
ridges around our mountain cabin. Packing a “go” bag for the dogs and me each
night. Waiting for the firefighter’s knock, the order to “Get out.” Feeding the
refuges who were burned out of other valleys and took shelter in ours. 

But we
had warning, time to prepare, while the residents in Paradise had only minutes
to flee.  

So today, I’m grateful
for the ebb and flow of both good and bad things that have happened throughout
my life. Some blessings have been given and others hard-earned. The tragic or
sorrowful things have taught me resilience, faith, and provided opportunities to learn
and grow. Painful losses and situations showed me by contrast how valuable and
cherished the good things are. 

And the good things are wonderful. 

Next week, as I look
around the chaos of my kitchen and laugh over the antics of kids and dogs, I
know I’ll take time to be thankful. Thankful for family, friends, food on the table, a job I
love, and the time and support to pursue creative outlets.
I leave you with a long-distance
hug and a reminder… be thankful.

An award-winning author of financial mysteries, Cathy Perkins writes twisting dark suspense and light amateur sleuth stories.  When not writing, she battles with the beavers over the pond height or heads out on another travel adventure. She lives in Washington with her husband, children, several dogs and the resident deer herd.  Visit her at http://cperkinswrites.com or on Facebook 

Sign up for her new release announcement newsletter in either place.

She’s hard at work on sequel to The Body in the Beaver Pond, which was recently presented with the Claymore Award. 

Thanksgiving Past and Present

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It’s that time of year again–Thanksgiving is right over the horizon.

I always have plenty to be thankful for and I think I’ll start with the actual Thanksgiving holiday. I have so many wonderful memories of Thanksgivings past–ones growing up at my grandmother’s house in South Pasadena–back when our family was still small. (Mom and Dad had no idea how their two daughters would expand the family.)

After I married, and hubby and I had our own home in Oxnard (also California), we hosted Thanksgiving several times–we had to put tables up in the living room. Later when we moved to Springville (still California), I was the one who always hosted Thanksgiving. Bigger house, more room, and relatives came from southern California bringing their signature dishes.

Now many of those relatives have passed away–my grandparents and parents, auntie–but our family has increased in size. My sister hosts her own large family in Las Vegas, NV. My daughters who live in southern California will be having Thanksgiving with their own offspring. We’re going to have a large bunch here.

I’m fortunate to have two children who live nearby as well as some of their children and grandchildren. I’m thankful that I can still and enjoy cooking–and I have a new stove this year. My old stove I had for 32 years finally gave up the ghost. Everyone is bringing something, so we’ll have plenty to eat.

In the last few years, we’ve had a new tradition come about. While some are watching football, a group of us have enjoyed playing board and card games.

And I suppose to sum all of this up, I’m truly blessed by having a big family.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. I hope you’ll share some of your Thanksgiving memories or your plans for this year. I’d love to read about them.

Marilyn

Planning for Thanksgiving

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It’s my turn to do Thanksgiving Dinner once again. Last year we traveled to Southern California to our youngest daughter’s big, beautiful house and I didn’t have to do a thing. Plus I got to spend time with grandchildren I don’t have the opportunity to be with very often. When I go down there, I miss out on sharing Thanksgiving with the family that lives nearby.

Everyone who knows me, knows I really enjoy cooking. Turkey is one of the easiest things there is to do and have come out delicious. If everyone comes I’ve invited, we’ll have a crowd, and this year I’m asking everyone to bring something so I don’t have to do it all.

I have much to be thankful for. I’ve had no major health problems and my hubby (and best friend) of 60 years, though he’s slowed down considerably, is doing well health-wise too. I’ve been blessed with a big family, many grandchildren and great grands. No, things don’t always go smoothly, do they ever with a big family? We have drama at times, but I’ve learned not to get too excited, or worried. Praying works far better.

As for my writing, I’ve had over thirty books published and I still enjoy doing it and am thrilled when a new one comes out. I like promoting because I love making new friends–and I’ve made many over the years, other writers and readers. We’ve had the opportunity to travel to places we’d have never thought of going to thanks to mystery conferences. Together we went to Hawaii when I was invited to be an instructor at the Maui Writers Retreat. Alone I went to Alaska twice and made good friends with a Native family that I’m still in touch with. Being a writer has offered me many opportunities I wouldn’t have had otherwise, and I’m thankful for that.

Back to the dinner, now it’s time to plan my shopping list and decide exactly what I’ll be cooking and what I’ll ask others to bring. There are certain things I always make–everyone loves dressing, and there are a few including me who want candied sweet potatoes, and there are the kids who think it isn’t Thanksgiving unless we have the green bean casserole. What about you? What has to be on your menu?

Marilyn