Tis the month of November...and Thanksgiving is just around the corner. I'm a "blogger" and bloggers write! I've had writer's cramp lately...so much to write about and no time to write! I've decided to pause in all this "busyness" and share some of the many things/persons/places I am thankful for.
This lovely lady was my Mother-in-law for 41 years. She left us this month and she will be missed. My grandchildren called her "Grandma the Great"...and she enjoyed every one of them. Grandpa the Great misses her terribly, but he has a huge family that loves him and will take care of him. I am thankful that they had 65 years together.
I am thankful for my siblings...yes, I'm the oldest! We don't live close to each other, but we have wonderful relationships and are there for each other. Mom and Dad would be proud! We grew up in Washington, IL, a small, close-knit community hit by an F4 tornado on November 17th. I'm so thankful that my family there is safe...affected by the tornado, but they will be okay. So many people lost their homes and most of their belongings. Our parents former home, where this picture was taken, was destroyed in the storm. Hundreds of homes were lost, but Washington is a proud community and they will survive and rebuild their beautiful city.
I am so very thankful for my 4 children, their spouses and each and everyone of these 11 grandchildren! Wow, that's a picture-full! It warms my heart to gather together! We celebrated the youngest, Calli's baptism in October. I am thankful that we were all able to be there, in church, together, worshiping God and witnessing Calli's introduction to the church through her baptism.
I am thankful for this beautiful place that God lead us to many years ago. We were so young, 4 little ones to raise, and a resort to operate. Our move from Illinois to Minnesota to purchase Cedar Rapids Lodge was the best move we could have made! We truly live in God's country, providing vacation memories for hundreds of families since 1987. We are so thankful for all the friends we have made each and every summer. We only hope God lets us live here for many more years!
The list of thankfulness could go on forever...but the day is ending and I'm running out of "daylight". Of all these things I am thankful for, the most important is my faith. We live in a country where we have the freedom to worship God and go to church with others...I try to never take that for granted. My church family is important to me and I feel "at home" when I am able to worship with them!
Happy Thanksgiving!
What are you thankful for?
