Thankful ….. Part I

On Facebook, there is a 'thing' going on, where each day you say one thing that you are thankful for. There are so many good ones. I have not been participating, though of course I'm very thankful for so much in my life. I have decided to go ahead and join in, but in my own way. Sometimes, I over think things a bit, so I wondered how it should go. Should I start with little things, and rise to the biggest thing I"m thankful for? Or vice a versa? Then I realized, that won't work, because on a daily basis, I feel somewhat differently about certain things, and they have different impacts on me emotionally. Not to mention, that what to me is a small precious joy, might to you be of the hugest happiness, and of course, vice versa. So, I"m going to be random, and no doubt (knowing me) rambling off into tangents.

A couple days ago, just before Sunset, I looked out the window and noticed that the foothills were lit as if the sun had fallen in love with them. It was a dark and cloudy day, but that sun peeked thru the clouds and laid bright saturated color in just that spot. I was thankful to have 'happened' to look out at that moment and catch that gift from God. I always love that time of evening, right before the sun goes all the way down, …. everything just looks more intensely colored …. as if to say "Don't forget how beautiful we are, while you sleep tonight" This was, I believe, a Gift from God, …but shortly later, I heard from a friend, who had just found out that her first grand child is about to be born. She will be flying to Hawaii, (is there now) to touch those soft rosy cheeks. This Gift from God becomes the larger blessing….. This is what I mean by size of blessings….. at a moment in time.

I am Thankful that I get to see my Granddaughter Jillian every day after school. She now walks to my work, and goes home with me. She has one road to cross (with a school crossing guard) and then I meet her at the next road she would cross. But, I"m a Grandma, so my worries send me to walk with her and see her safely into my car. I can not express how Thankful I am, when she spots me from afar, and her face lights up each and every day with happiness at the simpleness of seeing me. That little girl loves me, as I do her. No matter what could ever happen in our lives, THAT will never change. There may come a time when she doesn't run full speed into my arms, (nearly knocking me over) and giving me a happy little girl hug …. she may be too 'grown up' for that at some time. But I'll know that she still loves me ….. and hugs me mentally.

I"m Thankful that when I hugged my oldest Grandsons Goodbye a couple of weeks ago, that they squeezed me tight without reserve. I was especially Thankful that they didn't squirm and squeal too much when I held on for a moment or ten longer than they wanted to. I was even Thankful that then they looked at me a bit confused as to why there were tears streaming down my face….. because they were excited about their adventure, and felt secure in that they are loved by all. Again, I was Thankful when I hugged my daughter, that she hugged me ever so tightly and was emotional herself. She is very excited about the change in her life, but was sensitive to my feelings. I was moved beyond comprehension, when I watched my father and daughter hug goodbye, and she seemed to be the strong of the two. I'm eternally Thankful for the loving and nurturing relationship between my parents and my daughter….. all my children for that matter. That is Love unconditional.

Speaking of that, in all of my Thanks, I'm always going to have family at the core of my happiness. Obviously I wouldn't be here without family, I know a lot of people don't like their family to be too involved, but all my life has revolved around family. Throughout the time I raised my children, my parents were front and center in their lives. My Joys, Worries, Anguishes, Agonies, Happinesses, …everything, were also theirs. I ALWAYS knew that they were there for me, whatever 'there' meant. In heart, spirit, and or physically. I never had to ask …but I always knew if I did, the answer would be positive. I'm Thankful for that, and Thankful that I know without doubt, that my children feel the same.

I"m Thankful for the 3 children I have here on this Earth with me. Up to now, (and I'm sure from now on also) they have been everything I always wished for in children. I couldn't have asked for more. I asked a lot of them, while they were growing up, and they never let me down. I expected much of them, and they rose to that level. I have always felt that if you don't want much for your children, or expect great achievements, required respectful behavior, …well then, you might get just that. I have great hope that each of my children will expect the best from their spouses and their children. And be rewarded as i was. Nothing less is OK. I believe you "Teach People How to Treat You" if you accept something that is NOT up to your expectations, make sure to not "accept" it….and let that person know it is not welcome in your life. It either must change, or be removed. Period. No exceptions.

I'm glad I grew up in the 60's, in what I call the Wonder Years. Many of my years were spent on MHAFB, back when there was a lot more desert than there is now. My brother Jerry, and my closest friends were the Christiansen boys. Rick, Brad, Scott and Gary. We made forts and caught lizards, grasshoppers, and had western adventures all over. We stayed out too late, and got in trouble, and when we were hot, we were thankful to drink right from a hose. Life was GOOD. Later, my folks bought property near the Mountain Home Reservoir. The Christiansens did too, and so now we had sooo much more land to wander in. We all had motorcycles, and I had horse. We did a lot of hiking, and managed to help a few of us break some bones. Then we managed to get one another home safely, when needed. I"m Thankful for those times. Those were learning times…we learned that sometimes, rock rolling might break a leg it runs over…..fun can be dangerous. But we were living! I wouldn't trade those memories for anything. We did lots of camping, our two families. And sooo much fun in those mountains. Our folks bought similar campers, and those memories are some of my most cherished. There were more broken bones, my sister Arlene's being one of the worst. It was a motorcycle crash with my Dad the first couple hours of one trip …. it was a bad break, and we all headed right back to town. She spent days in traction in the hospital with that leg. ugh. The good times outweighed the bad, and we carried on.

We lost Brad this year…. and this town showed great support for him. What everyone was unanimous about, was Brad's love for his family. I don't ever remember an unkind word from him….and he was always like an older brother to me. In essence, I have 3 older brothers, Jerry, Rick, and Brad, along with Scott and Gary. Losing Brad was devastating, but one thing I noticed was his family was the most at Peace with his passing, as I've ever witnessed. I'm thankful that Brad helped prepare them, and let them know that he would always be there with them, just for the wishing. Yes, there were tears, but there was also a Peace that was nearly tangible. I'm thankful that the man that Brad was, left this Legacy.

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