Thankful

This is the blessing...or more so, the toast, that I gave on Thursday before we sat down for our Thanksgiving meal.  I'm not entirely sure that everyone at the table heard it as Nick chose that exact moment to be very vocal about NOT remaining seated in his high chair for the blessing and repeatedly shouted "nononononono and mamamamamama" as I read.  But my dad was a bit teary eyed by the end, so I know he was at least listening. ;)  Thanks, Dad!

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It's already Nick's second Thanksgiving.  Feels like time is flying much faster than I can control.  It's crazy to think that this is my 30th Thanksgiving.  Even crazier to think that this is the 6th Thanksgiving Todd and I have spent together. 

But it's pennies compared to the Thanksgiving's that some of you have had.  Mom & Dad -- this is your 58th and 59th Thanksgiving respectively.  Your 40th Thanksgiving celebrated together! 

And Gramma & Grampa -- your 83rd and 86th. Your 61st Thanksgiving together!

Talk about a lot to be thankful for.

I, for one, could write a list a mile long of things I'm thankful for.  At the very top of that list would obviously be my family.  Every single person sitting at this table, and several others that aren't at this table today.  We have been bound together through love and time.  There are so many people in this world that are not so lucky as to be made with and born into so much love, as we are. 

I am not only thankful for all of you today on Thanksgiving, but every day of the year.  Every second of every minute of every hour of every day of every year.

But this Thanksgiving, I am the most thankful for one group of people in particular.

My grandparents.

Here we are, me 30 years old, Matt 32, and we are lucky enough to be sharing this Thanksgiving meal with our grandparents.  How many other 30+ year olds can say that? 

Just as they say "behind every great man, there is a greater woman", so can be said for our family.  Behind our great family, is an even greater leadership.  A backbone to our family.  A family that would not exist, if it had not been for Gramma & Grampa, and Granny & PawPaw

For almost 50 years - 50 Thanksgiving's - over HALF her life - Gramma has battled cancer head on.  And she has done so full of grace, full of life, FULL of Thanksgiving - for the blessing of just one more day...the blessings of her devoted family.

And for every single one of those Thanksgiving's, Grampa has fought along side of Gramma.  And he has done so full of perseverance, full of admiration and support, and full of Thanksgiving for the blessing of his beautiful wife and the life they have created together.  The life they have created for all of us.

So this Thanksgiving, while I am thankful for every single detail of my life - be it big or small - I am most thankful for the people that have brought us all together and given us the chance to be thankful for anything at all.

To my Grandparents.  Happy Thanksgiving.

 

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I should note that this blessing, while only read to two of my four grandparents, did apply to all of them.  As you all may know, my Granny in Arkansas has alzheimer's.  But she faces it head on every day, accepting the love and care of a beyond generous man who has devoted his every day to making sure she is comfortable and knows that she is important and loved.  These four people have shaped my parents lives, and in turn, my life.  I am a very lucky, very blessed, granddaughter.