give your all

Well Thanksgiving is here and gone on the calender, but hopefully not gone in our hearts. This was a particularly happy Thanksgiving for me. All my children (sounds like the soap opera) were home. Not only that, but my whole family was present and accounted for. The only missing link was Ben's wife. We had two new places at the table. Gabriel, my three month old nephew. It is so fun to have new life around. So often we think about getting old and forget to celebrate youth. On the flip side, or should I say on the other side of the table, both literal and age wise is Wayne. Mom's new bow. He has years of wisdom and humor to draw from. The rest of us, just filled in the gap!

I hope that the traditions that I try so hard to instill in my childern will live on.
People ask me why I don't make it easy on myself and use paper plates, or have others bring things. After 4 days of dishes I asked myself that also. The answer was still the same has always, I want my family and friends to know how special they are to me. It's easy to take shortcuts, or to take the easy way. Thats not who I am, and not who I want my childern to be. You see, the choices we make, even in the little things, determine who we are and the qualities we hold. I'm not saying that if you use paper plates, you are not showing good qualities. All I am saying is for me I want to give my all. You get one chance with this life and I want to make a differece.

So I will continue do dishes, wrap each gift with pretty bows, set a festive table, decorate every room in the house, and be an example to my friends and family. Remember to live each day with Thanksgiving in your heart.