Happy Thanksgiving-a little early..

I know this is a little early for a Thanksgiving post, but if all goes as planned, we will be in Panama City Beach for the holiday, enjoying it with my dad, my sister and niece, and my brother and sister-in-law. It will be the first time all three of us "kids" (63, 59, and 55) have all been together with my dad in several years, since my brother lives in Boynton Beach, FL, and my sister and I both live in Kentucky, as does my dad during the spring and summer. I am really looking forward to the trip, our first real vacation in two years. Before we go, however, we are going to host a pre-Thanksgiving feast here tomorrow for our own children and grandchildren. I love to cook the Thanksgiving dinner-turkey and dressing and all the traditional fixins'. I have gotten to where I take a few shortcuts, but it's still pretty much a big dinner. I doubt very much if we will all sit at the table to eat, since there isn't room, but I have gotten out the good china and silverware, which is only used on the holidays, mostly Thanksgiving. After this year's feast, I will give the silver to Alissa to take home and the china will stay here in the china cabinet for Doug and Kellie to have when they move into this house next year. Hopefully, we will still use it on Thanksgiving, but it's time to pass it on to someone who will maybe get more use out of it than I do.

Meanwhile, Susie at Susie's Space reminded me on her blog that we have much for which to be thankful, so I am going to list a few things I am grateful for. This is by no means a complete or detailed list. I know that I have been blessed in many ways by God, and not because I have done great things to deserve these blessings. However, I do have the good sense to be grateful and at least try to be a good person. :)

1. Good health and an optomistic outlook
2. A generally cheerful disposition
3. Waking up every morning
4. A loving family heritage-great parents and grandparents and siblings
5. A long and happy marriage
6. Three wonderful children and three wonderful children-in-law, and three wonderful grandchildren
7. A fulfilling career (now over)
8. Retirement
9. A lovely home now and soon a brand-new one
10. Enough financial wealth to be comfortable
11. Terry's much improved health and attitude
12. Hobbies that make life fun
13. Great friends
14. The ability to take care of myself and others

I know I've said this before, but it bears repeating. Life is good!