Opinion : Counting my blessings

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In a couple days we get to celebrate Thanksgiving, one of our nation's most important holidays, yet one of the least appreciated.

In our rush to get the Christmas shopping done, we put Thanksgiving right up there at the top of our “To Do” list. Because we have to.

Thanksgiving is one of those times we need to all stop and sincerely give thanks to the One that made all of, well everything possible.

This great country that we live in that, that while most days we can find something we aren't happy with, you and I wouldn't change the privilege of living here for the best slice of land in Russia.

We complain about our cars, yet, don't envy the Amish.

We whine about our slow internet, but don't miss the days of a manual typewriter and wax machines to put the news together.

We complain about the cold, but give equal time to the sun.

We complain if we don't see the family, then rejoice when we return to our own homes.

We really do a lot of whining in this great land of ours.

One day a year seems like such a small attempt at stopping to simply say, “Thank You.”

I love the trend that once in a while starts on Facebook where each day in November, through Thanksgiving you post what you are thankful for.

This year we are thankful for our family.

We got to add another granddaughter this week. Little Nora.

As I sat and held her, and looked at her, I again, marvel at God's goodness to us.

I mean, we aren't that old, (even though her other grandfather seems to think we have aged since this is after all our 5th grandchild) and yet we have more blessings that most people. We have 6 happy (well most of the time) children, 3 more adopted by marriage children and now 5 grandchildren. The news of yet another grandchild always thrills us and takes us back to the day when we were finding out what this parenting thing was all about.

We half jokingly, but more sincerely say, “Our kids turned out really well, in spite of us.” There is no way to go through life being perfect, but the days that we are... But the joy of getting older is seeing that even though we can remember all the mistakes we've made, we know we had one or two or six things right.

Each of our kids have made us proud. They are turning into beautiful adults, making contributions to the world around them, and we hope, they are changing it to a better place than what we left them.

Each time we get to add another grandchild I wonder what they will be when they grow up.

I pray for their parents for the wisdom that we didn't have. I pray that they learn from our mistakes and don't make the same ones or any that top ours.

Sure, we have a nice house, cars that get us around, but really, the only thing we ever really want out of life is our family to be happy and healthy, and yes growing.

This past year I have done a lot more genealogy research than I ever have. As I read about the details in my grandparent's lives, I am more appreciative of what we have as a family.

We have it easy.

We haven't been forced to be torn apart because of war.

We haven't been imprisoned because of that.

We are all sane, I know, sometimes you wonder.

No one has a terminal illness, and in relative good health.

This year many of us in our small circle have decided to take on our health and try to figure out what we need to do to be healthier.

Over all, our lives have been pretty easy.

It's been a good year.

We are so blessed.

Take a moment this Thanksgiving to look around the table (turn off the phones) and be grateful for each one there.

Take a moment to reflect on the ones we've lost and be thankful for how they influenced your life.

I know every once in a while I reflect on how I wish I could have one more chat with my dad. But I've wished that a lot. That thought is always quickly followed with the realization that he was a large part of who I am today. And my children are also a reflection of that. So I can't be sad, I can be very thankful for having had him.

I am most thankful for the one thing that for generations has been a huge part of our lives. Our church. Yeah, yeah, I suppose some of you just tuned out.

But bear with me.

In my family for generations church has played an important role. It has been our place of searching and finding our the whys of life and the purpose of our being here.

It has been the place we don't hesitate to find someone that might need a hand and help them. It's a place we know that if we need encouragement we can go. It's a place we make a lot of great friends.

But when I think back to the reason why we even have a Thanksgiving, it was for this very reason. The freedom to worship.

It's been a long time since that first group of pilgrims arrived here.

Let's not forget the reason for this Thanksgiving. It's a time to bow our heads and acknowledge the blessings we have. It's a time to slow down, turn off the gadgets and a time to look at those around our table and remember what we really do mean to each other.

Take nothing for granted this year.

Count your blessings.

List them.

See what God has done.