Thursdays of Thanks

"Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them is the true measure of our thanksgiving."

Last week, as I was sitting around letting all the food settle, I thought about how I say, and hear a lot of others say, we should be thankful, not just today (Thanksgiving Day), but every day.  Well, of course we should!  But, around Thanksgiving is when we really concentrate on it -- we dedicate the month to lists of all the things we're thankful for and then, for me at least, it seems to fade off week by week and I say thanks to God for random things when I pray throughout the day. 

So, I thought it would help me to keep up the thankfulness each week by dedicating a day to it - not just in November.  So, this December, I am starting my "Thursdays of Thanks."  I'm sure there are other bloggers out there doing something similar, but I haven't researched it to know.  I just thought this would help me and if, by chance, it helps anyone else to focus on all they're thankful for more than just in November, then that will be an added bonus!

So, this first Thursday, I wanted to start with stating my thanks for my grandparents.  I feel I am fortunate to still have three of my four grandparents still living and kickin'! (Maybe not as high as they used to, but still...!)  One of my granny's in her 80s just came through tough, tough surgery and she has survived a lifetime of health issues and pain.  My other granny is, for the most part, in good health and still very active and my papa, although having been slowed down by some health issues, is same ol' papa. 

I was blessed to have two of them at my house Thanksgiving Day and recently saw the other and spoke on the phone that day, and came to the realization of how I am so lucky to be able to spend time with them now, really listening and understanding what they say.  I spent lots of time with them when I was younger, but I haven't realized and understood until I've gotten older some of the things they've seen, gone through, etc., and it is so interesting and enlightening.  I have several pictures of each of them when they were younger that I love to look at and when I see them now, it just comes to light that there is so much I don't know about them, but they are people who were once young, made mistakes, have quirks and are admirable in so many ways. 

I am so thankful for, respect and admire each one of them - and for my papa who is now in Heaven.

Papa Cole at his old school in Alabama.

Papa and Granny Dimsdale



Granny Cole and Ethan.