Thanksgiving Blessings

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving.  It's hard to even articulate just how blessed I am, but I'd really like to try.  I have a loving husband and son in addition to a large, loving family and loyal, supportive friends.  I enjoy laughter, good health, faith and freedom.  I've seen the power of kindness and generosity in our world this year. I've also witnessed forgiveness, patience, and compassion and have tried to practice these virtues myself .  For all of these simple gifts and more, I am thankful.   Please enjoy these words from an 1848 Shaker song by Elder Joseph Brackett called "Simple Gifts."  Happy Thanksgiving to all!

'Tis the gift to be simple,

'tis the gift to be free,

'tis the gift to come down where you ought to be,

And when we find ourselves in the place just right,

It will be in the valley of love and delight.

Refrain: 

When true simplicity is gained,
To bow and to bend we shan't be ashamed.
To turn, turn will be our delight,
'Til by turning, turning we come round right

'Tis the gift to be loved and that love to return,
'Tis the gift to be taught and a richer gift to learn,
And when we expect of others what we try to live each day,
Then we'll all live together and we'll all learn to say,

Refrain:

'Tis the gift to have friends and a true friend to be,
'Tis the gift to think of others not to only think of "me",
And when we hear what others really think and really feel,
Then we'll all live together with a love that is real. 

Refrain: 

Holiday Mail for Heroes

I was reading the Washington Post last week and I came across a lovely tidbit.  Apparently, the Red Cross is organizing a campaign this season that aims to bring holiday cheer to U.S. troops around the world.  It's such a simple idea...send a holiday card to the designated address and they'll make sure it gets distributed to the deserving heroes.  I just happened to be down the street from a Hallmark at the time (I confess..we were enjoying Starbucks) and I had absolutely no problem spending a nice half hour in there picking out a card or two.  That place is all decked out for Christmas already-candles, ornaments, frames, figurines galore!  My guess is that you would enjoy it as much as I did.  Here's the link to the program on the Red Cross' website.  

http://www.redcross.org/email/saf/

Cellphone Drama

I've got major cellphone drama these days.   The darn thing always seems to be on the fritz.  The battery doesn't stay charged for longer than a day, the caller id has ceased to function and it's missing a large piece that keeps the back end of it intact.  I can understand why it's dying a slow death; the poor thing has been dropped on its head many more times than I can count, left outside in the freezing temperatures and submitted to repeated banging by my one year old son.  Now, most people would be concerned by all this and maybe be inspired to take better care of the phone or perhaps even get a new one.  For example, my sister would be on this situation like white on rice. Oh, not me. That's because I have a dirty secret....I don't care all that much about cellphones.  Oh yes, they are important for emergencies and the like, but sometimes I find them annoying.  They always seem to ring at the most inopportune time...like right when I trying to sneak out of my son's room after getting him down for a nap, or when I'm racing out the door late for an appointment.   I know, I know, they're an important element of modern life and I will eventually suck it up and get a new one, but in the meantime, if you're trying to reach me and aren't having any luck, leave a message and after I'm all charged up again, we'll talk.  

My Sanctuary

So, I was reading in the paper today about ways to live greener and one easy suggestion was to use less hot water by washing clothes only using cold, shortening showers or turning down the water heater.  Well, I'm all for trying to do my part for the environment, but it's hard to budge on this one.  My showers are my sanctuary.  I love to take really long ones with really hot water.  Here's a secret, too-I take my showers in the dark with all the lights off whenever possible.  This is a little trick I experimented with as a kid and then grew to love when I was a working gal and had to be at my desk by 7:00 a.m. because even though I was technically awake, it felt like the day hadn't quite begun.  Now that I'm a mom, I feel just as passionately about my showers because it's one of the few opportunities in the day I have to just be by myself and think.  It's my time of carefree relaxation.  I'm sure all the moms out there would agree with me.  How many of us have waited until 3:00 or 4:00 in the afternoon to shower only to melt once that hot water starts running down our backs?  Ahhhhh!  So, I'll continue with my showers and make sure my recycling bins overfloweth instead.