Winter arrived during the night. We have had some light frosts but not a hard freeze….. today there is no more guessing about who is in power. The football game I watched last night, played in Pittsburgh, was mostly played with snow falling. Winter is closing in.

Thanksgiving is upon us and we are looking forward to the visit with John, Barb and LJ. Next week we will be traveling to LA to meet with other family members. Becky’s daughter, Jennifer and husband, Marc are joining us and we will have most of 5 days together before returning. George is driving down from Shawnee to take Becky and me with him. John and Barb are hosting the dinner this year and it will be the first trip to NO since Katrina for all of us. John and Barb were spared with little damage but the area surrounding them lost some of the huge beautiful Live Oaks, the majestic trees strung along the South.

Today is visiting day with Opal and then I will be having an early Thanksgiving dinner with Jonathan and his family tonight. We are sorry they can’t make the trip but with two smalll children it is almost impossible. You have to take everything in the house along to provide their needs for 4-5 days. Most of us have been there and done that as they say. However, there is so much more to haul now than there was with my children. The one advantage I would have liked is disposable diapers. It would have been a lot easier than the wash and wear kind.

As I have much to do before leaving for the South I want to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving before we leave. I hope whatever your plans may be they will be safe and enjoyable. Grandma is going “over the river and through the woods” instead of the other way around. Yes sir………….times do change.

One thing that should never change is gratitude for a land of plenty and our choices that can be made because we are a free nation. The word Thanksgiving is a combination of two words that God loves to see in all of us……..thanks and giving. Thanks is for the gratitude we have because of Him and giving is one way He can see if we are maturing in our journey with Him. God loves a cheerful giver whether it is of our time, our money or possessions we own.

The older we grow the more we see the wisdom in giving…..and the ability to thank God and others for all they do for us. I am a great fan of the Grinch Who Stole Christmas………it is a beautiful example of someone who sees the wrong he has done to others and then the change when his evil deed didn’t stop their celebration of Christmas. I guess you could say it’s an animation of the book written about Scrooge……..so Happy Thanksgiving to all……..for all the right reasons.

Essentially Esther