Thanksgiving is a time each November brings when we are 'specially thankful for many happy things....our homes.....our friends....our families....our good times through the year.....it is with great thankfulness that I pause to reflect on my many blessings.
I am thankful for my family. I am the first born of three children. My parents are awesome. They provided me with a great home and surrounded me with love. They protected me from harm. My father's favorite response to most things I asked to do was "no" and his favorite phrase was and still is, "be careful". He wouldn't let me go to the skating rink because he was concerned about the type of people that might be hanging out there. I was engaged before I ever wore a pair of roller skates. He taught me about work ethic and the importance of working hard. He bought a paint kit for me and we sat side by side, as he taught me how to paint with oils. He helped me write speeches for pep rallies (when I was captain of the cheerleaders). He practiced with me and taught me how to enuciate words and speak from the heart. He taught me the importance of being truly interested in other people's lives. When he traveled, he often came home bearing gifts. He bought me my first car. He helped us buy our first house. He continues to give me things. I love my dad.
My mother curled my hair, painted my nails, and made most of my dresses. I loved for her to make my clothes because I enjoyed wearing something that no one else would have. When I was in elementary school, I remember my teachers asking me to come up to their desks so they could look at the dresses my mother made. She made costumes for the dance company. She made my formals for proms. She even made my wedding dress. She taught me how to cook and gave me a "love of home" by teaching me about working in the yard--planting flowers, trimming shrubbery, and cutting grass. During the summers we had a tag team. Sometimes she would cut the grass and I would cook our lunch. Sometimes I would cut the grass and she would cook our lunch. When I got married, my father-in-law gave me a compliment I have always treasured. He dropped by our house to visit one day, as he entered our house, he gave me a big hug and said, "I can tell you truly have a love of home. Everyone doesn't have a love of home and I'm so glad that you do."
My mother made sure that I was well-rounded. She took me to dancing, piano lessons, guitar lessons, and organ lessons until I was old enough to drive. She also taught me how to sew. One time, I thought I knew more than her about sewing. To prove to me just how smart I really was, she carried the sewing machine to my bedroom. She told me, "If you think you are so smart young lady, then you can try to make this dress by yourself!" She closed my door and left me alone. Within just a few seconds, the needle went straight through my finger. It didn't take me long to realize she was much smarter than I thought! My mother taught me about work ethic and hard work too. When I was business editor of our school yearbook, I wasn't old enough to drive. Selling ads was important to the success of our yearbook. Everyday during the summer she took me to business after business. When we first started, she showed me what to do. We went inside together, I watched as she explained what we were doing, and inquired about who we should talk to. After a while, I began doing it by myself. She waited in the car while I asked people to advertise in our yearbook. We went to every business on every street, day after day. I sold more ads than anyone had ever sold on the yearbook staff, but I never would have sold any without her. When my dad helped me write speeches, she was always sitting right beside me. Listening and adding her thoughts too. She helped me understand the importance of speaking slowly and clearly, especially in front of an audience.
I grew up going to church almost every Sunday and Wednesday. When my parents were young, they worked with the young people. My mom sang in the choir, my dad was a deacon, and I was a GA. My mother taught me the importance of prioritization. In order to advance in the "steps" of a GA, scripture had to be memorized. On most summer days, my mother watched Days of Our Lives and I sat on a quilt on the floor reading and studying. We couldn't go swimming until after I had studied. One fond memory is eating frozen Zero candy bars and french fries while we sat by the pool, soaking up the sun. My mother plays the piano. My parents loved having friends over, playing cards, and singing around the piano. My mom and I sang duets together. I sang soprano and she sang alto. Now that I'm older, I love to sing alto too. When I go home for Thanksgiving, I'll sit at her piano, play some of our favorite songs, and we'll sing together. I'm so thankful for my parents and my many childhood memories.
I am thankful for my family. I am the first born of three children. My parents are awesome. They provided me with a great home and surrounded me with love. They protected me from harm. My father's favorite response to most things I asked to do was "no" and his favorite phrase was and still is, "be careful". He wouldn't let me go to the skating rink because he was concerned about the type of people that might be hanging out there. I was engaged before I ever wore a pair of roller skates. He taught me about work ethic and the importance of working hard. He bought a paint kit for me and we sat side by side, as he taught me how to paint with oils. He helped me write speeches for pep rallies (when I was captain of the cheerleaders). He practiced with me and taught me how to enuciate words and speak from the heart. He taught me the importance of being truly interested in other people's lives. When he traveled, he often came home bearing gifts. He bought me my first car. He helped us buy our first house. He continues to give me things. I love my dad.
My mother curled my hair, painted my nails, and made most of my dresses. I loved for her to make my clothes because I enjoyed wearing something that no one else would have. When I was in elementary school, I remember my teachers asking me to come up to their desks so they could look at the dresses my mother made. She made costumes for the dance company. She made my formals for proms. She even made my wedding dress. She taught me how to cook and gave me a "love of home" by teaching me about working in the yard--planting flowers, trimming shrubbery, and cutting grass. During the summers we had a tag team. Sometimes she would cut the grass and I would cook our lunch. Sometimes I would cut the grass and she would cook our lunch. When I got married, my father-in-law gave me a compliment I have always treasured. He dropped by our house to visit one day, as he entered our house, he gave me a big hug and said, "I can tell you truly have a love of home. Everyone doesn't have a love of home and I'm so glad that you do."
My mother made sure that I was well-rounded. She took me to dancing, piano lessons, guitar lessons, and organ lessons until I was old enough to drive. She also taught me how to sew. One time, I thought I knew more than her about sewing. To prove to me just how smart I really was, she carried the sewing machine to my bedroom. She told me, "If you think you are so smart young lady, then you can try to make this dress by yourself!" She closed my door and left me alone. Within just a few seconds, the needle went straight through my finger. It didn't take me long to realize she was much smarter than I thought! My mother taught me about work ethic and hard work too. When I was business editor of our school yearbook, I wasn't old enough to drive. Selling ads was important to the success of our yearbook. Everyday during the summer she took me to business after business. When we first started, she showed me what to do. We went inside together, I watched as she explained what we were doing, and inquired about who we should talk to. After a while, I began doing it by myself. She waited in the car while I asked people to advertise in our yearbook. We went to every business on every street, day after day. I sold more ads than anyone had ever sold on the yearbook staff, but I never would have sold any without her. When my dad helped me write speeches, she was always sitting right beside me. Listening and adding her thoughts too. She helped me understand the importance of speaking slowly and clearly, especially in front of an audience.
I grew up going to church almost every Sunday and Wednesday. When my parents were young, they worked with the young people. My mom sang in the choir, my dad was a deacon, and I was a GA. My mother taught me the importance of prioritization. In order to advance in the "steps" of a GA, scripture had to be memorized. On most summer days, my mother watched Days of Our Lives and I sat on a quilt on the floor reading and studying. We couldn't go swimming until after I had studied. One fond memory is eating frozen Zero candy bars and french fries while we sat by the pool, soaking up the sun. My mother plays the piano. My parents loved having friends over, playing cards, and singing around the piano. My mom and I sang duets together. I sang soprano and she sang alto. Now that I'm older, I love to sing alto too. When I go home for Thanksgiving, I'll sit at her piano, play some of our favorite songs, and we'll sing together. I'm so thankful for my parents and my many childhood memories.
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