At this time each year, I take a moment to reflect upon my life. There have been a lot of changes in the past 5 years. My husband and I moved 2200 miles from NH to TX to be closer to his elderly parents. That meant moving away from mine. It has been a really difficult adjustment for me. When we moved in 2017 I made sure that I already had a trip home planned. I traveled back to NH four times during our first year here, 3 times the second year and during that second year we moved into a new house and family visited us…and then COVID hit.
The physical distance is felt daily, like an ache in my heart. I was used to being able to frequently visit my oldest daughter, son-in-law, and grandson when we lived in NH. I felt really guilty for making this move. Would they think I was abandoning them? To me, I felt like I was. The family has always been my focus in life. I like traditions, and Thanksgiving dinner all together is one of them.
Two more grandsons and flights home to help my daughter care for each new baby and now I had 3 grandsons living across the country from me. We struggled to have some semblance of visiting via ZOOM and Facetime once the pandemic reached fever pitch.
As the pandemic has begun to lift we have been able to have more frequent visits both to NH and in TX. It is really nice making memories in our new home. I like sharing new places, foods, and cultures with my grandsons.
Reflection
So this year as I think about what I am thankful for and what I am going to say during dinner tomorrow (we like to go around the table and tell each other what we are thankful for) I know that I will say I am thankful for my family, both near and far, thankful for the ability to have a nice home, a good job, friends, and new experiences. I will: say a little prayer for those people who are no longer living but hold a place in our thoughts. Be grateful that even though several of my family members and friends experienced the COVID virus no one was seriously injured or lost their life. Be thankful that even though our gathering will only be four people (me, my husband, my youngest daughter, and my 2-year-old grandson). I will be with people I love, and who love me. To me, that is the greatest blessing of Thanksgiving, for which I am very grateful.
What is Thanksgiving to you? I love to set a pretty table that includes seating cards, pumpkins, turkey salt and pepper shakers, candles, and flowers. I also enjoy having a couple of different kinds of pies, especially pumpkin! That is my FAVORITE! I watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in the morning while I bustle around getting the house ready for guests. In the years when we had large family gatherings there were always games played after dinner and football watching/cheering. See future posts for decorating ideas, cookie recipes, and motivational activities.
-
Keeping Anxiety at Bay
Have you ever experienced a rush of anxiety during a certain situation and had to just breathe through it to get it resolved? Maybe a car cuts you off and you get that awful wave of adrenaline OR a health scare has you on edge. “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear,… Read more
-
Lights, Camera, Action
I thought it would be fun putting up the outdoor lights this year. Um, no. At least I didn’t have to worry about getting frozen fingers like I used to get in NH. When my daughters were young we would all put up the lights together. There would be the typical grumbling about untangling the… Read more
-
Time for Baking
Time for baking…..one of my favorite activities. It is even better around the holidays. I am still trying to learn how to decorate sugar cookies. I want them to look perfectly designed like in the photo above. Mine are not quite at that level YET. I will get there, with some perseverance. What exactly is… Read more
-
Is it Fate?
I believe in fate. My husband and I took a day trip today. On the way, we shared our feelings about some recent turmoil within our family. During the last six months, we have stepped up to the plate to help our daughter and grandson through a rough patch. This painting on the wall of… Read more
-
Just Breathe
Have you ever just thought about what breathing does for your body? Maybe not as it is something we automatically do every day. Did you know that the average adult takes “17,000 breaths a day” (American Lung Association, 2019, para 1)? For a person with anxiety, that number increases as the anxiety rises…and this is… Read more
