Fun Monday - Giving Thanks

Wendishness is hosting this week:

I thought we could consider Thanksgiving Day which will be the following Thursday in the USA. Though I know a lot of us aren’t in the US so don’t celebrate this, it might be nice to share some of the things we are thankful for in our lives.

Feel free to share in words, photos or both, be as creative as you like or just list them down. I think it will be a nice start to the week.

This one is a no-brainer for me.... This has already been a huge month for giving thanks for me. If you don't read this blog on a reglar basis, you've probably missed my father's brush with death and the resurrecting pacemaker. And more than likely, you didn't even know about my mother's mystery ailment and the recovery she's been making.

But there are other things to be thankful for besides Mom and Dad and their various trips to wellness.

Things like brothers, who are willing to drop whatever is going on in their lives to come help.

John came down the same day I called and told him I couldn't do it alone anymore. He took Dad in hand and helped prop him up. He sat with Mom when I was so exhausted I couldn't see straight. He and Tania (our cousin) went out to the farm and scrubbed and cleaned until everything sparkled and shone in anticipation of Mom coming home.

Andy was willing to come later - when Mom gets home we may need a little more caretaking just to make sure she's able to function well at home. She'll still need a little help with washing dishes or doing laundry and pushing a vacuum around.

Jerry came and lent his big loving presence when Mom needed a little pick-me-up and made her laugh.

Matt and James are far away, but called nearly every day and worried and prayed for her from afar.

There are good friends like Dorothy, who brought her a robe and a sweatsuit, and sat with her telling her stories and holding her hand. And Jill, who visited and brought a lovely balsam pillow that Mom used for aroma therapy when she was feeling bad or hurting. Father Mike came to visit a few times and prayed with us all holding hands for her good recovery and helped Dad stay sane during the operation that relieved the pressure on Mom's brain. And then there's Blan, who was a lifesaver when Dad was ill - he came bearing stories and donuts and helped lift all our spirits with belly laughs. Alison and Cecelia also came and sat with her while Dad and I went to eat - and regaled her with stories of their love lives (dang, I kinda wish I'd stayed for that).

There was hospital staff, cool, efficient and caring. They made the whole situation so much easier to deal with - especially nurses Erin and the lady who did the bathing (I can't remember her name) and the Doctors - Mendoza, Florek, and Rumana.

But near the top of the list are people I've never even met. Blog friends and FaceBook friends from all over the world, who upon hearing of my family's travails said a prayer, sent a positive thought or directed healing energy towards my parents, myself, and the rest of our family. I truly believe that "God" is made up of people who care and the loving energy they create and direct toward the good of others.

So you see, Thanksgiving this year is going to be truly special. I don't know what the specifics of what we'll eat or where we'll be are, but ultimately those things don't matter. It's the feeling in your heart that does.