Much to Give Thanks

Wow, can't believe that it has been soooo long since my last post.

Thanksgiving isn't even a week past and I'm still thinking about my bounteous blessings.  I think it's sad that Thanksgiving is that holiday that gets squeezed between the fun Halloween and the hugeness of Christmas. 

This year there is a new term:  Gray Thursday where many stores are now opening at various times on Thanksgiving Day.  I say enough!!  However, until the people stay away the stores will be open.

Anyway, as I was lying in bed this morning upon awakening, I got to thinking about the scar on my chest, and I'm not talking about the long scar created to take away my diseased breast.  I'm actually talking about the other side of my chest wherein lies a port.  Until now I have looked at that scar, no more than 2 inches, perhaps a bit less, with hatch marks from the stitches, and have thought CANCER. 

Along this path I am walking, I have realized several things, one being that what matters perhaps most on this earthly existence is our relationship with others, how we treat those we love and strangers with whom we negotiate life's path. 

Now, when I feel my port or see the tubing that runs under my skin from it to my neck vein, I think I'M ALIVE and am reminded of thanks for life-sustaining treatment to keep me alive, thus affording me the opportunity to learn better personal skills, to be a little more patient, a bit quicker to assist someone else. 

I correlate this with the garment I wear that reminds me of my road back to our Heavenly Father.  Now I have a scar that I see daily that will have a positive effect, to remind me of my blessings and my need to improve. 

That being said, you would think me a saint.  However, I have to admit that while I was on the computer this afternoon trying to organize way too many pictures, a got a phone call, looked at the caller ID and decided that I would let it go to the answering machine--didn't want to be bothered with chatting.  No message was left, and now I'm feeling a bit guilty.  I should have picked up that phone.  Perhaps this person needed some help right then and I felt too busy.  Ugh.

Speaking of friends, I was delighted to meet with Robin Gourley, my old-time friend from waaay back.  I haven't seen her in a few years, not since she and I plus Joy spent a weekend at Zion's.  She was in Layton from her home in Nevada for Thanksgiving visiting her son.  We met at Kneaders at City Creek Saturday morning for breakfast, had a wonderful visit.  It was truly great to see her.  I wish her the best.  Life is not easy for this dear friend, and I wish that I could ease her struggles. 

I finished a Christmas stocking today for Victor.  It's a missionary stocking using part of a toddler Sunday white shirt, a child's clip-on tie and a piece of black fabric I had here.  I bought a small future missionary pin at Seagull and placed Victor's name on it.  I was quite pleased with the final product.  Hope he likes it as much as I.  People may think me quite crafty, but I got the idea from Pinterist. 

Tonight, well actually in a few minutes, we head over to RHS for Jared's induction into the Honor Society.  He works very hard at his academics and that hard work shows in his grades.  I'm very proud of that young man.

Tony works hard for DMC, a drilling company working at Kennecott Copper.  He isn't home yet.  His days are very long.

My Uncle Stan Defriez died a couple days ago.  He fell the day before Thanksgiving, hit his head and a hematoma formed, had it drained emergently, was responsive enough to visit with family, but then faltered.  He has been quite feeble for a while, so perhaps this is a blessing.  I am picking up my Aunt Val tomorrow and driving her to Heber for the viewing and funeral.  My parents will not be traveling up from Arizona.  He was my mother's stepbrother.