It's beginning to look....

I know, I know.... it isn't even Thanksgiving yet.  Here it comes.... B-U-T ...
We're planning to head down to spend Thanksgiving with our kids and so hand delivering their Christmas gifts makes sense for two reasons:
1. We most likely won't be able to go down for Christmas
2. The cost of shipping packages costs as much as the gifts themselves - or close enough, and since we are on very limited budget with DH out of work right now a penny saved is a penny saved!

Fortunately we started gathering gifts for the kids early in the year, along with making some of them and finding some really good and affordable deals. It was such fun wrapping them all this week and thinking of who they were going to.

I have two more gifts to make for some special people in my life, but they can wait until after our Thanksgiving trip.

We'll have two times of family gathering for our Thanksgiving this year.  On Tuesday all my sibs will gather at my sister's for dinner. It will give our brothers a chance to also visit Mom, who turns 91 on Sunday. Then our boys will be with us for dinner on Thursday and we'll be with our daughter for a visit on Friday.

There is so much for us to be thankful for, despite the economy, despite DH being unemployed, despite so many things. I think the times of struggle, of leanness, of loss can all serve to strengthen us and to help us see how much there truly is to be thankful for.

My Thankfulness

I have a loving, caring, merciful God watching over me

I have a husband who loves me and is faithful

I have four amazing adult children and a wonderful granddaugther

I have my health, although compromised in some ways -- which in itself has brought blessings

I have a roof over my head, clothes for my body, food on my table -- my needs are met

I have joy and laughter in my life

I wake up each morning to a song that God gives me in my thoughts

I can worship freely

I have friends all over the world

... and so much more