Thanksgiving 2009

In 1998 I moved over a thousand miles away from my family. I don’t think about how very far away my family is until the holidays are knocking on the back door of fall, and I face the reality of being what might as well be light years from any relative I knew as a child. This year was no different. As Isabella feasted with her dad a few miles away, I was faced with making the most of the day and set out for the gym. We are all free to “Give Thanks” in our own personal way, and this Thanksgiving, I realized that finding happiness and gratitude comes from within ourselves and from nowhere else. Izzy and I walked down the street on Thursday evening and shared a dinner with our friends and I was thankful for all the good that is in my life.

The day I found the story in Izzy's backpack

Every Friday, Isabella brings home a stack of completed, graded homework in her backpack. This consists of a smattering of math, science, reading….the basics…and religion. I found a story in her bag today that I felt compelled to share.

“Once upon a time there was a ghost named Black and he was a
funny ghost. He would do flips. He was really funny. But the problem
was he had no friends. He wished he did. He is very very sad.
But one day he made a friend. His name is Bob.”

The story was prefaced with a word-search in the shape of a pumpkin and the “hidden” words were to be used in the story.

When Izzy started school, I picked up a few file boxes from IKEA - pretty green and black polka-dotted boxes that are marked for her corresponding years in school. This is a little nugget that I will file after making copies for the relatives.

I turned 34 yesterday. The year I proclaimed “I am not having a birthday.” I looked back at being 33 and realized 1. I ran a marathon in 45 degree pouring rain. 2. Became a better mommy. 3. Paid my mortgage on time. 4. Got promoted. 5. Cried some and laughed more 6. Helped my daughter with her homework and tucked her into bed at night. 7. Made plans for the future. 8. Loved others. 9. Served others. 10. Made goals for another year. Birthdays aren’t so bad. I woke up and started my day, realizing over coffee, that I had to make the day a good day, and only I can do such a remarkable task. Every year is an improvement on the year before. The best is yet to come.