Thankful

Yes, I am thankful.  I am thankful for the obvious things:  family, friends, and my dogs.  I am also thankful for some of the simplest things that maybe we take for granted on a daily basis.

I am thankful for memories, for my children are grown and we are making new memories, but I do love to go into my memory bank and think of the time when I was their world, because they will forever be mine.

1993

I am thankful for my parents.  They have an awesome relationship.  They encourage me every day, even now, as an adult.  I would be lost without them.

I am thankful for the love of my life and I am thankful we found each other with enough life left.

I am thankful for my siblings. There was a time when I wasn’t sure I would have any (I was an only child for 10 years.)  Love you guys!

I am thankful for my Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Nieces, and Nephews.  Life would be boring without you!

I am thankful for medical science.  My family had quite a few medical issues this year and I am thankful for the doctors, nurses, and hospitals that took care of us and made us healthy again.

I am thankful for love, hugs, and kisses for without them we would all be angry, sad, and frustrated.  So hug, kiss, and love someone today…it’s free and it feels great!

I am thankful that I have a job and that I am able to work. (Although, if I could retire and write for the rest of my life, that would be good too.)

I am thankful for my past and what it has taught me and where it has taken me.

Most of all I am thankful for having “enough” to be thankful for.  I have enough love, strength, faith, knowledge, health, happiness, and eagerness to live my life the way I want.

My wish for you is that you also have enough to be thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Susan

My Top Five Charities

This time of year is a time for giving.  I try to give all year long, but people are more generous at this time of year.  I have done some research and these are my top five worthy charities this year.  I have included links to their websites.  Please donate to one if you are able to.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

I cannot imagine the range of emotions a parent goes through when learning their child has a catastrophic disease such as cancer.  This hospital not only treats the patient, but also treats the family.  I am sure you have already heard of St. Jude’s, they are highly advertised.  Do you know exactly what they do?  The following is their mission statement and a link to their website, where you can learn more and make a donation.

 

“The mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Consistent with the vision of our founder Danny Thomas, no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family's ability to pay.”

 http://www.stjude.org/waystohelp  

The Sato Project

I came across this charity completely by accident.  Have you ever heard of “Dead Dog Beach” in Puerto Rico?  Neither had I until I stumbled upon this organization.  The stories of the dogs that are abandoned on this beach and left to fend for themselves, have puppies, fight, or die are horrific.  This charity was founded by Chrissy Beckles, a champion amateur boxer who is literally fighting to save these pups.  Check out their website to make a donation or maybe even add a new member to your family.

http://thesatoproject.org/

Team Boom 4 Tripp

This story caught my eye on Facebook.  It is about a family who tried very hard to have a baby and finally did.  When that baby was about two years old he was at daycare playing on the playground when a huge limb fell out of a tree and hit him directly on the head crushing his skull.  This miraculous child has survived surgeries and is the light of his parent’s life.  The family uses 100% of donations towards Tripp’s care and so that his mom is able to stay home and care for him, they also sell items on their website and donate a percentage of their proceeds to other worthy charities.  Check it out.

http://www.teamboom4tripp.com/

Tie the Knot

Tietheknot.org is an organization dedicated to marriage equality.  This is a subject close to my heart; as it is to many in this country.  Tietheknot.org was created by Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Mitchell from Modern Family) and his husband Justin Mikita.  The site sells neckwear and donates the proceeds.  “Tie The Knot was founded to benefit foundations that support marriage equality. Every day, these organizations fight for millions of Americans right to be married”

www.tietheknot.org

Toys for Tots

Ok so pretty much everyone on the planet has heard of Toys for Tots.  I have included this organization in my top five simply because it is an awesome organization and it is one of the easiest ones to donate to.  You either drop and unwrapped toy in the many donation boxes in stores and malls around the country, or you can visit their website to make a monetary donation.

http://www.toysfortots.org/

Times are tough for many people out there.   If you can, please donate, it doesn’t have to be to one from my list and it doesn’t have to be a lot of money.  I find that donating and giving back makes my heart feel good.

I know there are many more charities out there.  Please feel free to add your personal favorites in the comment section.

Thank you.

Till we meet again…

Susan

Just thought I would share this with you, it made me laugh.  Enjoy your day!

My Favorite Things

Around this time of year we have all these celebrities doing shows on their favorite things.  Oprah started this, years ago, and then gave all of her favorite things away to the audience. 

I got to thinking the other day about my favorite things.  Of course it goes without saying that the love of my life, my children, my parents, my siblings, the rest of my extended family members, and my friends are my very most favorite things in life, but I thought I would list some of the not-so-obvious favorite things in my life.

1. My dog, Buster, whom I love with all of my heart.  He has never once judged me or gotten angry with me.  He is aging and I will be very lost when he no longer roams this earth (or the house, under my feet)
   
2. Coffee.  I know there are many people who would list this as one of their favorite things.  My coffee habit is more of an obsession.  I see nothing wrong with this.
3. Music.  Pretty much any music (other than blues or jazz).  I cannot live without music in my life.  I have basically been this way since way before people were carrying boom boxes on their shoulders. (If you don’t know what this means, you are way too young to be reading this blog haha.)
4. Chocolate.  This needs no explanation.  If you are female you know what I am talking about.
5. Sweats. Sweat pants to be exact.  They are my favorite article of clothing.  I know this makes me sound lazy.  I am not lazy.  I just love to be comfortable.  I will never forget the day I found “dress” pants that feel like I am wearing sweat pants.  It was an awesome day!
6. Campfires or fireplaces.  I just love the smell of a campfire and the sound of a crackling fire especially on a chilly fall evening.
7. Football.  I love watching football on Sundays.  There was a time where I would have done anything to avoid the TV on Sunday.  Now I cannot wait for football Sunday and am so sad when the season is over.
8. The change of the seasons.  I know plenty of people who would love to live in a climate such as Florida’s or California’s where it is normally warm and sunny.  Don’t get me wrong, warm and sunny are wonderful but if I didn’t have the changing of the seasons I would die of boredom.  I love snow storms and by the time I am sick of snow storms we are headed into spring.  I also love summer but by the time I am just about sick of the heat, here comes fall.  See how that works for me?
9. Magazines.  I just love reading and magazines are my favorite thing to read.  I think it is because I never get bored with them.  There is so much information in a good magazine.
10. The final thing on my list of favorite things this year is Facebook.  I know, ho hum boring.   I love keeping in touch with relatives and friends I wouldn’t normally see very often if even at all.  I have made many new and interesting friends through facebook.  Plus, who doesn’t like Candy Crush?  Ok, maybe that is a little over the top, but it makes me happy : )  Don’t even get me started on how much I love Pinterest.

What are some of your favorite things?

Till we meet again,

Susan