Spin Cycle: Giving Thanks

This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for...

1. Jimmy, my weird husband. I love him despite his weirdness. And quite possibly because of his weirdness. Yes, he is high-maintenance. Yes, he has his issues. But he has a tremendous heart, and great integrity, and I believe the fact that he is universally beloved by old people, babies, special-needs children and dogs, is testament to the true nature of his spirit.
2. My boy, Jude. Every day, I thank God for the gift that is Jude, for entrusting him to me in this lifetime. I truly understand how blessed I am to have been able to finally have a child at the advanced age of 42, many women cannot. He is my light and my joy. Even when he's a pain in the butt.
3. Having had my Mama and Daddy. I miss them tremendously. They died too soon. But I would much rather have had a short time with these two loving, intelligent, fine people, than a lifetime with lesser parents.
4. Jimmy's family. Mommy, Pop, Aunt Grace, Tony, Niki, aaaaaaaaall of the extended Italian family. I came to them as a very tall, non-Italian, Texan, orphan, and they whole-heartedly took me in and embraced me as family. I am blessed to have them for me, and doubly blessed to have them for Jude. A boy needs grandparents (I never had any) and he couldn't ask for better.
5. My family and friends in Texas. Though I don't get to see much of them lately, just knowing that they are there, that I still have a link to my past and my childhood, that there are people who remember the child I was, gives me comfort. Plus, they're a lot of fun.
6. Friends. I'm blessed with a number of amazing, quality people around me who I believe truly have my back. I like to think that I have theirs as well.
7. Jude's tiny Catholic school. I have found a tremendously close-knit, loving, supportive, like-minded community, who believe in nurturing a child's body, mind and spirit. I may not adore every aspect of the place, or every teacher (or every parent - oops, did I say that?), but I wouldn't want him to be anyplace else. Plus, they're a lot of fun too - we Catholics love to party!
8. My church and church choir. What are the odds that I could find a church that is so liberal, with a choir that is so traditional? Always a joy.
9. Our sweet little house. It's not fancy. It's not big. But it is ours. And it's home.
10. Fancy, our dog. The sweetest little dog on the planet.
11. Health. My health, Jimmy's health, Jude's health, the in-law's health. Don't ever want to take that for granted.
12. Work when I can get it. I'd like to get more of it. But I'm grateful for what I get.
13. My writer's group. We've only been together for a few months, but this small group of women have been instrumental in getting me focused on some real writing. It's become a safe place, much "this can't leave this room" sharing is done. I look forward to it every month.
14. My old friends from college, who I've reconnected with. The best people on earth, and truly, the funniest human beings I've ever known. I adore them all.
15. Jude's Fourth Grade teacher, Miss Johnson. (Cue the music) Haaaaalelujah! I am LOVING this young woman. She's new this year, and she's also the most creative and most engaging teacher he's had so far. She seems to love teaching, and love all the children. And Jude is doing so well with her! Very happy.
16. Jude has finally found his sports. After years of watching him struggle with baseball and soccer, he has found his calling. Or callings I should say. That boy can run and swim. He loves it and he's good at it. And a special thank you to Roger, one of the fathers at our school, who has stepped up and stepped in to revamp the athletic department, and created the school's track and cross country teams. Changed my boy's life.
17. All of you faithful readers. Who read my ramblings and put up with the fact that I am a terrible reader of other people's blogs. I truly apologize, and am grateful for all of you. Even you lurkers who never comment!
18. Southern California's beautiful weather. Thanksgiving Day? High - 73 degrees. Low - 54 degrees. Couldn't ask for better weather.
19. Grandma's china/silver/crystal/linens. The one and only benefit of being the soul survivor of your family - you inherit it all. I love, love, love setting a table with all of Grandma's beautiful and elegant belongings.
20. The love of cooking and entertaining. I really do love it - preparing a special meal and serving it for special guests. It's one of my favorite things to do. And I think of what Thanksgiving must be for folks who don't much enjoy the preparation, and it must be a real drag.
21. This year's table of Thanksgiving guests. Family, friends, friends who are like family. Beautiful people, every one. Love them all.
22. Leftovers. Enough said.
23. That nice hot bath at the end of the night with a big glass of Cran-Bourbon Orange cocktail. Aaaaaah!

I hope you all had a beautiful, love-filled Thanksgiving that was as excellent as mine.

___________________________________

Thankful spinners...

Vandy J at The Testosterone Three and Me - THANKS #!

Vandy J at The Testosterone Three and Me - THANKS #2!!

Nain at View From Down Here

Vandy J at The Testosterone Three and Me - THANKS #3!!!

Kendra at Life in the slow lane - NEW on THURSDAY!

Stacy at Stacy Uncorked - NEW on FRIDAY!

I am thankful for all of you!

 ___________________________________

Next week on The Spin Cycle...

Holiday Cookie Exchange

It's the countdown to the holidays! And while it might prove tricky if we were to all try to actually send cookies to each other, I would love for us all to share our favorite holiday cookie recipes!!

Grandma Betty's Snickerdoodles? Cousin Mary Frances' Fudge? Aunt Hulga's Berlinerkransers? Share all your favorites! Your one very favorite recipe or a whole batch!

Spin it. Post it. I'll link it!

Share your spin!
Highlight the code.
Copy to your HTML.
Et voila! Linked!

<center><a href="http://www.secondblooming.typepad.com/" _mce_href="http://www.secondblooming.typepad.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://secondblooming.typepad.com/spincyclekeelyresize.jpg /" _mce_src="http://secondblooming.typepad.com/spincyclekeelyresize.jpg /" alt="Second Blooming"></a></center>

 

Comments

[Stacy Uncorked]

I loved reading everything you're thankful for - you definitely have a huge plate of thankfulness! :) And I love that Jude has a 4th grade teacher that is as awesome as Princess Nagger's 4th grade teacher this year - teachers really do make a difference, don't they?

Enjoy the rest of your weekend - Happy Thanksgiving (still), and here's my spin:

http://stacysrandomthoughts.com/2012/11/thanksgiving-thankfulness-and-fun/

[Elizabeth Aquino]

I'm thankful for YOU. And for your beautiful sensibilities and your lovely family.

[VandyJ]

I hear you on the teacher thing. Having a good one who really gets your kid makes all the difference.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

[Arnebya]

All praise to the teachers who love what they do and bring out the best in their students. I'm glad your Thanksgiving was excellent; mine was as well (although it could have been much better were it 73!).