What I’m Most Thankful For On Thanksgiving – Aside From Not Having To Cook

Around this time of year, I start pulling out the few Thanksgiving decorations I own.

Two stuffed turkeys, a bendable pilgrim and a few little pumpkins. They are all very cutesy and my kids like to tell me they’ve outgrown them, but Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays and I can’t help but get swept up with the beginning of the holiday season.

It’s not just the delicious turkey, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie that I love. We get to go out for Thanksgiving dinner.  Everyone wants an edible meal, so that means I’m not cooking.  It’s truly a win-win situation.

But most of all, I’m excited about spending the long weekend with my family.  My son will be coming home from college and the house will be filled with noise again.

Of course, it’s easy to be thankful now, when things are relatively calm and everyone seems to be happy and healthy. However, the beginning of the year came with a rough start.

While my college freshman was recuperating from swine flu, pneumonia and then mono, 4000 miles away from home (that was just the first semester!), I had to have major surgery.  Two weeks into my recovery, our beloved dog died.

If that wasn’t enough, my daughter passed her driver’s permit.  How much stress can one mom take?!

Add in the countless bumps in the road within the lives of family and friends (and there were some doozies!) that I ached at wanting to fix, or, when they didn’t take my advice, hoped would just go away.

On top of that, my scar looked like a science experiment that went wrong.  Very wrong. With my hormones on a roller-coaster, I was a blubbering mess.

Usually, the sunny person that I am, I try to see the silver lining in everything.  At least in hindsight. And, although I could turn worrying into an art form, there has been one constant, through out all the craziness of the year that got me through these situations with (pretty much) my sanity and dignity intact.

My support system.

Aside from family members, who are legally, if not bound by blood to love and support me, in return for hugs, kisses, and food, (not necessarily in that order), are my gal pals.

I wouldn’t last a day without them.  We lean on each other and lend an ear when no one else can stand listening to us anymore.  I’ve learned so much from the wisdom of my “sisters.” Those moms that have walked the walk and are generous enough to show me the way.

We watch over our family and we look after each other.  Holding hands when feeling unsteady, insisting on second opinions, or commiserating with each other as the first child leaves for college.

So when the weekend is over, the corny decorations are put away, and yet again, the house gets quiet.  My girls will be waiting for me, with stories to tell and a shoulder to cry on.

This holiday season, enjoy every minute with your family and take a moment to let all the women in your life, your “sisters,” know how special they are and how they make your life complete.

And if they have any good leftovers, they know where they can send them.