Thanks-Giving.. .

    Are we "Thankful" for the table decorated for the festive hoilday, or the people that are in our day to day lives . To me "Thanks-Giving" has become more than a hoilday about eating our favorite foods, or who's coming to dinner. The older I get, an especially since my recent illness in September this Thanksgiving was full of love, gratitude, and grace. Love for all the people that are in life, that has impacted me and made me a better person. Gratitude  for Heavenly Father allowing me to contuine to live my life on this side of the veil , with my family . And I am also grateful for the knowledge that when we die life goes on for us. There is so much love that encompasses us as pass through the veil, the love ones that have gone on before us waiting there. Most of all for our Savior Jesus Christ, that laid his life down so we may raise ours up once again, so we all can return back to our Heavenly Father. Grace to allow me to be able to put others before myself. To serve my fellow man kind with a open loving heart..
    This Thanksgiving was a start of a new tradition for me and my family. For I was in charge of cooking an preparing this meal this year all on my own. Something my mother has waited for the last 16yrs for, and something I've dreaded to do for fear of screwing up everyone's hoilday. But this year I was bound and determined to do it so my parents could just enjoy the day .Their health hasnt been the greatest this year so I thought it was time to allow them just to enjoy the day and NOT worry about cooking or cleaning for a bunch of us.
         For you see traditions run deep in our families, every year its the same food with the same stories behind them of when, where and why we started making them. These are the things that I enjoy and find comfort in. As I make mashpototes I hear my baby sister whisper in my ear, "you know you can add more butter and milk to that right?" Lisa has been gone from this earth for the last 15 years, and yet everytime I make mashpotoes I hear her voice whisper that in my ear. Yes, its a memory but a dear one. Chocolate pie is my favorite pie, but it was also my Daddy Gibbs favorite too .. I didnt make it this year because of my diabetes being crazy but I did think of him .. Every year as I lay the deviled eggs on the plate that belonged to my Nanny Clark, I see her smiling.. for you see over 25 yrs ago she when on to be with our Heavenly Father. I know they are waiting on me for I saw them and talked to them during my coma in September. I truly beleive that I will be reunited with my family on the other side of the veil, but for now I'll bring thier memories with me as I cook each hoilday meal.. I cant wait to have Mommy Gibbs punch come New Years..