Countless Memories and Daily Blessings: It's beginning to look a lot like..........

Well, if you were to finish the title of this post in the traditional way the answer would be Christmas. Am I the only one who felt like you spent October 31st doing the whole Halloween thing and then woke up on November 1st and it was as if Christmas was the very next week and Thanksgiving had just passed us right by. This was especially true today as I made our Christmas photo cards, answered the door twice for deliveries of Christmas gifts I had ordered, and finished the rough draft (yes there's a rough draft, I'm a teacher with a touch of OCD I think, so of course there is a rough draft) of our Christmas letter. In my defense I have the month off so it really is the perfect time to get things ready for Christmas since time just flies by once Thanksgiving is over. But usually I seem to live in my own secret little world preparing ahead so that I can take more time to enjoy. This year has been different. Christmas commercials have taken over political ones, businesses are already decorated for Christmas, and stores have "leaked" their Black Friday specials weeks in advance and are starting at like 8:00. WHAT?????? As a person with a spouse who lives for Black Friday you really have taken all the sport out of it. My husband used to poor over Black Friday ads on Thanksgiving (this gave me a break from watching football all day long), map out his course because stores had their own deals (now they are all the same) and then he would head out just as I was going to bed with his list, a map, and a kiss for good luck only to get home and crawl into bed just as Melanie was waking up. This year he will be able to hit Wal-Mart at 8:00, get everything in one place, and be home by 10:00. How is that ANY different from any other night of shopping??? The sport in Black Friday is gone, much like the focus on Thanksgiving this year. So I have decided to focus a little more on Thanksgiving in the next week or so. I thought I would start with a post about what I am thankful for. I then realized that is the exact subject of my very first post last year. I then realized I am just as thankful for the very same things. So here's a few things specific to this year:

I am still so thankful for my Dad. He passed in April losing his battle with cancer but I am thankful that he was here in Reno so that I could spend his last year with him making many priceless memories with him and Melanie.

I am still so thankful for my husband, Charles. He was so amazing this year during Dad's illness. Juggling an 80 hour work week and the schedule that I had with working full time, caring for Dad, and chasing after Mel was not easy but he did an amazing job and even put up with all the emotions that come when you lose someone so close to you.

I am still so thankful for my sister and her amazing husband. I have always thought they were pretty great (okay maybe sis and I had a few bad years there during our teen years) ;-) but they were truly wonderful offering so much help and support over the past year and a half.

I am still so thankful for the wonderful school and amazing teachers that Melanie has. Words cannot express how good it does a mommy heart when you know that your child is so loved and cared for when they are away from you. True blessings in our lives.

I am still so thankful for our jobs. Charles and I have jobs in our chosen professions that more than pay the bills and not everyone has that for sure, not to mention the many little blessings that they give us just by the nature of what we do.

I am still so thankful for Melanie. She makes me smile inside and out. Pure joy.

I am still so thankful for all of our friends and family. There are not enough words and not enough time to thank all of you that mean so much to us.

I am still so thankful too for reality TV, country music, the Food Network, and Starbucks. Simple pleasures.

Most recently I am thankful for the family vacation we were able to take to Chicago. It was a much needed trip for nothing more than pleasure, leaving nothing behind to worry about, and we enjoyed every minute of it. I hope we take time for more of these in the next year. As we get closer to Thanksgiving I hope you take time to reflect on the memories and blessings you hold dear. From the Lucas home to yours, much love and a very Happy THANKSGIVING!!!!