In the United States, today is Thanksgiving. Although I have become extremely busy in my nonblog life, I wanted to take time to talk about what I am thankful for this year. I will admit it has been a year full of frustration, sadness as well as growth and happiness. The past couple of months have been very hard on my family.
Without a doubt I will start by saying I am thankful for my family. I love my husband and my daughter, but I am also lucky to have a loving and wonderful family including my sisters and parents and nephew. Plus of course my friends who are like family. This fall was very tough. I got a call from my sister telling me that my dad was in the ER and they thought it was his end of life. After many long discussions it was decided we all needed to rush to see him one last time. I did so taking some time from work to do it. The next day we found out he tested positive (he had two negative tests already) for Covid. My sister and mother did as well. I was glad Hazel and I had gotten the updated boosters in September and felt pretty well protected but took precautions. My mom went to the hospital to get one of the medicines for Covid and went into anaphylaxis shock and flatlined. I was still testing negative, but a day or so after that I woke up feeling lousy and tested positive. Thankfully we have all recovered. Covid took a bit more out of my father and his mind is definitely a bit more gone with the Alzheimer's, but his body is going strong. I am thankful for my family and our health. I am thankful we all survived Covid. Steve and Hazel never got it!
This September I started teaching again. I am teaching at the high school side of Hazel's school. I love being back in the classroom and with the students. It is a school that truly tries to meet each student where they are at that day and strives to help them grow in many ways. It also gives much freedom to the teachers to help make this happen. I love my students and being back in the classroom. It is such a wonderful place. I am thankful for the school for myself and also for how it has allowed Hazel to blossom and grow into herself.
This fall the art teacher pulled Hazel into a community service project. She was the only middle schooler to be part of it. The students painted these huge whiskey and rum barrel rocking horses that were donated to different adoption agencies for National Adoption Day. The kids went with the art teacher for a special ceremony to be honored by the probate court for their service and help host the National Adoption Day Celebration. She had so much fun with it!
I have loved teaching at the school Hazel attends. I have even enjoyed being her math teacher. Although I do not know as much of what is going on in the middle school as I have in the past, I love going in with her and seeing her at the end of the day. This fall we have been exploring high schools for her. She is looking for something larger and more challenging. It has been amazing to watch her explore her own strengths and her own desire to learn. She is growing up so fast, but I love the woman she is becoming. I am so thankful to be able to have her in my life and watch her grow.
I am also so thankful for my cats. Last year we added Fidget into our family after we said goodbye to our beloved Pumpkin. Fidget is such a sweet boy. He loves to play but also loves to be with us all the time. He also thinks he is a good assistant with puzzles but sleeping in the box, on the puzzle or knocking the pieces off the table really doesn't help.
I am also really thankful for our cat, Fluffy. She is my lovebug. She loves to cuddle up on my chest and sits there and purrs. She is a beautiful cat and is slowing down a bit as she ages but so cuddly and wonderful. Pets truly add so much to one's life.
I am thankful for beautiful sunsets at Cape Cod, God's creations, and so much more. I am grateful to each of you who support and read Crafty Moms Share. I hope you will take some time today or this weekend to truly think about what you are truly thankful for this year. In this time where violence is in the news all the time, people are worried about money and so much other negativity, take time to be truly grateful for what you have.
For some of our past posts about Thanksgiving (crafts, books, information, recipes and more!) check out here. I wish you and yours a very happy Thanksgiving and hope you find some peace to reflect and truly enjoy!
