Many thanks!

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. It requires very little stress in my life but rewards me with lots of great food. It also allows me to slow down and reflect upon what I am thankful for in my life.

When our kids were younger, we started a journal in which we would write down what we were each grateful for. Entries always included family, good health, a delicious turkey dinner, a warm house, good friends, etc., etc.

While I am still thankful for all these things, I have come to realize that I am also appreciative of the small, seemingly inconsequential moments that can make my day.

These include, in no particular order: a short line at the grocery store; someone, anyone else making me dinner; a cold fountain diet coke; my husband unloading the dishwasher; a sunny day; homemade chocolate chips; the smell of freshly cut grass; a warm blanket; a new season of Survivor; jeans that fit; a compliment; a good hair cut; my children's laughter; a quiet house; a friend's advice; a good book; an unbroken seashell; a smile; the sunrise over the ocean, and a sunset over the bay, and so much more!

And so, on this Thanksgiving morning, I wish all a very Happy Thanksgiving. I wish you peace in your life, joy in your heart, a good, hot meal on your table and family and friends to share life's ups and downs with. And for all of those things, and much more, I am thankful.

Are you still there?

Hello? Is anyone still out there? Have you all given up on me?

I would understand if you had. I have been terribly lapse in my writing. I’ve gone through a bit of a dry spell, due in large part to a brief stint with a part-time job.

I thought I had found the perfect “mom” job – part-time, working from home. Unfortunately, it turned into more of a full-time job, working from home, office, and car.

Some of that was my fault. I am nothing if not anal, and I found I couldn’t leave it alone, a hazard of working from home.

I also discovered something else: working outside the house doesn’t stop the work that needs to be done inside the house. The laundry, dishes, cleaning and errands all still need to get done, preferably by Mom, as always.

After loosing 10 pounds (one of the good things to come out of this experience) and countless hours of sleep, I realized this was not the job for me.

And so I’m back, where I should have stayed all along. My writing, in good times and bad, calms me. It slows me down and puts things in perspective.

I cannot tell you how many times I have started writing about a question or problem I may have and, after countless revisions and re-writes, have found the problem resolved in 400 words or less, and not always the way I thought it would.

Some people can talk a subject to death – I can write one to death. And that’s okay. It works for me.

So here I am again. My apologies, especially to those who “follow” me, for whatever reason. I thank you for your patience and promise to do better in the future.

Here's to many more posts!