What I Know For Sure...

Thanksgiving is still my favorite holiday. The obvious reason is the food. I love all the traditional Thanksgiving food and the wonderful smell it brings to our home. The first thing I do when I wake up (which is hours before the rest of my family) is start a pot of wassail. Traditionally wassail has alcohol in it and was used to toast good fortune. Ours is pretty much just hot apple cider. Actually, it's the best hot apple cider and in my opinion, Thanksgiving is the perfect time to toast good fortune. It's a recipe that's been in my mom's family for... I'm not sure how long? When the turkey starts cooking in the oven, the smell just gets better. At the end of the night, the warm pumpkin pie, or pumpkin pie cake at our house, finishes the day of good food and good smells perfectly.

I also love the fact that Thanksgiving isn't so commercialized like other holidays. As soon as Halloween is over the Christmas merchandise goes out. Don't get me wrong, I love all the Halloween and Christmas fluff. I think all the movies and merchandise that go along with the holidays are great fun for everyone. At the same time, I love that Thanksgiving doesn't have all the "fluff". It's about something simple and simply wonderful --gratitude. We always put out our Christmas decorations the weekend after Thanksgiving while our hearts are in that special place. That makes me love Thanksgiving even more.

Some of the things I am thankful for this year ~
* Ron, for being mine.
* Reily, for being such a good example to all of us.
* Jacklyn, for showing me how to be strong and positive through a horrible accident. You never stopped smiling!
* Jim, for being such a great brother, son, husband and father at a time when it would be hard for most people to see past themselves.
* Jennifer, for being my sister and my best friend...always.
* Jason, for always being there for ALL your family. I know that all I have to do is pick up the phone. I'm sure our whole family feels the same way!
* Jon, for calling me because I get busy and things slip my mind. I miss living close to you and your phone calls really help...and your silly text messages.
* April, for being there for Mom and helping her when she needs it.
* Mom, for loving your children and grandchildren and being so involved in all our lives. I love that my kids will text you and you text them back. Thank you for getting on me when I slack on blogging. Not only does it get me going, it shows me how much you care about me and my family.
* Paul & Jackie, for raising a son who works so hard at everything he does. I've seen many times where he's learned that and it's made him the wonderful husband and father he is today.
* Grandma Halversen, for loving all of your very large family and teaching us that we are only as old as we choose to be.
* I am also thankful for all my friends and all the ways we can keep in touch. Maybe one day we all will have blogs ;)

This was our first Thanksgiving without family or friends. At first I was sad about this, but I quickly realized that it was perfect. Not that I wouldn't have welcomed the company of family or friends, I just loved being with Ron, Reily and Jacklyn...in our pajamas and on only our time schedule. One more thing to add to my 2008 list --- I'm thankful for pajamas that can double as "lounge wear".

What I Know For Sure...

is friendship can weather time and distance.

A few months ago, I posted with this same title and thought it would be a good theme to reflect on from time to time. The original post talked about my new friends in Texas. Now I want to write about old friends in Utah.

Last week we went to Utah and spent a week with family and old friends, most of which, we haven't seen in over two years. I can't say that I was surprised, but spending time with friends there felt as if we had never left. This validation made me so happy. As friends, we have gone through so much together- roommates in college(Lisa), children being born and going off to school together, moving into new homes, illness and deaths of loved ones.

My good friend, Shana, organized a picnic in the park so we could all get together with our kids. Not everyone could make it, but I was happy with the ones who did. It was so much fun to see everyone who could make it.

Chantel, Shana, Me, Jena and Jessica

Me and Lisa

I am also happy to say that Jacklyn also formed the same kind of friendship with the kids of these friends. It was great to see only a few minutes of "pre-teen boy/girl awkwardness" between her and her oldest friend Spencer before they fell right back into the comfort of old friends. Spencer was born a month before Jacklyn and was actually at my baby shower two weeks before she was born. He was truly her first friend. Jacklyn also got to see Jena's daughter Audrey who became her friend in preschool. She had so much fun with these old friends!

Jacklyn's best friend in Utah, Jazzi, was also with us at the park. We also spent time with her and her family a few days before we went to the park. Jazzi's mom, Jennifer, is one on my closest friends from Utah. She and her sister taught both Reily and Jacklyn in preschool, her husband, Jeff, worked with Ron, and her dad and Ron's dad both taught at Lehi High School together many years ago. Jacky and Jazzi have kept in touch really well since we moved, but actually getting to see each other was much better.

As I mentioned above, as friends we have gone through sad times. Unfortunately, now is one of those times. Jazzi's older sister, Jaquell, was recently diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. While we were there, she went into the hospital for her second round of chemotherapy. Luckily for us, she went in a day later than planned, so we got to visit with her before she went into the hospital. It was so good to see Jaquell, hug her and tell her that I love her. She is in my thoughts and prayers and I hope everyone who reads this will add her to theirs as well. It was also great to spend hours talking with Jennifer while the girls painted their toes, watched a movie and talked with each other. I'm amazed at the strength this family has and feel blessed to call them my friends.

Jazzi, Jacky and Jaquell

What I Know For Sure

Oprah writes and talks about "What I know for sure". She's covered all different subjects from her certainties about love to growing old. One thing I know for sure is the people in Texas are the nicest people! I know.....all the places I haven't been and all the people I haven't met... Okay, I guess it reads better if I say "In my life, so far, I know for sure that the people in Texas, that I've met, are the nicest people there are... in my experience." But seriously, I love the people here! Whether it's the corky "Keep Austin weird" people, the people you can tell were raised in the south because they're so polite, or all the people who have moved here from other states and countries and have brought part of those places with them. I love all the friends I've made here and am so grateful to have them in my life. We've had our trials here and my new friends have always been there for me and my family. The first friend I made here was Robin. She is a great representation of "Texas niceness". She and her daughter, Shelby, started a mother/daughter book club and invited Jacklyn and I to join. I've included a photo of all but one of the moms in the club. Jacklyn took the picture in "nightshot" so it looks like we have a spotlight on us. Anyway, I have other great new friends that aren't in this group that I don't have a photo of, but they are just as wonderful. And all my old friends, that are just as nice as people from Texas, are always in my heart. I just love the people here and had to share! I'm also thinking the title of this post will be a recurring one.....

Trina, Me, Kim, Ana and Robin