Counting Our Blessings

Posted by Karla Lofgren Davis, November 20, 2010

 
When I stop to count my blessings I might as well start with these two precious grandkids - Alex 4 years old and Karly 2 years old. Then there's Ryan who is 8 and Tyler who will be 12 next week. They are all healthy, happy kids. Ed and I are doing fine, as are our 4 adult "kids".

Brother Randy has gone through a long battle with cancer and just a few weeks ago had his bladder and part of the right ureter removed, but they did not feel the cancer had spread to his kidney and saved that organ. He is recovering as well as can be expected, and has a great, optimistic attitude.

Those are the first and foremost things that come to my mind when I count my blessings during this Thanksgiving season. At this stage of life, good health is just about our #1 priority - our own health as well as that of our friends and family.

But memories, relationships, celebrations, and adventures are important too. Take the time to share with us the blessings you are counting this Thanksgiving! Let us hear from you through a comment below.

And... I'd love to post photos of your blessings. Please attach them to an e-mail to me at [email protected].

CLICK HERE to return to the top of the main section after reading comments below, and/or making your own comment.

Comments

[John Hammerle]

(Blogmeister's note: Not sure you can access John's band video from the info below, so I'll include this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKDbPV-Fd0E
The video is SO worth the viewing, and to see this event in the context of John's life, go to his bio page at http://milby1960.typepad.com/milby_class_of_1960/john-hammerle.html (scroll down and start reading at his picture)

John's comment to me via e-mail: "My band, Westchester High School, 40 years ago, the first Texas high school band to be invited to and attend the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Share the memories and happy thanksgiving to all..... "

John's blog comment: HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES.....WATCH THIS FROM 40 YEARS AGO......WHAT GREAT MEMORIES TO THINK ABOUT NEXT WEEK WHEN ALL ARE TOGETHER WITH THEIR LOVED ONES.....
Westchester band at Macy's Parade - 1970
www.youtube.com
The Westchester High School Marching Band & Wranglerettes from Houston TX experience New York and the Macys' Thanksgiving parade in 1970.
21 hours ago Friends Only ·LikeUnlike · Comment · View Feedback (7)Hide Feedback (7) · Share.
John Plummer, Jeffrey A. Jackson, Janet Wells and 2 others like this..
Jeffrey A. Jackson I thoroughly enjoyed seeing this again. Thanks for posting it.
18 hours ago · LikeUnlike.Melinda Faggard Base That was a trip of a lifetime!
17 hours ago · LikeUnlike.

[Ann Herman Beatty]

I am grateful that my dad, at 95, is still on his feet and walking almost everyday--albeit with a walker. He finally figured if he walked more and did not take a nap in the afternoon, he has basically beaten insomnia. With the handful of stuff they give him, (almost half to counteract other med) he does fairly well physically. Eats well, but short term memory is going.

[Gladys Payne Bohac]

As I reflect on Thanksgiving this year, I have so much to be thankful for. Health is at the top of the list. Bo is doing so much better with his new meds, and I am doing great health wise.

My daughter has found a great job after being out of the corporate world for almost 15 years. She is adjusting to being a single Mom, being active at church and with the kids. My grandson Christian is doing fantastic in school, all "A's", doing great and achieving more and more Scout awards. Bo has taken over that department helping him in scouting. Bo enjoys that so much as he worked all the way through Eagle Scouts with his son. Christian is a truly gifted piano player after only 1 1/2 years. He plays real advanced pieces now. He loves piano and does not have to be coached to practice.

My little angel Addie, has a beautiful voice for her age and is singing "Happy Birthday Jesus" at church. She is the sweetest spirited little girl. She is also making mostly "A's". She too is very active in Daisy's (scout's) and loving it. Her
next goal is to take piano like Christian.

Bo's kids and their families are doing fantastic and all doing great health wise and grade wise. We will be gathering at Ginger's our youngest to celebrate a beautiful feast and giving thanks for all that God has done for each and every one of us.

I am staying so busy and thank God that I am able too. Life is good and God is good.

My wish for each and everyone of you is that you and your families have a Happy Blessed Thanksgiving and to say prayers for peace and safety for our soliders.

God Bless you and God Bless America

Gladys Payne Bohac

[Sheila Steele Howard]

Our many blessings come from God, of that I am sure. Perhaps His biggest blessing is that we are Americans enjoying what living in this country makes possible. Some may be less fortunate than others but we are all free. May you all have a great Thanksgiving, enjoy your families, the food, the games, or whatever is your desire.

[Karla Lofgren Davis]

So good to hear from all of you! Our table is set, serving dishes are in their places, everything that can be done ahead is finished... just have to get up in the morning and get that turkey in the oven. We have both sons and their families (4 in each), the parents of one daughter-in-law, and brother Randy and wife Jeanine coming for Thanksgiving dinner. The weather forecast calls for plummeting temps and a lot of rain, but we will be enjoying the warmth of family love as we gather to give thanks to our Lord. I pray the same for you!!! Karla

[Charlotte Vann Dew]

Happy Thanksgiving from Florida! It's a beautiful day and we thank God for His blessings. We are celebrating today with Earnest's daughter and her family, and maybe his youngest son. Expecting about 16 for lunch. We are looking forward to the Christmas holidays with all the music and pageantry at our church. I will pick Austin up when he gets out of school and bring him home with me. We are surprising him with a trip to Disney World. I can't even begin to express my excitement. Our family is calling this season Thankmas and Chrisgiving - half of each season.
Blessings everyone. Love, Charlotte

[Charlotte Vann Dew]

Earnest and I live in a little bitty town, Newberry, Fl, about 15 miles from Gainesville. Often on Saturdays, we hit the various resale shops and flea markets. Not too long ago, we went to a shop that isn't often open because the owner has cancer. But when I walked through the doors, I heard a familiar sound, K.T. Oslin's voice coming from a small speaker. I said, "That's K.T. Oslin." She said, "yes, isn't she wonderful? i wonder whatever happened to her." I said, "I went to school with Kay." She commented on how much she liked her and her recordings and she bet Kay was quite a personality in school. And of course we remember that she was. Funny how "home" follows us wherever we go.

[Mike Roberts]

Hi Charlotte, I know you are enjoying the good life in the Sunny State of Florida ! I was just wondering if you are anyone remembers if KT had a brother named Larry ? Just curious ! Did she live in Pecan Park on Palmetto Street ?

[Gladys Payne Bohac]

Hi Mike, I do not think Kay had a brother. She did live in Pecan Park. She was at our 45th Class Reunion and looked great.
Hope all is well with you and your family.

[Linda McKnight Thomason]

Hope your Thanksgiving was as meaningful as mine was! First, we went to a wedding in Dripping Springs, TX. My 60 yr. old cousin (who looks to be about 45, with long, curly blond hair and big blue eyes) got married! She has not ever been married before and has been taking care of elderly parents. Her wedding was gorgeous---her three bridesmaids(matrons) were three of Willie Nelson's granddaughters, because she wed their dad! Their mother is Willie Nelson's daughter. It was an outdoor wedding on a hillside with a beautiful view! Unfortunately, the next day, my aunt (the bride's mother) passed away after having a stroke.

After all the driving, my body showed the signs of distress! We went back to the family farm, where we had enjoyed a traditional thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings and there were about 30 of us by
that time.

The next night, we went out to have a good old southern home cooked meal as is our tradition! We always eat at Elkhart Lake Hunting Club on the day after a holiday spent at the farm. One of my cousins obtained the membership when his parents passed away. We have the club all to ourselves and the cooks will fix anything you ask for to eat! Our family gets down and decadent with fried chicken, okra gumbo,mashed potatoes and all the trimmings! We then hang out awhile in the living room and reminisce of times and family in years past who have been with us at Elkhart Lake. There is a huge book to sign in and it keeps a great record of all events and attendees. It serves as a monumental reminder of our many blessings through the times we have been together and who was missing when at the Elkhart dinner.

God has been so good to me... blessing me with a wonderful life and abiding good health as only He can understand. I am, above all, thankful for His Son, my Savior, Jesus Christ! I am also thankful for every day of life and all that brings with it... my incredible husband and family and friends, and opportunities to serve Him! I pray for my life to bring honor and glory to Him every day!

I honestly can't think of anything I'm not grateful for in one way or another and when I start naming things on Thanksgiving, the list grows and grows...

[Charles Simmons]

Wonderful, interesting article, Linda. Hilda sends her warm regards.

[Mike Roberts]

Thank you so much Gladys, I have wondered about that for a long time. Charlotte mentioning her in her comments brought the question to mind again.
I am blessed to have a large and wonderful family which I keep as close to me as possible because of all our warm memories. Thanks for asking, I hope to hear your little ones ( Christian and Addie ) on the radio doing a rendition of the " Captain and Tennille " one day !

[Gladys Payne Bohac]

Thank you Mike. As a matter of fact, my little Addie was honored to sing
"Happy Birthday Jesus" Thursday night a a Christmas banquet for one of the Adult Department. She sang like an angel and looked so beautiful in the gorgeous dress that I bought for her Christmas Dress. This is a tradition that I did with her Mother and now I am doing it for my Addie. Christian had his piano recital. He was awesome.
Christian plays handbells also in his school choir. Pretty proud of my little angel and my little man. Both of my little darlings are so gifted and we thank God for that and all the blessings that we have everyday.