As Thanksgiving Approaches

Thanksgiving! Some may have thoughts of leaves that have changed color and are falling from trees. Some many think of visiting with family and friends, and watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade either in person or on TV.  And don't forget the traditional football games on television. We can't forget the memories of turkey dinners or whatever your family eats. 

According to Edward F. Gibbson, Jr., Thanksgiving Day is more than a day of fond memories, parades, football, and special dinners. It is also a day of thanks. On Thanksgiving Day, we are reminded of the bounty of treasures that is a part of our lives. It is important to remember that the word thanksgiving is composed of two words: thanks and giving. It should have a broader significance, we should remember to give thanks and to share and give. The holiday reminds us to share our economic and material wealth, and to share also our time and talents with other people who could use our help. In terms of thought and deed, the holiday of Thanksgiving gives us an enriched perspective on the abundance in our lives. 

Happy Thanksgiving. Today is a day of family...a day to be thankful. For us it is just not one day, we are thankful everyday. Thankful for all the time we have together, family game nights, family movie nights, Wednesday night family dinners, the laughs, the cries and the smiles. Thankful for all our family and friends who have been there with us since the beginning of our journey...checking in to see how we are all doing and what we need. Thankful for all our nurses, yes even though we get frustrated with them sometimes. Thankful for our Gilchrist team who has helped us to get where we are in our journey and will continue to help us through the next phases of our journey, which we know will not be easy. Thankful for all the teachers and staff at Chatsworth Elementary School and Franklin Middle School who have taught our kids and have helped them as we go through this. We are thankful for all of the doctors and all the people in the medical field we have met along the way and their continued efforts to help us find a diagnosis for Ian as well as guiding us along the way. Thankful for all of the people who have shared our story helping us to educate others. We are thankful for all the different organizations who have reached out to us along our journey and made our lives more joyous. We are thankful for our village.

We know our journey is not over...and perhaps the hardest is yet to come. We are thankful for everyday we are together knowing that in time it will change. Ian is holding his own but trying to figure things out, asking questions about Heaven (Do they have TV's and popcorn there?; Can he take his fan with him and how will it get there?) He has expressed that when he gets sick again he is not sure he wants to go to the hospital to get better, that he is OK going to Heaven. He is testing the waters to see how we will respond. Ian has been letting us know how we should continue to treat each other as life goes on. We know he doesn't realize what he is doing and we are grateful for that. He continues to have school thru home and hospital as well as many visitors through Gilchrist, Chai Lifeline, as well as friends. Enjoying things as he can, yet napping more often. 

Don't just take today to be grateful for the things in your life...be grateful for them everyday. As stated above, remeber the bounty of treasures that is a part of our lives. It is important to remember that the word thanksgiving is composed of two words: thanks and giving. It should have a broader significance, we should remember to give thanks and to share and give. 

We are grateful for all who have been a part of our journey and our village and know we will continue to be grateful for you all as our journey continues. Happy Thanksgiving... Treasure, Dream, Live