Sheila Sims Iding
It’s become a tradition. Every year we put up our tree mid-November. Not our Christmas tree. Our Thanksgiving Tree. It’s our Christmas tree with just lights. No ornaments. No garland. No star or angel. Just hundreds of lights surrounding a tree to remind us of the hundreds of blessings surrounding our days. So…here are some of the 100 blessings that bless my life…on Thanksgiving…and always.
- God’s love
- Jesus’ friendship
- Mary’s faith
- Saints’ intercessions
- Angels’ guidance
- Pat’s love and patience
- Joey’s determination and goofiness
- Timothy’s courage and faith
- Adam’s perseverance and insight
- AddieAdele’s smile and love
- “homeness” of Family
- life lessons of parents
- sisters who are like friends
- friends who are like sisters
- cousins who are family and friends
- a pet’s unconditional love
- the haven of St. Gerard School
- the wonder of 1st grade kids
- the support of 1st grade parents
- the gift of health
- white daisies
- pink peonies
- baby’s breath
- cinnamon candles
- cinnamon candies
- cinnamon toast
- cinnamon anything
- children’s books
- school books
- poem books
- faith books
- journal books
- hardcover books
- stack of books
- Real Simple Magazine
- summer evening rain
- rain storms
- rain puddles
- rain clouds
- snowflakes that glisten
- snow storms/blizzards
- snowdays
- a run in the snow
- Christmas trees
- Christmas tree lights
- Christmas tree smells
- Christmas tree decorations
- Christmas music
- Christmas wreaths
- Evergreen bouquets
- Prickly holly with berries
- Cranberries decorating/eating
- Pointy new crayons
- Yellow pencil bouquets
- Sharpie marker bouquets
- German Chocolate cake
- fancy cupcakes
- Plain cupcakes
- burnt toast
- burnt cookies
- burnt grilled cheese sandwiches
- burnt marshmallows (charred)
- burnt hot dogs
- rare hamburger/really rare steak
- brick fireplaces and mantels
- winter fireplace fires
- Christmas fireplace fires
- Snowday fireplace fires
- Snowday soup
- Nanny’s vegetable soup
- Real Coke with/without ice
- Mason jars/Mason jar candles
- Mason jar lamps
- My grandma’s quilts
- my little down blanket
- Grapevine wreaths
- Red maple leaves
- Thanksgiving trees
- Pine cones gathered
- Family gathered
- Black/white photographs
- Un-posed photographs
- Stained glass windows
- Mary statues/pictures/medals
- Skype joining smiles, prayers, family
- Children singing
- Children praying
- Children playing
- Children giggling
- Children hugging you
- Morning coffee/Evening tea
- Memories - old, new, waiting to be made
- A loving home
- A coming home
- Godsons, goddaughters
- holding hands
- holding Oscar, Ollie. Bessie
- Holding babies
- Holding on to hope
on Thanksgiving and always.