So Much for which to be Thankful!

I have so much to thank God for, I don't know where to begin! I thank Him for this family -- The Mileses, as I fondly call my crew. What an awesome bunch (okay, I know they are not flowers in the sense of bunches) of people living perfect lives (with all of their ups and downs). The Brown/Washington family from which I got my roots make me smile because God has blessed us to be so many in almost every walk of life (teachers, preachers, doctors, nurses, musicians, dancers, singers, writers, politicians, engineers, producers, developers, and the list goes on). My friend circle, so big that I can't begin to tell you who they are, where they are or why they are so special to me, but each knows, and knows that I love them dearly).

I have the distinct pleasure of being in love with all of you, and it makes my heart smile each day that God grants us favor to still be amongst the living. Yes, our circle has been broken a few times this year. Yes, some of us are truly going through right this moment. Yes, some of us battling health issues, and still some of us are doing just fine, thank you ma'am. But know matter where life has placed us, you are a part of me because of some act in life that caused us to cross paths, even walk down the same road a few miles. Because of that, you helped shape me into the person, I have become. For this, I am thankful, and take this opportunity to say thank you to each of you.

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to bid farewell to a friend, Linda Bock. She worked in our community for 40 years providing health care to seniors. Linda is a dedicated nurse. She could have worked anywhere on earth, but she chose our community, and as I watched the community pay tribute to her yesterday, I could not help but be grateful that she is in my circle of friends.

Last night (I should say earlier this morning), I was out roaming around, and decided to drop by the home of one of my daughters. I just showed up because I wanted to see her, and to hug her, and hold her close. She got up out of her bed, and met me at the door. I got what I came for, and a whole lot more. I think we sat and talked at least a couple of hours before, I was ready to go home and to bed. It felt wonderful. As I drove home, I thought, "what a nice tittle piece of heaven, I just experienced."

This morning, long before I was ready to climb out of my bed, my telephone rang. Who was calling, my great-grandson, Master Aiden. He had gotten up, thought about me, and made the call. What did he want? He wanted his grand mom-mom to come and get him. He missed me, and he wanted to see me! How awesome. In my sleep, I could hear his voice, and all I could was smile, and beg to go back to sleep. Beat the hell out of any dream I could have. Thank you God for giving me Master Aiden.

Only an hour later, my granddaughter from NC called. What's up Grams? What's up? Can I please, please, go back to sleep? Oh, I'm sorry. Hi baby. You okay? Yep Grams. I'm okay. Just checking on you. Go back to sleep. I will call you later. Love you. Lord, what a blessing to just have someone checking on you. I am still counting my blessings.

Back to sleep. It is a real blessing just to be able to go in and out of sleep with any hesitation. Anyone who knows me, really knows me, know that I can go to sleep at the drop of a hat. Who comes in as soon as I am back under? Yep, my son and his wife. "Hey old lady. You still in the bed. Just stopped by to check on you. We're off to the store. You need anything?" (my son) Hey Momma Dukes. You okay? It's kind of late for you to still be in the bed. Looks like you've been working on the house. I like it." (his wife) I give up. I'm getting up. Maybe I will go with you two. What a special, wonderful, and perfect life I am living.

I got up. Got on the phone and talked with a friend. The one who does my taxes. Tax season has long been over. Do you think I remembered to pay her? Did not. I apologized profusely. Offered to bring her money to her. Begged her to let me. She told me that she had been in the hospital, and things were a little rough, but she was okay, and my owing her meant that she would never be broke. I laughed out loud, and said, who else on earth would have allowed me to go this long without paying them and would not have rocks in the mouths? Thank you God for TRUE friends. May I never ever take advantage of them.

Are you beginning to see my many blessings? Are you getting a glimpse of why I can't count them all? I sat a glass with water in it during breakfast one morning with my grandchildren, and I asked each to tell me about the glass. Some thought it was clean. Others thought it was half full. While still others thought it was half empty. At least one thought it was both, and one just thought it was a glass doing what it is suppose to do--hold something in it. All were correct.

Each of you make me think about my life, just as my grands thought about that glass with the water in it. Because of your role in my life, (for better or worse) I have become me. For this I thank you, but importantly, I thank God for my many blessings!

Okay, this one is really long, but I wanted to share my blessings with you. Enjoy or not. I enjoyed writing it.