My Single Mom Life

To all my blogging friends, readers, family and real life friends!
There's so much to be thankful for this year, I won't make a list, but will say how much I am grateful for this year.
It had it's ups and downs, but all in all, it's been a good year.
I have so so much to be thankful for, and I hope you do too.
I'm not about politicizing the day, celebrate it or remember how you choose, just make the best of the day, do not take it for granted.
I think that's one of this years lessons for me.
I learned not to take a single moment for granted.
Through everything I had been through, I somehow was able to be grateful for what I did have, and that I was here with my sons.
I had moments of total despair and panic, was given a scare, and it's really too bad that a scare was what it took for me to start living in the moment, but it did.
I would ask each of you to not be like that, to start living and loving in the moment.
There is so much we all have right now, we may not have it all, things may be really tight or even bad, but take a look around at what you do have and just live in that moment, laugh, love, and appreciate it all, even the bad stuff.
Sometimes it's the bad stuff that gives you the most clarity, the most to be thankful for.

As is traditional in our house, we will be watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, and once again I'll tell my kids that it was 50 years ago today, that ninny and pop pop, (my mom and dad) had gone to New York to each perform with their churches band, and met.
They were both members of the Salvation Army, Mom from Pennsylvania, Dad from Maine, and right there in front of the Macy's front doors, they bumped into each other and found true love.
That day they each met their other half, the one who would complete their lives and who they would build a new one with.
They met that day, married that coming July 31st, and have been together ever since.
50 years together has seen a lot of changes, a child of their own, adopted daughters, foster children, health issues, money issues, but there they are today, still together with their love just as strong as it was 50 years ago.
I am thankful to them for taking in all those kids.
They took in a sick little baby the doctors had no hope for, but with love, care and nurturing, I'm still here 37 years later.
They still share that same love, care, and nurturing with all who pass through the doors of their home, and it amazes me every single day, just how strong their marriage still is.
50 years is a long time, and it's an honor to celebrate their love and life, and retell their story.