home and food and clothing

When I was a little girl and would kneel down at night to say my prayers I would repeat an array of familiar phrases that summed up in my young mind the things I was happy to have. One of these expressions of thankfulness went like this:

"I am thankful for home and food and clothing."

I'm not sure how I came up with this, but I thought it sounded nice so I restated it each and every night.

Those childhood words came to my mind recently as I was taking advantage of this bounteous time of year to remember and reflect on the many blessings I enjoy.

I am still thankful for home but on a much different level. I have a dear friend who is fighting valiantly through the difficult reality of losing the home she and her family have lived in for many years. A faltering economy and unstable real estate market put so many in jeopardy these days. I am thankful for the comfort of home.

I am thankful for food and try not to take it for granted, but find myself making my way through Costco each week purchasing un-necessities like pirate's booty and chocolate covered pomegranate seeds...without a second thought... while I hear tales of people I know relying solely on food storage for nourishment as week after week passes with little to no income.

And I give thanks for clothing, especially warm coats, scarves and mittens, all missing on a little boy I spotted walking to school recently on a morning threatening snow and boasting temperatures below thirty.

I am thankful, truly, sincerely, for all that I have. Not only home...and food...and clothing...but for those who share these marvelous blessings with me.

These guys. They drive me crazy, and make me yell. They bring me to tears then keep me laughing for days. They are mine and I love them dearly.



This guy. He works his (cute) booty off to provide the comforts we enjoy on a daily basis. He is helpful and humble, sweet and understanding. He is my man and I adore him.



Waxing nostalgic, I have to mention a few others...










Happy Thanksgiving...May our homes be blessed, our food be plentiful and our clothing bring warmth and comfort!

"I'll trade you a Starburst for a Twix..."

"no way!"

"I'll throw in Milk Duds and some Skittles."

"DEAL!"

...and thus a round of well-contemplated swapping ended a week of frightfully fun (Halloween) festivities!

We savored spooktacular sights at our family party where freckled babies and dead golfers mingled with football players, rock stars...



bananas and...oompa loompas?



The karate kid and a hip hop skeleton showed up with a bit of riff raff this year...



Grandpa and Grandma oozed terror as an...um...pretty...ugly woman, and a rather possessed looking baby?



We feasted on our traditional homemade chili, dunked Fazoli's breadsticks and gobbled glazed doughnuts for dessert. We played games devised by Chris to entice teenagers and toddlers alike (how does she do that every year?) and tried our very best to carry on conversations with Cami while somewhat distracted by her bright orange face and grassy green hair.

Even Danny participated as a perfectly prim, posed little pumpkin!
(costume courtesy of Kelsey...made from scratch, actually scraps, of material she had lying around. Impressive, huh?)



Ward party, friend parties, school parties...at last the big day arrived.

Dinner before candy...but, dinner was a bit unconventional this year...



Intestines topped with bloody eyeballs, a bowlful of brains and witch fingers on the side. All washed down with a glass of ice cold blood and the trick-or-treaters were (just a tiny bit horrified) and set to go.










Candy bars arranged by brand and separated from tootsie rolls and blow pops. Glow sticks and rubber snakes (hands down favorite of all the loot) sat alone as the only items meant to last for more than a week. The bartering slowly hastens, half-eaten fruit snacks and snickers tossed aside. Stomachs began to churn. Suddenly sugar-coated treasures beg to be hidden.

That's my cue. Kids to bed. Bags to raid. Reese's and Hershey bars are mine, all mine...booohahahahahaha!!!