So much to be thankful for

I'm going to be brutally honest here:

It's been a rough week.

Well ... five days, to be exact.

Late on New Year's Eve our daughter lost her little baby. I guess it was technically New Year's Day.

As you know, she was here with us. There was a trip to the hospital, where she and her husband learned there was no hope.

There'll be no new grandbaby in July ... at least not for us.

Stephanie's doing fine and so is Joel, but they need your prayers.

Allissa was very enamored of the prospect of a baby coming to live at her house "soon."

I'm glad I'm not the one whose job it is to explain to her why that's not going to  happen.

Last night TG's father suffered a massive stroke. He is not expected to be with us much longer.

Our family is of the tightly-knit variety and this is a most treasured father and grandfather. 

Please pray for my mother-in-law especially, and all the rest of us if you can.

As a rule I'm not fond of wintertime. Although it's a relatively easy go here in the Southeast, it's still winter.

Heartaches ache more this time of year. That's all there is to it.

So I looked around me today and of course I had my camera in my hand, and I took some pictures of things for which I'm thankful.

I love it that wintertime is when citrus fruit is at its best.

Is there anything prettier than sunny grapefruit resting in a white bowl?

Or juicy oranges nestled in another pretty bowl nearby?

I need the warmth of candlelight year-round. In winter, I burn my candles even during the daytime.

Speaking of light, I love the gleam of weak winter beams on my counter things.

My tiny elephants keep trucking along on the bakers rack, year in and year out.

And I plan to keep this birdcage twinkling year round as well. Its glow makes me happy.

I'm thankful that when I went next door to see my neighbor, Suzanne, today, although she wasn't feeling well at all, she invited me to sit and talk awhile. 

She still has her tree up and, what's more, it's on purpose. She says she's enjoying it immensely. With ornaments like this little bird, I'm not surprised.

Almost made me wish I'd kept my own tree up a little longer.

I'll have to remember that next year.

I leave you with the lyric of Thankful, one of my favorites from Josh Groban's CD Noel.

:-:--:-:--:-:--:-:--:-:

Some days we forget
To look around us
Some days we can't see
The joy that surrounds us
So caught up inside ourselves
We take when we should give.

So for tonight, we pray for
What we know can be
And on this day, we hope for
What we still can't see
It's up to us to be the change
And even though we all can still do more
There's so much to be thankful for.

Look beyond ourselves
There's so much sorrow
It's way too late to say
I'll cry tomorrow
Each of us must find our truth
It's so long overdue

So for tonight, we pray for 
What we know can be
And every day, we hope for
What we still can't see
It's up to us to be the change
And even though we all can still do more
There's so much to be thankful for.

Even with our differences 
There is a place we're all connected
Each of us can find each other's light

So for tonight, we pray for
What we know can be
And on this day, we hope for 
What we still can't see
It's up to us to be the change
And even though this world needs so much more ...

There's so much to be thankful for.

:-:--:-:--:-:--:-:--:-:

Comments

[Sue the hobbit]

Sorry for your trials, Jenny. I often feel like I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop, even when life is trucking along smoothly.
Now that I've been to your house, I love it that I can picture your vignettes with their surroundings.
Hope Stephanie is okay, and prayers for you all.

[Mari]

Oh Jenny - I'm so sorry. I know you are not only hurting for yourself but for your kids as well. I'll be praying for Stephanie and Joel, and also for your Father in law.

[Irene]

I'm so sorry to hear about your difficult week. You are not only in my thoughts but my prayers also. Thank you for sharing your self with us.

[Angel]

I'm so sorry Jenny girl...how sad ..but I know you find blessings and meanings in everything...........((HUGSSS)) ..Love will heal you all.

['Aunt Amelia']

Wishing I could wrap you in gentle hugs, for real.........

Although, if I did that, you'd add a miserable new winter cold, to your sadness.....

Just wishing I could though................. Wrap you in hugs, I mean.

It was Wisdom, that you went about, taking pics of things which make you feel better.

Gentle Jan. hugs...

[June Anderson]

Oh, Jenny, I'm so sorry. We have baby Bowden who is 2 and wonderful, but Anita and Gabe lost a baby back in June. Fortunately, she is pregnant and due on June 7. We all came through it...with God's help, we all came through it. God is good...all the time. Praying for you and yours.

I'm also so sorry to hear about The Gregory's father. Hard times. It appears that life handed you grapefruits and oranges so you made ambrosia with your little Brownie. Beautiful pix. I enjoyed them. God bless you all.

[Debbie]

Losing a child any time of the year is unspeakably painful, but at a time like Christmas it must seem even worse. I'm so sorry for you and your family. There really are no words.

And to have your father-in-law with a heart attack at the same time. So very sad.

Sending you good thoughts and prayers for God's comforting hand on you all.

Best of everything!

[Donna M.]

My heart sank as I read your news. I will be praying for your daughter and SIL. I know you all must be grieving. I will also be praying for your FIL nad MIL. I wish I was there to give you hugs of comfort, my sweet friend.

[Jennifer]

Dear Hobbit, Mari, Irene, Angel, Aunt Amelia, Joonie, Debbie, and Donna M. ... Thank you so much for your prayers, love, and support. Grandpa has been moved to hospice and it won't be much longer. In accordance with his living will they have stopped nutrition because the doctors are certain there is no hope of even a slight recovery. Please pray that Stephanie is able to make the trip north for the funeral. She has to have a procedure on Monday and there is snow expected in her neck of the woods on that day, so it's looking dicey as to time frames. I will keep you posted as best I am able.

[Donna (Texas)]

Prayers for Stephanie, and you All sweetheart.....
(((((hugs))))))

[kev]

So sorry for your loss, Jenny! Your entire family has been in my prayers!

[Melissa Hatfield]

Jennifer, you and T.G. have the most beautiful children, inside and out. I really love reading your stories and seeing your pictures. I miss you guys!

[Jennifer]

@Donna ... thanks, luv, we need all the prayers you can spare! Hugs back to you!

@Kev ... thank you, my friend. You are too kind and generous.

@Melissa ... what a delightful surprise to find you here! And thank you for your sweet comment. I miss you too. Would love to see you.