Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day, and I'm busy, busy, busy getting ready to feed a small crowd. It's something I love to do - cooking for others and watching them enjoy the meal.
Here in America, this is a day we set aside to remember all the blessings in our lives. For the life of me, I can't figure out why we set aside only one day a year for this, when so many of us are blessed so richly. To be honest, it would take me the entire day and more to list all of the things for which I am thankful.
I know the Pilgrims get credit for the actual holiday we celebrate tomorrow, but the idea of thanksgiving has been around for thousands of years. As a Christian, I often go back to David when looking for someone who epitomizes the heart filled with thanksgiving. His psalms are beautiful, which might be surprising when one considers many of them were written when he was such a young man.
David had much to be thankful for. Some of his actions might come across as being a bit on the reckless side. Taking on a giant with only a sling and a few stones sounds crazy to me, but he did it, and came out the victor. He found himself on the bad side of a powerful king, and survived numerous attempts to end his life. He also had a weakness for the ladies, which led to major problems. But God favored David, and saw him through the hard times and the mistakes he made. David was a shrewd and discerning man, and I believe there is ample evidence of his thankfulness.
My husband is certainly no David, but for many years now he has been my greatest blessing. I am so very thankful for him, his strengths and even his weaknesses. He has an ordered mind, which is such a blessing to me because I'm a scatterbrain. Perhaps it was the many years he spent in the military, but even though his garage looks like a disaster to me, he has an uncanny ability to find whatever he or I am looking for when he needs to extricate an item from the mess.
He also has a weakness for the ladies, but, fortunately for me, I'm the one he has loved for the last 45 years. His heart also belongs to his two daughters and his granddaughter, but I'm so thankful that I'm the one who is growing old with him.
This was a bit of an unusual post for me, but my mood is reflective as I prepare a small feast for family and friends I'm very thankful for. I'm thankful that I have this privilege and that they trust me to do a good job of it. I hope on this one day, especially, you all find more blessings than you can count.
HAPPY READING!
Cordelia Dinsmore
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
AUTISM AND OVERNIGHTS
The holidays are fast approaching and I'm already busier than I like. Since I'm throwing a small Thanksgiving party, I've been shopping and planning menu ideas. I've also spent what seems like hours and hours in the toy aisles getting suggestions for Christmas gift ideas.
Several fun get-togethers are coming up soon, which will involve more shopping for gifts, and cookie baking, which are activities I actually enjoy quite a bit. But they wear me out.
This weekend, however, I'm participating in an exciting outing that is probably going to be my undoing. Survival is questionable.
Our church youth group is attending a fall festival that is loads of fun. I've attended in the past as a sponsor for the girls, and had such an enjoyable time. Little sleep, but lots of bonding and laughing and sharing.
This year, however, is going to be a whole different ball game.
My son is protesting that he doesn't want to attend. I can understand this, because social situations are quite difficult for him, at least when they center around kids. He is much more in his element when surrounded by adults. His autism and anxiety disorder interfere with his ability to let down his guards and enjoy himself, and one situation that is most difficult for him is being away from one of us for an overnight.
We discussed the idea of my husband going in my place, but then he would be in the same cabin as our son, and we thought it would be good for him to stay with people he knows and can trust, but still make it a growing experience - at least, that's our hope.
So I will be there, but I'll be staying with the girls. He can do this, I know, but I'm not expecting it to all be smooth sailing. He'll be highly stressed, but hopefully he'll be reassured enough by my presence to avoid a full out meltdown.
I'm happy to have the opportunity to attend. I love to see him overcome obstacles and learn that he can be successful. He's a neat kid, and of course I love him with my entire being, but it's still hard to see him struggle so much with social situations that should be all joy and uplifting. The fact that I can trust my husband to keep the other kids safe and take care of the chores here at home is priceless.
Unfortunately, the weather is not going to cooperate in helping make this a thoroughly enjoyable experience. The high 60's and low 70's that we've been blessed with this week are moving out tomorrow, and the weekend is predicted to bring snow and freezing temperatures. And wind, of course. What would Kansas be without the wind?
I just hope there is room in the van for my arctic sleeping bag, and extra blankets, and thermal socks, and wool longjohns. No chance of packing just a small bag with a toothbrush, pillow, and book. Surely I can find a place to stash my Nook!
HAPPY READING!
Cordelia Dinsmore
Several fun get-togethers are coming up soon, which will involve more shopping for gifts, and cookie baking, which are activities I actually enjoy quite a bit. But they wear me out.
This weekend, however, I'm participating in an exciting outing that is probably going to be my undoing. Survival is questionable.
Our church youth group is attending a fall festival that is loads of fun. I've attended in the past as a sponsor for the girls, and had such an enjoyable time. Little sleep, but lots of bonding and laughing and sharing.
This year, however, is going to be a whole different ball game.
My son is protesting that he doesn't want to attend. I can understand this, because social situations are quite difficult for him, at least when they center around kids. He is much more in his element when surrounded by adults. His autism and anxiety disorder interfere with his ability to let down his guards and enjoy himself, and one situation that is most difficult for him is being away from one of us for an overnight.
We discussed the idea of my husband going in my place, but then he would be in the same cabin as our son, and we thought it would be good for him to stay with people he knows and can trust, but still make it a growing experience - at least, that's our hope.
So I will be there, but I'll be staying with the girls. He can do this, I know, but I'm not expecting it to all be smooth sailing. He'll be highly stressed, but hopefully he'll be reassured enough by my presence to avoid a full out meltdown.
I'm happy to have the opportunity to attend. I love to see him overcome obstacles and learn that he can be successful. He's a neat kid, and of course I love him with my entire being, but it's still hard to see him struggle so much with social situations that should be all joy and uplifting. The fact that I can trust my husband to keep the other kids safe and take care of the chores here at home is priceless.
Unfortunately, the weather is not going to cooperate in helping make this a thoroughly enjoyable experience. The high 60's and low 70's that we've been blessed with this week are moving out tomorrow, and the weekend is predicted to bring snow and freezing temperatures. And wind, of course. What would Kansas be without the wind?
I just hope there is room in the van for my arctic sleeping bag, and extra blankets, and thermal socks, and wool longjohns. No chance of packing just a small bag with a toothbrush, pillow, and book. Surely I can find a place to stash my Nook!
HAPPY READING!
Cordelia Dinsmore
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