In my travels, I haven’t met many people who don’t enjoy birthdays and holidays, have you?

Speaking of birthdays – It is hard to believe that my little Harley Darley is a whopping 5 years old today…

I am in love with this face!

Two weeks ago (seems like) he was just a pup! Scared to go down the stairs, potty breaks every two hours, tearing up the dryer sheets when I did laundry…

5 year phases of Harley

This year I decided to have a little discussion with Harley (now that he’s older). I explained to him that if we waited until Thursday – there would be more family members around to help celebrate this mini-milestone of his. He barked and wagged his tail, so the invites went out…

Yours is in the mail (tee-hee)

I adore the holidays. I am especially fond of Thanksgiving. I love the simplicity of it. A group of people you like/want to be around nestled under one roof. There’s great food, a ton of laughs and that feeling of relaxation (unless you’re the cook!) throughout the day.

As I get older, I unfortunately sense Thanksgiving (A National Holiday – established by our Country – as a day to give thanks) is getting lost between Halloween and Christmas. There once was a time when we never even uttered the word “Christmas” until after the Turkey was all gone. Now I notice so many changes:

• By the end of the first week of November, stores, malls and shopping centers are all decorated for Christmas
• Retailers are now offering “Black Friday” sales on Thursday
• Christmas movies and specials are already airing before the Cranberry Sauce gets out of the can!

As a child I loved watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Like most children, I would scoot closer and closer to the television as the show came to a close hoping to catch a glimpse of the Santa Claus float before my siblings. For me, that symbolized the gates opening up and “officially” letting the Christmas season out!

I am so grateful that my family still enjoys and holds on tightly to the tradition of Thanksgiving. We will spend the day together. We’ll forget calorie counting and gain weight on homemade rolls and cheesecake. We’ll nap on the sofa and then yell from across the room at the football fumbles on television. All who enter will be welcome and treated as “family.” We will share stories and break bread together after we give thanks for all the many wonderful things, and people in our lives. We do not have everything we want, nor are all our loved ones able to sit with us, yet we are grateful for what we have…

And as I sit at the dining room table, I will look down between my feet at the belated birthday doodle, and smile, knowing I am most grateful for him in my life, and all that he has brought along with him….

• love
• trust
• faith
• Leo
• this website
• and YOU!

Wishing you and your family, a very …

ENJOY AND EAT A LOT!!!!