Thanksgiving is coming upon us all fairly quickly! Am I prepared? Of course not! However I am so thankful for way to many things!
This wkend our family celebrated our children. I say our family (we had no blood family here, just our friends) our oldest turned 7 yesterday and our youngest turned 2 on Saturday. We are so blessed in this life to have 3 beautiful and healthy children, what else could we actually ask for?
The next couple of years passing so quickly as I know that they will without hesitation, brings us to holidays without the military. I always thought that it would be just as it was when I was growing up. To one grandparents house with all the aunts and uncles, let’s not forget all the cousins! I thought that we would have Thanksgiving starting a bit later than my family did, cause 6 am is just not feeding time for me! I left home when I married my husband back in 1994, in September, just before all the holidays started, and it saddened me. I knew that we would not be able to afford to go home for holidays on a SRA salery, but this was ok, I had my new family and of course you know you always invite all the single folk over right???!!
We did make it home the year of 1995, and only because my grandfather passed away, and we had no other choice, but we were still thankful that we were able to make it home for Thanksgiving. Since then we have never made it home for Thanksgiving, and this now saddens me. Why? Because my, maternal grandfather has Dementia and has been living in a couple of nursing homes over the past couple of months. The place he is in now, is suppose to be much better for him than the last one. My grandfather was diagnosed with this disease earlier this year. He went fast, however we were very fortunate to have the VA step up, and help us!
Did you know that the VA can help with vets who did not retire? Of course you did! But did you know that there is nursing home care available for Dementia and Alzheimer’s patients? My grandfather served during the war, and because of his time in Germany, he qualifies for many benefits that we did not realize were available! For instance the nursing home care!
Anyways, that is all for another day. So my list of thankfuls…
1. I am thankful that I was able to visit with my children, my grandfather this summer, before he had to go to the nursing home.
2. I am thankful that with the help of VA that my grandfather is in a nursing home, and we don’t have to worry about the finacial burden!
3. I am thankful that I have a husband and thousands of military people in this world that have provided a means to me being able to live in a free country, where I can write, read, and live without fear.
4. I am thankful for 3 beautiful and healthy children!
5. I am thankful, that the military has provided a solid job, in an uncertain economy, so we don’t have to worry about a paycheck, food on the table, a roof over our heads.
6. I am thankful for a family (blood and friends) who love me and mine, for us just being who we are!