Thankful for Thanksgiving blessings

Our family wishes each and every one a very Happy Thanksgiving. I love the Thanksgiving holidays because I love turkey and dressing. Ever since I could remember as a child, we always had Thanksgiving dinner in Dobbin at the home of my grandparents John and Rosa Herzog. They are both deceased now, and my Uncle Darrell Herzog lives in that home and has continued to carry on the tradition of Thanksgiving dinner each year. He has even perfected his mother’s dressing recipe and it is the best.

For some reason at all our holiday events, I am always asked to give the blessing. We always have a huge crowd at the events and one Thanksgiving we gathered around, and I asked each one to express what they were thankful for. Well, that didn’t really go over well because it took forever, and that delicious food was waiting for us. So, the next year before we prayed, I asked the same question, and you should have seen the looks I received.

Even though we don’t express what we are thankful for since that first time I asked, we just look at each other and are thankful for all our family that have gathered and those that couldn’t make it or have gone before us. I think about so many families that don’t have families to celebrate the holidays with and I am saddened and am so fortunate for what our family has. Have a wonderful, safe and blessed holiday season.

I was reading an article about things to be thankful for (not all of these things apply to me but lots of them do) and these were some of the items listed: your parents, good health, best friend, a great bible study, favorite books, freezer meals, instant pot, coffee, cozy blankets and family traditions. Silly things to be thankful for: indoor plumbing, inside jokes, spellcheck, fuzzy socks, bubble wrap, Nutella, blanket forts, the snooze button, Netflix marathons and clean water. Important things to be thankful for: siblings, curbside everything, hot chocolate, washing machine, dishwasher, baby giggles, baby stretches with the arched back, handwritten note, family vacations and good friends. Appreciate the small things: family movie night, music, fall leaves changing colors, grandparents, hugs, weather app on your phone, big mugs, fresh flowers, long drives and thank you notes.

The Knights of Columbus Council No. 4054 honored Gerry Juelfs as Knight of the Month for October and Rick and Lisa Atkinson as Family of the Month. Congratulations to these people for their significant contributions to recent Council activities. This council will hold the last blood drive of the year at St. Stanislaus Sunday, Dec. 17 in the parish hall. Please plan to donate the gift of life.

This past Sunday Marcy Pavlock, Sue Underwood, Lisa and Hannah Atkinson and I went to Houston to see the play, “A Christmas Carol” at the Alley Theatre. It was an excellent production that got us all in the Christmas spirit. Afterward we enjoyed dinner at Birraporetti’s. It’s always wonderful to share good times with friends.

Happy Birthday to those celebrating this week: Nov. 23 – Vickie Lynn Haynie, Clay Klawinsky, Junior Covington, Kenny Sechelski, Meredith Wrobleski, D’Lynn Henson, Ken Sanders; Nov. 24 – Reyann Davis, Christy Nienstedt, Austin VanTassel; Nov. 25 – Amy King, Frances Molitor, Kaky Wetuski, Jaeden Hoffart; Nov. 26 – Kari Lynn Eisenman, Jessica Johnson Wise, Khennadie Pavlock; Nov. 27 – Reece Wrobleski, Chantel Derrett, Judy Corley, Mike Wetuski; Nov. 28 – Freddie Foy, Chelsey Allen, Carolyn Tennyson, Nadine McVey, Lester Underwood; Nov. 29 – Amanda Ghazi, Adam Dobyanski, Joyce Horton, Leon Kimich, Joe Imhoff and Morgan James Wetuski.

Happy Anniversary to those celebrating this week: Nov. 23 – Benny and Melodye Westmoreland, 39 years; Nov. 26 – Thomas and Lois Finke, 68 years; Nov. 28 – Bill and Gloria Boehm, 55 years; and Nov. 29 – Willie and Sharion Leiber, 54 years.

If you have special news about what goes on in your family or life, let me know by calling 936-870-6842 or email me at gailmsowell@yahoo.com. I would love to share with others.