Three Things...Gratitude Thread

[PollyannaMom]

(Happy Festivus to all the Seinfeld fans out there!)

Today's Topic (Fri. 12/23) - Funny Stories/Memories You're Grateful For

 

[slo]

Yes - HAPPY FESTIVUS!
It’s a Festivus for the rest of us!


Memories I’m grateful for this time of year…….

#1 - I’m grateful for the memory of a few Christmas Eves years ago when my DD24 served Mass and I lectored - it was very special for us to participate in this Mass together.

#2 - I’m grateful for the memory of my girls giddiness on Christmas Eve when they were little. We watched Santa on the NORAD Santa Tracker, they threw out reindeer food that they made out of oatmeal & glitter and of course cookies for Santa, carrots for the reindeer and cheese for Santa Mouse.

#3 - I’m grateful for the memory of when my whole family was together on Christmas Day. My grandparents have passed away, my brother for 7 years has abandoned our family and my DD24 has chosen a path that does not include us (and she’s taken my 2 grand babies down that path too). I’m not telling everyone this to feel sorry for me - I’m just painting the picture to show why the memory of my entire family together on Christmas is so precious to me.

 

[Summer2018]

1. Windows through which I can enjoy the view and open for fresh air.

2. The Haviland China dishes which have been passed down generations; the Cape Cod glass dishes and glasses which have also been passed down by family; my Spode Christmas Tree dishes; and my colorful Fiestaware dishes I use daily.

3. The delicate antique ornaments on my tree which contain more memories than I can process.

 

[WDWEPCOT]

I’m grateful for my DD and their childhood
I’m grateful for the other adults I had in my life as a child - I don’t know what I would have done without them as my childhood was not good
I’m grateful for someone else even thou that person sadly passed way too young I have very fond memories
I’m always and forever grateful for my friends they have no idea how much they mean to me

 

[1420Elexismc]

1.Christmas break from school-I haven't had one of those since my short stint in college in 1997 lol
2.Watching my kids' excitement on Christmas morning-they're getting older now, so it's a bit more subdued than it was when they were each younger
3.Getting sparkling cider in a fancy glass when I was little so I could be a "grown-up" during Christmas dinner

 

[lynxstch]

Today's Topic (Fri. 12/23) - Funny Stories/Memories You're Grateful For

Going with funny ones first, then a serious one

1. In my first marriage, we were campers. But our first camping trip was a disaster. We got there, set up camp, and it started pouring. We were camping next to a farm, and were woken up by cows staring at us while moo'ing. The campground director came and told us we had to evacuate, as the stream between us and the farm was known to rise rapidly and flood where we were. So why on earth did they put a campsite there in the first place? We packed up and moved to another location, only to be told the same thing later that day. We packed up everything which was soaking wet, and covered with mud, and came home. It was awful then, but we laughed over that one for many many years.I am surprised that we ever went camping again, but we did, lol.

2. In my first marriage, my mother in law always hosted Thanksgiving. The whole family was invited. One year, my brother and sister in law, took it upon themselves to invite his parents along. Everyone is sitting at the table waiting for grace to be said and the food served. His mother all of a sudden decides to start pounding on the table chanting 'pass the meat pie, pass the meat pie'. It was both embarassing to them, and funny to the rest of us. Every year after that, someone brought it up, yelling Pass The Meat Pie. That is one of my only funny memories of any time spent with my in laws (they never liked me for taking their baby boy away, even though I gave them 2 grandsons!)

3. Serious memory now--all of the Christmas mornings when my kids were little, and still believed in the magic. I look back on those days every year, and it still warms my heart and I will always be grateful for those memories.

 

[Summer2018]

Recipes from Food Network
Recipes passed down from my Mother
Recipes I have played with and improved

 

[Summer2018]

I can't recall any funny stories...but I do have some good memories.

As a child, putting up the tree on Christmas Eve with my family...My very tall brother would pick me up to put a special ornament up near the top of the tree...Eating shrimp cocktail, my Mother's lasagna, and drinking homemade egg nog...Going to church on Christmas Eve...Singing Christmas carols...Trying to sleep and hearing my father assembling my doll house thinking it is actually Santa Claus...Waking up to gifts under the tree.

When DD was little...wrapping her gifts in the same Santa Claus paper every year...when she was 2, and I couldn't keep her from running up on the altar to participate in the Christmas Pageant and all of her Christmas Pageants every year after...her exquisite velvet Christmas dresses and accessories...baking and decorating cookies together...the magic and wonder in her eyes...reading both secular stories and the real story of the first Christmas with her.

Christmas and New Years in Disney World...words cannot describe.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Funny Stories/Memories You're Grateful For

1 Dad and I coming home one day to discover our dog Champ on the kitchen table trying to open a plastic container filled with beloved graham crackers. I wish we had taken a picture (this was in the days, probably around 1992 or so, before cell phones and cameras) The memory will always be etched in my heart.

2 Just now smiling to remember as a young child how much I enjoyed playing with my playmobil kids. I had a toy school bus for them to travel on. One day, my grandma, who as I have shared previously, I sure loved and always will with all my heart, had promised to play with me, taking on the role of bus driver. She got caught up in doing other things for a while. She did come over to where I was sitting at our table and saying something like she was sorry the bus was so late. Same grandma who lovingly knitted 20+ pink felt sleeping bags for these same playmobile kids!

3 Grandpa memory that shines with his spirit and God's love is one I have shared in the past about grandpa always saying what good would choosing to reply or act in an unkind manner do? It wouldn't. One reason as I said an adult I have truly realized grandpa in how he lived was my first Witness to Christ

 

[bobbiwoz]

Belle was our last Black Lab rescue. She was a breeders dog, couldn’t breed, and spent her life to that point in a crate. We loved her, and she was always not quite house trained and hungry. My DUncle passed, and we cleaned out his apartment and found that he loved tootsie rolls. We left packages for the other folks in his community and took one package with us and stopped by the funeral home. Coming out back to our car we found only an empty bag that the Tootsie Rolls were in. Immediately we called our vet and learned there’s no chocolate in Tootsie Rolls. For about a week, Belles poop smelled wonderful and there was a waxed patina covering it from all the waxed wrappers. This was at a time when my balance issues were just beginning. Belle would walk behind me on her leash. She was like Mary’s Little Lamb, so gentle. She was just the dog I needed. I wanted one more Black Lab, and God sent me Belle.

DMom lived to be 97 and her birthday and her passing were on either side of Christmas. She was in a coma for days, but we were there when she seemed to be lucid and we told her we loved her.

Meeting Tom on the Seaside Heights NJ Boardwalk on June 10, 1966 will always be my most treasured memory. Very thankful we both found that place that day. I lived in Bayonne NJ and he lived in Trenton NJ.

 

[Bianca and Bernard]

(Happy Festivus to all the Seinfeld fans out there!)

Today's Topic (Fri. 12/23) - Funny Stories/Memories You're Grateful For

1. When DD#2 was about three, DH took her to the park. She came up to him, with one hand palm up and the other palm down, and said "Daddy, my hands don't match!" She then flipped both hands over, so the palm up one was now palm down and down went up, and she started getting upset because she couldn't get them the same...

2. When DS was about three, he had been learning about body parts at daycare, and was starting to get into that comparing stage. We were at an Olive Garden for lunch, (don't judge) and to keep him occupied, DH started talking to him about what he learned at daycare that week. DS goes "daddy has a big hand, I have a little hand. Daddy has a big foot, I have a little foot." This went on, with noses, and hands, etc; then they went to the restroom, because food was on its way. I hear a little voice from across the restaurant pop up "MOM!!! DAD HAS A BIG ----- (correct name for a male part) AND I HAVE A LITTLE -----!!!" DD#2 turned red and tried to hide behind her hair; all I could do is laugh. We got some pretty disgusted looks, but you could tell who the parents were in the room, because of the laughs, and DH got high-fived twice on the way back to the table.

3. DD#1 was three (that is the best age, I swear) and I was pregnant with DD#2. I had very bad morning sickness, and DD#1 was concerned. Not for me, but for herself...she didn't want to catch what I had.

 

[nw6675]

Funny stories and memories

1. When I was 2 or so visiting my grandparents farm, we had an Easter egg hunt outside. I found the mother lode of chocolate by a bush. Yeah, it was rabbit poop. My mother swears I didn't eat any...

2. The Christmas when I told my sister she was getting a tennis set. It was actually a badminton set, but I pretty much ruined the surprise.

3. The time I was wearing my hard gas permeable contacts and dropped it. I went at least a week using just one contact. That is until I found tge lost one in my shoe. I had been "wearing" it all that time.

 

[Tink-osophy]

I haven't had a chance to get on The Dis the last few days, but wanted to drop by quickly and wish you all a

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Lovely New Year!

 

[WDWEPCOT]

A very Merry Christmas and a Most Happy New Year to All of You !!! I’m very grateful for all of you I really mean this !! Stay warm !!! We will have to head WAY south to do it !! Canada was very generous and shared their weather with us I hate returning gifts but this one needs to go !! Just saying !!

 

[bobbiwoz]

@WDWEPCOT , Great post!

 

[WDWEPCOT]

Thank You Bobbi I still fondly think about our EPCOT lunch !!!

 

[PollyannaMom]

Good morning, all, and Merry Christmas Eve! Just in case I don't log on tomorrow (depends on when my family wakes up) thank you all so much for playing along on this thread, and I hope your Christmas is wonderful, magical, relaxing... whatever you want it to be!

 

[PollyannaMom]

Today's Topic (12/24 and 12/25): Free-for-all ~ anything you're grateful for that you'd like to share

 

[nw6675]

Free for All

1. Grateful to be able to get up at 2:30 am this morning to make a hot breakfast for DH and his coworkers. Cooking and baking for others makes me happy! Grateful for the ability and funds to do so.

2. Grateful for a supportive family, an awesome kid, a fabulous husband, a few special friends, and you gals.

3. Grateful to live in the US no matter what we've gone through or what side of the aisle you're on.

 

[Bianca and Bernard]

Today's Topic (12/24 and 12/25): Free-for-all ~ anything you're grateful for that you'd like to share

1. Grateful our cold in FL only lasts a very short time! (If I could be somewhere about 65-70, no humidity, year round, that would be perfect for me)


2. grateful that my DH, kids, and grandkids are all (fairly) healthy and doing ok


3. The company DH works for. It's a nationwide civil engineering firm, and they get a lot of flack on the internet for expecting high workloads from their employees, but boy oh boy...do they reward well in return! (let's just say DH's bonus, after taxes, was enough to pay off our August Belize trip, our current two state trip to see the grandkids, cover Christmas/Jan-Feb rent/Dec-Jan-Feb electric and water; and pay for the airfare or hotel of another trip if we want to set it up)