Undeniably there are some things we absolutely wish were different here at The Garlick Press...however, we are truly grateful for bounteous blessings.
Gathering my girls together, donning matching aprons and cooking up a feast! It is so satisfying to see my grown up daughters excited about cooking a traditional Thanksgiving meal. Mama Cass and Lawyer Girl are both excellent chefs...and Olivia, you should see her stir!
Of course there is admiration for the toddling toddler...watching Olivia as she gains independence, wobbling for balance and strutting around the house feeling so BIG! And she is learning new words daily.
But my favorite word happens to be when she reaches out those chubby pink arms, looks at me with her gorgeous innocent eyes and calls me "Nana!" Making my heart skip a beat or two, I am so so grateful to be her Nana!
Lawyer Girl sneaks a moment with Nephew Baby, the youngest addition at The Garlick Press. Henry is 100% boy, intelligent and generally happy. He moves across the floor with something we call "The Wounded Soldier Crawl." Henry and Nana are buds too!
It's times like these that I"m grateful for the chaos that ensues when we congregate together. Four dogs, six adults (now that The Teenager is taller than me I guess he is adult-ish), and two babies.
I will always be especially thankful for The Teenager; I don't know how I would have survived the last three years without his daily presence in my home and in my heart! Plus...I really LOVE his freckles. Henry, if you are lucky you'll get freckles like your Uncle Chet. The Teenager is the best uncle...all the babies love him!
As the oldest of my offspring, I admire and revere the wife and momma that Cass has become. Being one of her children has got to be so much fun as she makes each day an adventure! Momma Cass is deep in baby laundry, diapers, baby food, and keeping up with crawling and toddling little people.
Yet she still finds time to read; not just picture books, nearly one hundred novels a year. I have seen her reading Harry Potter to wide-eyed Henry or Little Women to inquisitive Olivia.
Brilliant and driven, Lawyer Girl is accomplishing something I never even dared dream about. Not only envisaging her future as a lawyer, Dione is accomplishing her goals and more. She is the only person I know who gets giddy when discussing anything related to the law! I am grateful that she is happy in her life and close enough to fly home for holidays!
Like most of our celebrations, we take Thanksgiving serious at The Garlick Press, and go all out...right down to our pies!
Pie...so grateful for pie...but not as much as Dean is! By the way...pie night is just around the corner!
With gratitude and respect, I love my wonderful son-in-law Bob who works so hard at providing a beautiful life for the grand babies. He adores Cassandra, especially when she says something funny. He is the first to laugh out loud, admiring her sense of humor. And you should see how Olivia and Henry adore their Daddy.
Learning how to use utensils...both hands at the same time!
Henry's first Thanksgiving was fabulous. I don't think either baby said a word the entire time we were eating dinner. And that's something, with two babies at the table!
Dear hubby Dean...who makes my whole life complete. We've been through so much together. I remember concerned friends and family wondered if our marriage would survive losing a child, because so many do not. I'm grateful not only that we survived but that we are living and loving each other with every breath we take.
As we sit down to share this Thanksgiving table with family members, I also have to express gratitude for double ovens, electricity, and fresh turkeys from the store; thanking my lucky stars that I am not a pilgrim plucking feathers for my holiday bird!
Oh yes...and chocolate cornucopias...yum! Doesn't it look like Izzy is telling Dean a secret..."Say Dad, could you please pass the cornucopia!"
Patient, lovable Izzy...I'm even grateful for the pooch...she makes the days delightful!
These three appear to be thankful for a Thanksgiving nap.
Oh yes...and Izzy is most thankful for leftovers!
Hope your Ho Ho Turkey Day was wonderful too!
Additional thanks... As I posted this one, I noticed it was my 200th post! I am thankful for those who read The Garlick Press and also those of you who leave comments. I love them all...and each one inspires me to keep writing and photographing life.
Lisa, You inspire me to be a better mother to my tiny boy! Your love for your children and grandchildren oozes from your blog, thanks for writing!
ReplyDeleteBy the way we saw your beautiful family at Blue Lemon the other day. I wanted to tell you that I love your blog, and that you inspire me, but was too big of a chicken. Next time I'll for sure have the courage to speak up.
Thanks for sharing Lisa! You have a beautiful family and I bet all of these people around you are just as grateful for having you.
ReplyDeleteI love your family like my own. Olivia and Henry are getting so big, and I must agree they are the cutest babies around. All your photos are fabulous but I think Chet sticking out his tongue is my favorite.
ReplyDeletei have a suspicion that your family members are very much grateful to you too. i also suspect that you are the glue for your family, that because of your effort, both before and after your life was changed forever, that all the points you listed about your people which you are thankful for, are the very things you helped create and foster. i say that not just after reading this one post about a happy day where you all ate delicious food and you just decided to write kind words about their positive attributes, i say that after months now of popping in to your blog and seeing and reading about various excerpts of your days where you write with honesty about your grief , and how you love and treat your family and the joy, albeit a bittersweet joy, in which you clearly strive to live each day.
ReplyDeleteps loved the photo with the aprons all the girls are wearing, and the one with the dogs laying down amongst your son-in-law and the toys! can't believe how much henry is looking so boyish and not babyish.
thanks for blogging and teaching us about love xo
ReplyDeletei know i have my own pudgy offspring but i just want to squish Cass's babies. loved the thanksgiving post. i'm lacking motivation for pie night this year...maybe seeing your pics soon will help!
ReplyDeleteFound your blog through Michelle L. You are an inspiration. You make me want to be a better wife and mother. Thank you for sharing yourself. And I am sure that your family is thankful for you and loves you as much as you love them.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely family you have! I hope to be a mother like you and Cass. Your grandbabies are so adorable, but of course you already know that. :)
ReplyDeleteI also love the apron photo and the ones of Izzy- her patience reminds me of a dog we had growing up, we would dress her up in hats/bandanas too and she gave us almost the same expression.