Child Loss -- Greiving with the family

Thanksgiving

It focuses our minds on our blessings

rather than on our problems.

It makes the heart glad for what

we have been given, and it takes

our minds off the burdens we all have.

Thanksgiving recognizes the giver

as well as the gift.

It keeps it on the positive side.
In this life of plenty and prosperity

we seem to take everything for granted.

How appreciative we should be for our

blessings and what a wonderful thing is

a holiday which focuses our attention on them.

Thanksgiving is therapy we all need

to keep cognizant of the blessings

and the beauty of living.
This year let's set aside a few minutes

of the holiday to sit alone and think

of the many things for which we

should be thankful.
Then this great holiday will have

true meaning for us.

-Robert N. Filie-

How To

Observe Thanksgiving

Count your blessings,

instead of your crosses.
Count your gains,

instead of your losses.
Count your joys,

instead of your woes.
Count your friends,

instead of your foes.
Count your smiles,

instead of your tears.
Count your courage,

instead of your fears.
Count your full years,

instead of your lean.
Count your kind deeds,

instead of your mean.
Count your health,

instead of your wealth.
Count on God,

instead of yourself.

-Author Unknown-

As we get into the Thanksgiving Day celebrations, I want you to remember these top 10 holiday eating tips:

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday table knows nothing of the holiday spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. Like fine single-malt scotch, it's rare. In fact, it's even rarer than single-malt scotch. You can't find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-aholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Thanksgiving!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or 1/2 & 1/2. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to Thanksgiving dinner in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to dinner is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at the table, like homemade chocolate chip macadamia nut cookies, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple. Pumpkin. Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Not till Christmas, thank goodness. Still, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention.

Have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

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