This has been a rough year for several of my friends. My friend Limi's son Leo accidentally shot himself in the eye with a pellet gun (something our parents have always warned about.) He lost the sight in his eye and the pellet is lodged in his brain. He is paralyzed on his left side. Another friend has a brain tumor that had been in remission for the past 10 years and reared it's ugly head again. At the same time, her husband is preparing for a triple by-pass. Meanwhile another close friend just found out her dog has cancer. All this at the same time and right before the Holidays.
My husband and I were thinking about how lucky we are the other day. He was preparing his annual Thanksgiving gratitude and blessing request for our upcoming feast. He was also going over our prayer list for all our friends and loved ones going through hard times. We realized how grateful we really are just for our common everyday lives, filled only with mundane trials and tribulations. My husband is very familiar with the pain of long term illness and the total disruption of the entire family's lives and sanity with just the initial diagnosis. His late wife had gone through a long term illness and her pain and passing is recalled easily with others' stories.
With Everyone in our prayers, we are focused this year on Gratitude and Thankfulness for so many things...
One of my agents fought breast cancer and WON this year - she is now cancer free! Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!
My husband had some minor surgery that has made a big improvement in his health!
We found a "forever" home for a wonderful little bulldog that had been terribly neglected!
We watched all my husband's grandchildren grow healthy and strong!
We helped several people save their homes from foreclosure!
We found "dream homes" for quite a few first time buyers!
My husband finally finished his storage shed (albeit it looks more like a "man cave" than a storage shed.)
We were able to feed and clothe our families and even help feed a few less fortunate!
My friend Annie (87 in Jan) is still walking with me and the dogs EVERY morning - 7 days a week!
My sister and her husband were able to sell their condo and move in their remodeled "Pool" house!
My Nephew Noah graduated High School and is embarking on a career as a chef and my friend Cathy's two boys are now attending USC - don't even ask about the tuitions!
We all managed to get through another year in California without the BIG ONE!
My dogs are all happy and healthy even though they are all on "mature dog" kibble.
We spent some great quality time with our friends!
Of course I can add a lot more to this list but you get the picture. As we look forward to Christmas and the New Year, let's look back and count our blessings ..it doesn't hurt to pay it forward either!
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
We are very grateful for all our friends and neighbors. Blessings for a safe, healthy and joyous Holiday season.
Please keep our friends Limi & KC,
Leo, Gale, Jim and Lulu on your prayer list.
Thank You!
Charlie
310-534-3940
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