For me Thanksgiving is the second best holiday of the year.  I love it because there are no worries about shopping for presents, decorating the house and all the multiple parties, services and other activities involved in Christmas.  It is simply a time to gather with family and enjoy good food and fellowship.

It is my second best holiday because as a Christian Easter is the foundation of my faith and therefore the best day to celebrate.

This year my husband and I will be celebrating the holiday alone.  Our kids are scattered all over the USA with family in Missouri, Texas, Tennessee, North Carolina and West Virginia while we live in Michigan.  Our one child that lives in Michigan is in Missouri with her husband’s family.

It will be a bit strange sitting at the table with just two of us.  However, while I will miss my family I have so much to thank God for that it will still be a good day.

The past few days I have been remembering the Thanksgiving 17 years ago.  I had just had a mastectomy and was facing my first chemotherapy treatment in the next week.  Because my doctor had told me “the odds are not in your favor” for winning this battle, I realized it might be my last Thanksgiving with my family.

That I am still here – cancer free – and have celebrated so many more Thanksgivings is reason to rejoice.

Even more reasons:

• I will be celebrating the day with my best friend, my husband.
• We are both still able to live on our own although we are aging.
• We will have a table full of good food.  Instead of a turkey I am fixing cornish hens and will make a much smaller portion of all the trimmings.  Still, we are going to enjoy a good meal.
• We have a warm and comfortable home.
• Finally, thanks to modern technology we can still speak with our family and wish them a Happy Thanksgiving.

Some other thoughts by some wise people: