Happy Thanksgiving

This is a photo of my father getting ready to carve the turkey, many Thanksgivings ago. That is the kitchen of our home in Los Angeles. My father built all the cabinets. It wasn't a big kitchen, but it was an easy one to work in.

So, a list of my thanks:

I"m thankful:

--that I grew up with a wonderful family, a mother and dad that loved  my sister and me so much. We enjoyed every holiday surrounded by family members. They took us to Sunday School and church, nearly every Sunday, and through example, showed us how important loving and worshipping God is.

--that even though I grew up during WWII everyone was patriotic and did all the things we were were asked to do, from blackouts, to food and gas rationing, And despite what was going on in the world, it was as a simpler time.

--that they taught us the basics in school as well as having wonderful electives in the arts and music.

--that I survived early adulthood, married a good man who served our country for 20 years and who loves me, raised five of my own children and had a hand in raising many other kids including some of my grandkids.

--that I had several fulfilling jobs that I enjoyed: telephone operator, teaching pre-school for kids with developmental disabilities, teaching in day care with disadvantaged kids, teaching pre-school to non-English speaking kids (they all spoke English when they left my class), owning, operating and living in a licensed facility for women with developmental disabilities, organizing and teaching classes to other administrators and a lot more.

--that I wrote and published books for the majority of my life, something I've truly enjoyed.

--that I have wonderful children, grandchildren and great-grands.

--that I still have my health and can enjoy life.

Thank you, God!

Marilyn