Michigan

[Opa]

I have much to be thankful for and having a holiday designated "Thanksgiving" reminds me to pause and think upon all I am fortunate to have. Each year I think how wonderful it is to have health, family, friends, and for the last couple of years I have been able to add the many wonderful people I have met on this site as something to be thankful for. Have a wonderful holiday.

 

[keyt1969]

Quote:
Without trying to sound like "Debbie Downer" as my sisters used to call my mom (lol), my family turns into horrible people during the holidays. Not the typical stressed-type either.

I am thankful for still being alive when I shouldn't be, I have at least one good child, a near perfect boyfriend and great pets.

By the way, I've grown quite bitter over the years about holidays. Not just because my "family" makes them miserable, but because it takes a holiday for people to be thankful, happy or kind to others. Those that spend 364 days a year being selfish and inconsiderate, but put a $1 in that red bucket when entering or exiting a store and call it good.

More people than I care to admit have turned holidays into competitions. Who has the better house (furniture, televisions, game systems) to have the holiday meal at, who gives the better gifts (when more times than not someone ends up getting hurt or jealous because you spent more money on someone else). Why does it matter? Why must inanimate objects mean more than people?

A lot of people have saved me from the brink of my own disasters and I spend a lot of time paying it forward, not just a holiday when I can make them a huge meal. I have been dead numerous times and spent most of my life in and out of hospitals for long periods of time since the day I was born. I have been homeless, in bad relationships, and lived a strictly pro-me lifestyle. I don't need a holiday at the end of the year or an accident or disaster of some type to ask for forgiveness.

I've been upset seeing all the status msgs on Facebook with people starting out with the words "It's this time of year that I stop to be thankful for....". Why just then?

'nuff said.

 

[chickflick]

I thank the Lord every day for all the people and things in my life. Thanksgiving is a day when we say it out loud. I have seen so many good deeds being done. Strangers helping out people in need. All the disasters that have happened around the world and all the people going out of their way to help those in need. We rid those people out of our lives that bring us down. But, there are so many good people in our lives. Even on this site, I see people helping each other out. I guess it has to come within yourself. To be positive. To smile at someone that looks sad. To hold the door open, to let someone cut in line, etc. Just today, I saw my grand-daughter help an older lady find her way, out of the goodness of her heart. We teach our children thru our actions. We teach them to be compassionate, loving, forgiving and non judgemental. I guess I just get tired of people always finding the bad in life and in people. Yes, there are bad people out there, but I'm surrounded by so many good friends and a loving family. The family that has made my life miserable, well, they are not part of my life. I am so thankful for my husband and 4 great kids and 7, almost 8 grandchildren.

I hope all my friends that I have made on this site has a very Happy Thanksgiving. I'm hope all take the time and look around to see all that you have to be thankful for.

 

[keyt1969]

Quote:
It's pretty sad when the only positive people I know (except my boyfriend) I only see online.

Someone please take my soapbox away

On a strange note, things have kinda changed. My daughter's birthday is the 26th. Ever since she was born we have celebrated her birthday on Thanksgiving because everyone was together. Well, our family has decided they don't want to be happy like we are, so even though we aren't seeing them this year, we made a last minute run to the store and got a few supplies for a mini dinner. Only for her birthday. My boyfriend doesn't have any interest in the holidays either for the same reasons I don't, but it's Angellica's 20th birthday

Venicin stew for dinner tonight, a strange but somewhat turkey dinner tomorrow.

I still despise holidays

 

[Mom 2em All]

awww Kate, I am sorry that your extended family arent ideal. However, you have your houseful of family to celebrate the blessings of life and in your life. Every day gratitude is wonderful- but there is nothing wrong with a special day set aside to reflect on all that we are thankful for.

Rather like a birthday. Why celebrate the life of someone on just one day? I cannot stand the meaningless holidays such as Halloween- a day we teach children to take candy from strangers and beg, and decorate yards with awful gore and corpses, and all the other meaningless ones, for example -Sweetest Day- we have Valentines Day- why does Michigan need a Sweetest Day? But Thanksgiving and Christmas are my most favorite days of all.
With my familys hectic schedule and the fast pace of our hectic lives, it is wonderful to have a day set aside that everyone makes an effort to get together and celebrate all that we have. It isnt practical for us to all get together at other times at the same time. This one day gives a chance to do this. To catch up, to reflect, and to make new memories with those we love.

I count my blessings all the time, but today is one of the days I share them with those that I love.
I hope you and yours- however small your gathering will be today, have a wonderful day.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my chicken and duck-loving friends. I am thankful for your friendship that you have given to me over the years. I hope you all have a fantastic day.

 

[chickflick]

Isn't it great that as adults, we can make a life that we want. To have our own little families and make the best memories that you can? It doesn't matter how we grew up, it's what we make out of our lives today that counts. I had a horrible childhood, but I have a loving family now and that's what matters. Ok, Keyt, I'll take your soapbox and you tae mine! Have a great day....we're having ours tomorrow so we can all be together.

 

[KrisRose]

Quote:
Without trying to sound like "Debbie Downer" as my sisters used to call my mom (lol), my family turns into horrible people during the holidays. Not the typical stressed-type either.

I am thankful for still being alive when I shouldn't be, I have at least one good child, a near perfect boyfriend and great pets.

By the way, I've grown quite bitter over the years about holidays. Not just because my "family" makes them miserable, but because it takes a holiday for people to be thankful, happy or kind to others. Those that spend 364 days a year being selfish and inconsiderate, but put a $1 in that red bucket when entering or exiting a store and call it good.

More people than I care to admit have turned holidays into competitions. Who has the better house (furniture, televisions, game systems) to have the holiday meal at, who gives the better gifts (when more times than not someone ends up getting hurt or jealous because you spent more money on someone else). Why does it matter? Why must inanimate objects mean more than people?

A lot of people have saved me from the brink of my own disasters and I spend a lot of time paying it forward, not just a holiday when I can make them a huge meal. I have been dead numerous times and spent most of my life in and out of hospitals for long periods of time since the day I was born. I have been homeless, in bad relationships, and lived a strictly pro-me lifestyle. I don't need a holiday at the end of the year or an accident or disaster of some type to ask for forgiveness.

I've been upset seeing all the status msgs on Facebook with people starting out with the words "It's this time of year that I stop to be thankful for....". Why just then?

'nuff said.

LOL I hear ya sista!!
Its a good thing my family didnt have access to nukes because we would have taken out the east side of the state and a good chunk of Canada! We seemed to have mellowed in our old age and I am going to my sisters today for a plate of food then run for it

!

 

[keyt1969]

Today wasn't too bad. Just me, Angellica and Aric. His daughter had to work and his son or mine didn't have the decency to call or come by. So, it was nice and quiet. No one to yell at me, lie at me or call me filthy names...and that would have just been my dad LOL

But, as per usual, I got sick again. Still not doing so well. Aric went to his mom's for a bit and I'm hoping this is just stress over that. If it's not better by morning I'll have no choice but make another er visit. Honestly, I don't see why the hospital doesn't set a dinner table and private room for me there because I can't remember a holiday went I didn't end up there around a holiday haha

Got my new camera yesterday. That was a major highlight! Now I will soon start my private photography biz, going to people's homes, farms, etc to take pics for a minimal charge. I'm not allowed to work a real job so this is all I have

I went out to do my afternoon chores and I was shocked at my poor white ducks. All of them are near black!!! It's been pointless to clean out the duck pond because of the rain storms and mud, so they don't get cleaned up much. The chickens look even worse with their feathers all either stuck together or falling out from the mud. Yesterday I laid out a bunch of straw but that was pointless. The crazy chickens love to dig underneath it as if they think there's some food under there I guess. Two of the ducks looked like bulldozers, moving straw into piles or digging under it like the chickens. Crazy!!

Well, hope everyone had a great day

 

[keyt1969]

Oh by the way, I totally forgot to leave MY pumpkin cupcake recipe.

Several years ago I was at a Christmas party for some of my clients when I had these cupcakes. Some were frosted, some weren't. Either way they were fantastic. So I tracked down the girl who made them. She said they were in a Weight Watcher's cookbook. It's very simple and super moist!

1 box (18 oz) spice cake mix
1 - 15 oz can of pumpkin
1 cup of water
1 teaspoon vanilla
1.5 teaspoon cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350. Mix all ingredients. Line 24 cupcake pans (I spray them instead because like I said, these are very moist!) and pour batter into each. Bake for 25 minutes. Cool completely then frost with cream cheese frosting.

I have also added apples but then you would have to lessen the water.

If you are into the whole Weight Watcher's thing, these are 1 pt per serving without the frosting and 2 with.



I am asked every year to make these. This is the first year I made them for Aric. He's the chef around here so if he likes them then they must be good lol

 

[Kovalciks Chickens]

Hope everyone had a wonderful thanksgiving and didnt have to kill more turkeys than they had to