Being thankful for family and hamburgers for Thanksgiving

As I sit here in Australia, in a hospital room with my ailing uncle, I’m grateful for my family.  My uncle is very sick, and this will likely be his last Thanksgiving.  We were planning a big celebration, with friends coming in from the surrounding communities to celebrate an American Thanksgiving in Australia.

My uncle has been looking forward to seeing old friends, but we had to cancel the event.  We’re going to reschedule for next week, when my uncle is a little stronger.  Even though things are a little sad here, my aunt and are…

– grateful that my uncle is still here with us;

– grateful that I can be here to help. even though Dave and the rest of the family cannot be here;

– grateful that SKYPE works from a hospital bed, so Dave, Mike, and Lars can say hello to our uncle;

– grateful that I can be here to take care of my aunt when my uncle is so sick;

– grateful that people actually read this blog, and send us supportive messages;

– and lastly, grateful that maybe my uncle <might> get to come home on Thursday.  His doctor tells us that he is working hard to stabilize my uncle so he can come home and rest comfortably in his own bed, in the place that he loves.   So, keep your fingers crossed for us.

I asked my uncle what he would like to eat for his first dinner at home, after over a week in the hospital.  He said “hamburgers!”, so that is what we are having for Thanksgiving dinner.  I might try to make the hamburgers in the shape of little turkeys, and I’m definitely going to make us some sweet potato fries to go alongside.

In the meantime, what are you grateful for this year?  Maybe you aren’t American, and so don’t celebrate an American Thanksgiving.  But, what are you grateful for in your lives?  Is it family and friends, healthy and happy children, your own health?  Is there someone in your life that is special, who might not be here much longer?