Thanksgiving dinner with Tam, my helper,and her loving family and season cactus in full bloom, and accept gifts graciously.

By Olivene Godfrey

Son Barry and I enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner with Tam, my helper, and her loving family in their charming home in a North Georgia village.  Barry and I had never been to the site but with Barry's amazing gadget(ipod Touch) we were able to drive right to Tam's family's home. (Tam lives in an apartment in her parents home.)

Tam's mother is being treated for cancer but seemed to be feeling well during the dinner.  But, Tam's father who has COPD was feeling bad. Please remember both of them in your prayers.  The food was delicious and Barry especially enjoyed the Southern style green beans and we both liked the Key Lime Pie which is a favorite of ours.

Our season cactus is in full bloom and Barry moved the plant inside to my office so the plant can get morning sun. Last year the plant bloomed at Thanksgiving and at Christmas and again at Easter. 

Each Christmas I'm reminded anew that there seems to be an art to accepting gifts.  Most people, except for a few Scrooge types know that it's blessed to give. But, for some reason, perhaps for a variety of reasons, some persons have difficulty accepting a gift.  Some people seem to have been born with the art of knowing how to give joy to the giver when they receive a gift. But, this art can be developed.

Just think about it- when you give a gift and its obviously appreciated, don't you feel a special glow of happiness!
On the other hand, one word, or even one look, can crush the giver. Some people seem to be under the impression that unless a gift is expensive it won't be appreciated so they don't give anything unless they can gift the best. And I feel sorry for such people as they miss so many moments of happiness.
Someone said that great grace goes with a little gift and all the offerings of friends are precious. Gifts are important
because we know that someone has thought of us. I know a person  who is so obviously delighted with even the smallest gift that its  truly  more blessed to give to him than to receive a gift.

See you next time.

Past Thanksgiving days & Son Barry and I are grateful for a good year.

By Olivene Godfrey

Barry and I have much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving day. This past year has been a time of positive change for both of us. And, we are grateful to God and a group which Barry calls The Ladies.  Our friend and neighbor, Genevelyn, has done so much for us. Then, my sis, Jeanette, highly recommended Tam, who is my helper now. Tam stays with me several hours each weekday and drives me to doctor's offices or wherever I need or want to go plus keeping our house clean and preparing my lunches.

And then Barry decided it was time for him to accept an attractive job offer. After sixteen years with the same company
it took courage for him to make the job change. Kym, in sales, and her sister, Denise, office secretary and Stephanie, president of the company which employs them, along with General Manager,
Brent, welcomed Barry to the new shop.  And Barry is so happy now and looks forward to going to work each day. And he is healthier since he doesn't have to work long hours.

For many years my late husband, Ralph, and Barry and I enjoyed bountiful Thanksgiving day dinners at home. Ralph would build a roaring fire in our huge creek-rock fireplace. And then he would settle back in his recliner and watch football games on the television all day with time out for dinner.  I started  preparing the dinner several days before the event.  And on the big day, I was up early and working in the kitchen. I had posted a list of things to do to make certain all the foods would be ready for our dinner about one o clock.  With one of our "company" tablecloths and napkins for the table, I would set the table with our "good dinnerware."  Sometimes my late mother and her husband would dine with us.  Ralph and Barry ate the turkey and dressing and all the trimmings along with made from scratch biscuits with gusto. After-wards,I saved leftovers and cleaned the kitchen. I was exhausted but had a warm feeling of satisfaction that the dinner had turned out so well.

After Ralph died nine years ago, Barry and I couldn't bear to prepare and eat a dinner at home with Ralph's dining captain chair empty. That year we ate in a restaurant on the holiday but it wasn't the same. For several years I cooked with Barry's help a dinner at home for us. Sometimes we invited a friend to eat with us. This year I'm just not physically able to cook a Thanksgiving dinner.  Barry and I haven't decided what we'll do on the special day.  Whatever we decide, we'll be grateful the good Lord has blessed us during the past year.

Wishing for you a Happy Thanksgiving day.

See you next time.

DOC VISIT AND PRAISE FOR MORNING HOURS

DOC VISIT AND PRAISE FOR MORNING HOURS

By Olivene Godfrey

I had an appointment with my family doctor last week. Tam, my helper, drove me to the doctor's clinic and went inside with me.  I am just about deaf without my hearing aids now, and the aids didn't seem to be working when I saw the doctor. Son Barry said I probably didn't have them turned on as I seem to have
trouble trying to work them. Anyway, Tam listened closely to the doctor's advice. I highly recommend that when old folks go the doctor they bring an alert person with them. When we returned home, Tam filled me in on what the doc said. The doctor advised me to try a pro-biotic, Pearls, for my IBS pain.
I'll let you know if the results are positive.

Until about ten years ago, I was a night person and did all
my work at night. Now I am either to tired to work at night and if I do, I become too stimulated to fall asleep. I guess one of my problems is that I keep forgetting that I am nearly 84 and while I don't feel old in my mind my body continues to remind me.

If we would think a bit about how uncertain life is we would as Franklin wrote, " The early morning hath gold in its mouth.
Actually, it has things more precious than gold. It has life as fresh as dewdrops in the early rays of the morning sun. And,  in this breathless creation there is also a new opportunity, another chance, a challenge, more strong, more forgiving, more
loving, to walk on.

Each day is in our hands. And we will reap from it after the seeds we plant. If we want to be loved, we should be lovable and if we want peace, we should be peaceable. As Watley said. "Lose an hour in the morning, and you will be all day hunting for it.

See you next time.

Son Barry eats with gusto!

By Olivene Godfrey

Son Barry told me when he came home from work one recent day that one of his co-workers was critical of his table manners when he ate lunch.  "You should have told her that at least you can eat chocolate cake now without getting it in your hair," I told him.


He replied that he did mention the chocolate cake incident, and he added that he guess she thinks he eats with too much gusto.
I remembered that Barry came into this world with a huge appetite and nearly starved to death bye the time his doctor switched him to a soy formula.

My late husband, Ralph, and I hadn't had much sleep since we brought Barry home from the hospital. And that night I gave Barry a bottle of the soy formula.  He fell asleep and I carefully  laid him in his bassinet that my mother had decorated with blue satin and net. His dad and I hurriedly got ready for bed and all three of us slept soundly until the alarm clock went off.  Barry was making hungry noises and I gave him another bottle of the soy formula which he hungrily drank. And, for the first time in his short life, he wasn't sick all day.

Soon he was a healthy,big baby and when he started eating soft foods, I would feed him with his little spoon but apparently not fast enough. One day, in frustration, he grabbed the spoon out of my hand and started feeding himself.  He didn't always get the food in his mouth and was messy but he ate with gusto which made me happy.

After that day, I placed newspapers on the floor beneath his high chair and tried to supervise his eating. I made a picture of him with food all over his body.  Over the years he continued to eat every morsel of food on his plate.

Gradually, he learned to watch his gusto when we ate in restaurants or with friends. I credit the soy formula, in part, with the good health he's always enjoyed.  About the only time now that he makes a "mess" is when he eats barbecued ribs or fried chicken. And I don't know how anyone can eat those foods neatly.

See you next time.