Thanksgiving Thanks

I think it’s the smells on Thanksgiving Day that really get me going. I love the way the fumes from the steam rising from the turkey permeate the kitchen when the top comes off the roaster. And the sweet smell of cornbread dressing makes my stomach growl just thinking about it. Then there’s the buttery aroma of the yams and the tart scent of the cranberry sauce that keeps me from wanting to eat one morsel of food until I sit down at the table with family and friends to thank God for what He’s provided me over the last year.

And I have so much to be thankful for in 2008. My youngest son, Will, received straight A’s for the first time since he was a young boy. He is at an art school in California for the first semester of his senior year, and it has challenged him to be the best he can be. Finally, he’s excited about going to college and the wonderful life he has ahead of him. My oldest son has a precious new girlfriend, and I couldn’t be more excited and thankful for her. She challenges Michael to reach for the stars! Thank you Erica.

Of course, I’m thankful for Katie at Thomas Dunne Books for making my biggest dream come true, and for my literary agent, Holly, for believing in me in the first place. It’s been a long time coming and I feel so fortunate to have been given the chance. Thank you ladies!

Finally, I’m thankful for friends. Friends who go the extra mile for me when I need them most. I don’t know what I’d have done this year without them because I’ve experienced some of my highest highs and lowest lows. My sons won’t be with me this year so I’ll be spending Thanksgiving Day with friends. Friends are my family and that’s another thing I’m grateful for. Even though I no longer have a lot of blood relatives, I’m thankful that I do have many friends who love me and treat me like I really am their sister. I thank each of you from the bottom of my heart!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!