Counting my Blessings!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and enjoyed precious time with your families.    We had quite an unusual Thanksgiving this year, but I have never been more thankful in my life.

We had my family over as planned, minus a few, and my son who lives in Charleston.  He didn't make it home because he is a young chef in school and working in one of Charlestons best restaurants.  I knew that was coming!  We had a very nice early evening dinner after delivering dinner to my in laws earlier in the day.  The cancer has progressed making it very difficult for my FIL to get out, since we are the closest of all the children it was an honor to be able to take it to them.  Only we weren't expecting to be delivering this meal with our youngest son on crutches.

Unfortunately our youngest son was involved in a very terrible automobile accident on Tuesday afternoon.  Four teenagers were involved in both cars.  It was an absolute miracle that all four teens are okay!  The wreck was only a few miles from our home.  Fortunately, I was home and able to get there right away.  Seeing your child pulled out of a car that has to be pried open by the fire department, strapped and braced onto gurneys and put into an ambulance along with two others is just plain terrifying!  I am so blessed to be able to say, all three teens were released from the hospital late Tuesday night with minor injures, praise God!  My son who took the brunt of the hit, had several cuts and scrapes from all the glass, bruising and a fractured fibula in his lower leg, thus the crutches.  It is a small fracture and should heal quickly according to the orthopedic surgeon we went to on Wednesday.  He is doing quite well, though yesterday wore him out a bit too much. 

Today I am skipping black Friday shopping and staying home to enjoy my wonderful family and put up the Christmas decor.  I can hardly wait to get started!  I have so much to be thankful for right here at home!  I wanted to share a little of last years decorations with you.  I hope to make some improvements this year but we shall see.  Please overlook the quality of these photos as they were definitely before blogging days.

This was our den last year.  Quite a few things have changed in here this year.

Here's my mantle from last year.  I told you I usually just do berries, I'm rethinking that this year.

Last years tree in the den, hopefully it will look quite different this year.

The dining room is going look quite different this year too, but I do love the way this room looked last year.

I always do a gold and silver and white tree in the dining room.  That will not change this year, but I have a few new things to add to this.

Last years front door.  This is going to be a challenge this year, I haven't even begun to think of what to do here other then a new wreath.

But...this is one thing that I hope will stay the same!  I just love it!

Hope you are enjoying the start of the holidays too!  I surely am!  There is no better way to enter into the holiday season then with a thankful heart.

God Bless!

Mary