Today is Canadian Thanksgiving. Its pretty much the same as American Thanksgiving except its on the 2nd Monday in October instead of the 4th Thursday in November. We eat turkey and pumpkin pie and we watch football. (At least I watched football - The Calgary Stampeders beat the Saskatchewan Roughriders 42 - 5).
The truth is that we had our turkey dinner yesterday after church. That way we could take it easy today and eat the leftovers.
It seemed strange to only have 5 around the table for our Thanksgiving Dinner. That's the smallest number we've had in years.
This Thanksgiving I've thought of the many things that I am grateful for.
#1 on my list is my family.
I'm so grateful for Judy. I'm grateful she took a chance on me,
I'm grateful for these 6 beautiful daughters
And for the additions to the family - Mike and Brylie.
and of course Tyken
I'm grateful for my grandkids,
I'm grateful that they live in Hawaii and that we are able to visit them.
In Wilma's blog she talked about our parents and grandparents.
Both sets of my grandparents left Japan for a better life in Canada. It wasn't easy for either family but I'm so grateful for the sacrifices that they made so that we could be here today.
Grandpa and Grandma Takahashi
Grandpa and Grandma Shimbashi
Front: George, Helen, May, Edward
Wilma mentioned how our parents grew up when it was not easy for Japanese Canadians. After the attack on Pearl Harbor Japanese Canadians (and Japanese Americans) who lived on the Pacific coast were moved inland to internment camps or in my dad's case, moved to Southern Alberta to work on the farms down there. My mom's family was already living in Alberta so they didn't have to move but they still encountered the prejudice towards the Japanese. Fortunately they lived in Welling, an LDS town in Southern Alberta. The members of the Church treated them well and that has sure effected my life. My mom and her siblings joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. My dad's family was moved to Magrath, another LDS town a few miles down the road from Welling. My dad joined the Church later when he went to University in Edmonton, but I'm sure growing up in a Mormon town had influenced that decision. I'm grateful that they both accepted the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I'm grateful for their hard work and example for all of us. Thank you.
I'm grateful that dad and mom found each other
And got married.
I'm grateful for my sisters
(Wilma doesn't look as grateful as I do in this picture)
And their families.
I'm grateful for the times we are able to get together as family.
I'm grateful that we could help Mom and Dad
celebrate their 50th Anniverary
And that we could all be there.
I'm so grateful that we all have each other.
I'm also grateful for Judy's parents.
I'm grateful to them for raising such a wonderful daughter who has enriched my life so much.
Grandpa Anderson passed away last November. We all miss him. I am so grateful that he accepted me into his family and for the many things I learned from him through the years. The two things that stand out to me are his example of hard work and his testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I'm grateful we were able to celebrate his birthday last August.
I'm grateful for all my brother-in-laws and sister-in-laws (and this isn't even all of them)
and their families.
I'm grateful that his legacy will continue on.
(This is just a small part of the total family)
Grandma Anderson had some health concerns earlier in the year. I'm grateful for her and that she's doing so much better and that she was able to stay will us in Calgary while she recuperated. This is after we took her back home.
I'm grateful that families can be together forever.
