Grandma's Dual Celebration

My birthday always comes around Thanksgiving, and many times it is on Thanksgiving.  This year I was lucky enough to have our blended family celebrate my birthday and Thanksgiving together.

What a great time we had!  Here we all are wearing the multi-colored scarves I gave everyone for the occasion.  Adam and Melissa were so gracious to have the dinner at their house, and this is under their beautiful tree in the backyard.  The dinner was superb, with everything you could imagine.  I must say Thank You to all the kids and grandkids for making this such a memorable day.

GIVE THANKS FOR THANKSGIVING!

The little turkey name cards  shown in my last post, were made by Maddie two Thanksgivings ago.  How time flies!  The blank one does say Grandma, but the word didn't show up in the photo.  I now hang them on the Christmas tree.  That Thanksgiving we were at Adam's new house in Lake Elsinore.  We had a great time.

This Norman Rockwell painting has always been one of my favorites.  Who wouldn't want to be at this table?  Such warmth and good cheer.  I'm happy to say that our family Thanksgivings have always been memorable.  This painting is labeled "Freedom From Want".  It is one of a series of Freedom paintings that Rockwell did.  He got the idea from an inaugural speech made by FDR called the "Four Freedoms Speech" in 1941.  The other Freedoms mentioned and painted are Freedom of Speech and Expression, Freedom of every person to worship God in his own way, and Freedom from Fear.

Here we are in 2006, in the apartment over the garage, where we lived until our house was built.  It was also the first year Melissa joined us.  Now there is something to be thankful for!  A new family member joined us in 2009----our own Reese Noah Garcia.

Another cute decoration made last year by Maddie.  Decorations made by your grandchildren are the very best!

With my Mom, I'm about Maddie's age here at a family gathering (perhaps Thanksgiving?) in someone's basement.  It didn't matter where the meal was, as long as the family was together

Although this isn't Thanksgiving, my sister, Darlene, my cousin, Barbara, and my niece, Chantelle, try to get together for family dinners whenever they can.  This year they do plan to have Thanksgiving together at Barbara's house in Bloomington, Indiana.  Wish we could all join them.

To all my relatives and friends, Have a Happy Thanksgiving!  I am thankful for all of you.

VETERAN'S DAY

It is increasingly important that we honor our veterans.  I have had grandfathers, uncles, my husband Duane, and my niece Chantelle serve our country valiantly.  In my header picture above are some of the patches and medals that my father, Richard Gerke, earned in World War II.  He sent the medals to me a few years ago and wanted his grandchildren to have them.  He was one of the lucky ones to come home alive, but did fight in major battles in France and Germany.  He would never talk about the War, but I do know that he was part of a unit that liberated a concentration camp.

Here's my Dad, 5th from the left with a Nazi flag that they captured.

My Dad was drafted into the army about 4 months after their wedding.  He was sent to several army bases in the United States to train.  Then, they had to part for three long years while he fought on foreign land.

Before he left, he was able to come back to his home in Chicago, and got this memorable picture of Mom in his hat and jacket.  In those days, everyone was so proud of those who served.

I am lucky to also have this photo of my Great Uncle Stanley from World War I ! (He was my Grandmother's brother on my Dad's side).  Veteran's Day is a Federal Holiday marking the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I.  It was signed at the 11th hour, of the 11th day, in the 11th month of 1918.  Sometimes it is called Armistice Day.  I am very proud that I have so many family members who are veterans, and from every war that has been fought since World War I.  Happy Veteran's Day and may God Bless America!!!

Turkey and Teddy

Heather painted this ceramic for me years ago when she was about 12.  I have many ceramics that she has done, all with holiday themes.  These little guys have always been precious to me.

Grandma's Halloween

We only get a smattering of Trick or Treaters on Halloween, so I don't usually get into costume.  However, for some reason, this year I dressed up a little.  Don't want those grandkids to think I'm dull.

Not exactly "Cruella" the mean Disney character, but I don't like scaring little kids.

Not exactly stirring a  witches' caldron either, since we had our good friend Marian over for dinner.  I made chili, and pumpkin shaped tortillas with cheese inside.

I meant to make these for the kids this year, but never got around to it.  Maybe next year???