23 months, one month and let the holidays begin....

Monday marked Sydney's 23 month "birthday"! It's unbelievable to me that she'll be 2 next month. I need to start shopping!! On a very bittersweet note it also marked one month since my mom had passed away. It's hard to believe both are true actually. At this time it's hard for me to deal with the fact that each time Sydney turns a whole month older it will also mark another month that my mom's been gone. Monday was a rough day for me; I am always thinking of my mom--mostly in the evenings when I get home. That's when Sydney falls and gets her goose eggs that I instantly want to call her about (to make sure that all will be okay!), or that's when I am using one of the seven recipe books she has given me (which I might add is 7 of about 9 total recipe books!) and I either have a question about something I'm cooking OR I want to suggest a recipe I have made that I think she'll like. She is never far from my mind and her memory is everywhere; it's a blessing and a difficulty all at the same time. Through all of this, I am so thankful for my sister; talking with her about how she is handling everything and what her feelings are have been such a blessing. As it turns out we have been on the exact same "page" ever since Mom passed--that in itself is a blessing to know that the feelings and roller coaster emotions we feel are normal; at least for us they are. Now, God help the men in our lives as they put up with us and help us through this!

Anyhow, tomorrow is Thanksgiving day! I have been looking forward to it but also not looking forward to it. I can't wait to be with family, eat lots of good food and just relax. We'll be spending lunch in Manhattan with Joe's side of the family and we'll return to Delphos for supper and stay another day or so. On the flip side, Thanksgiving won't be at my parents' house this year as my Grandma and aunts are taking that on and it will be at my Grandma's house. It will be an adjustment for all of us I think as we alter our traditions. Either way, there will still be an abundance of yummy food and football...but most importantly: family! Thankfully, we have lots of it! I am thankful that we the distance between both sides of our families is not a large one so that we are able to see them both on this wonderful holiday!

Pssst...Joe doesn't know it yet but as soon as we return to Ottawa our CHRISTMAS decorations are going up!!!!!! Christmas had always been very special to my mom and she instilled that in myself and sister. I can't wait to get Christmas music turned on, get everything out and put up!