Sharing Thanks

A journal half homemade by my daughter Liz Sometimes the best gifts are those that come from the heart. This year my husband's family decided to do a homemade gift swap at our after Christmas party. I enjoyed watching my daughters and husband figuring out what they could make and bring for this gift exchange. It was fun to watch everyone around the kitchen table making their homemade gifts for the party! I've been busy enjoying the holidays, seeing close friends and family. I have so many reasons to be thankful, its difficult to pick just 4 for this post! I am thankful for all the gifts I have received this holiday. We are a family that is a tapestry of religions. Our best holiday is when we are all together celebrating! I loved hearing all of the voices at my Christmas Eve Party belting out  "Oh Chanukah, Oh Chanukah!" and "The 12 Days of Christmas" I was thankful to do a bit of reorganizing before the holiday party and found Holiday songbooks I had m...

I am a dog lover! Seeing this short compilation of cute dog vines made me smile. If you enjoy this please share a smile with someone. I am always thankful for a chuckle or a smile. I loved the dog whose best friend is a hairless cat! Here is what I am thankful for today. I am thankful for safe travels that brought my two girls home from college. Thank you Mega Bus, whose bus from Pittsburgh was almost an hour early. Thanks to Jet Blue. They wisely cancelled the flight from Chicago on Saturday. They rescheduled Liz for a flight home on Sunday. I recently watched Loved Actually which opens and closes with families and friends reuniting at airports. There is a special magic when you reunite with loved ones. Thanks to Dr. Cornell who did my Mom's hip surgery. The nursing staff at the Hospital for Special Surgeries is phenomenal. My mom is happy to get a new hip and is on the road to recover. Thanks to the nice folks my dad and I met yesterday while waiting for my Mom to be out ...

I am thankful for seeing this Piano Guys playful video of  "Angels We Have Heard on High." These vibrant  classical musicians are using their talents to inspire young musicians. There is also something magical about the inside of a piano! One of my favorite parts of Christmas is the music it has inspired! As a kid a loved going caroling. Singing outside with a group of family friends warmed my soul. This week seems all about music to me so here are my musical thanks! Thanks to my violin piano student Irina! She actually introduced me to the Piano Guys a few months ago. She is a 9th grader and loves watching the classical music videos they make. I am thankful that Piano Guys is creating excitement for classical music to a new generation! I am thankful for the South Shore Symphony Orchestra. We are performing the Nutcracker with the Leggs Ltd. Dance ballet company this weekend. I love immersing myself in the music of the Nutcracker for two weeks. This community event i...