Once a month I make an early morning trip to Herman where I attend the Herman-Norcross School Board meeting on behalf of the Grant County Herald. The meeting starts at 7 a.m. so I am on the road before 6:30 a.m. It is usually a relaxing drive, as long as road conditions are good, and the perfect time to observe the countryside, seasons and just think about things I need to do.
Last week on my trip I started to think about Thanksgiving and what I am thankful for this year. Of course, while surrounded by the beauty of nature, that is an easy thing on my list. At the very top of my list this year was family. I have been lucky to spend many hours with my children and grandchildren and created wonderful memories.
One of these was our trip to Deadwood, South Dakota in July where we stayed together at a home in the midst of God’s creation. The beauty there is unbelievable and we did things to see more than what is visible from the roadways. We did some hiking and picnicking in off the road locations. We took time to just enjoy the company of each other but also the unique ambiance of this part of the world.
Another joy for me is the decision of our oldest grandchild, who graduated in June, to attend college in Morris. It has been wonderful to now have three of our six grandchildren in the same community as us. We get to see them often and enjoy their company. It also means that our son and the rest of his family come this way more.
I can not be thankful for the weather this year because the terrible storms in May left a lot of destruction and clean-up work. The dry summer was also a challenge. It was a very snowy and long winter and I hope this one will be better.
Healthwise things have been pretty good. Naturally as my husband and I get older, we do have our aches and pains and a few things start to wear out. We did not have any major medical ailments. However, this can not be said about all of our friends and family members. I have lost some people who are very precious to me but I am comforted to know that they are in a better place.
Overall it has been a good year, and I have a lot to be thankful for. Now that I have that covered, my next drive to Herman may involve Christmas gift ideas. That might be more complicated.
