I am amazed at how perceptive our grandchildren are. They are so responsive to our requests when someone is sick or recovering. We have dealt with a lot of medical issues in the past few years, and perhaps the experience of dealing with health challenges has helped them to learn how to be kind, considerate and helpful.

Hyrum, our 20 month old grandson, came to the side of the bed to talk to his grandfather. He leaned down to the floor and picked up the bottle of water sitting next to the bed to give it to his grandfather. No one asked him, he just wanted to be helpful.

There are people who don’t understand the compassion that little ones feel. I will never be one of those people ever again. I watch with appreciation the skills of showing love and helpfulness their parents have taught them. No matter how old (or young) we are, we can be kind to those around us.

How will you empower your grandchildren by teaching compassion today?

I have enjoyed our sign language classes. My family practices with me and I can teach my grandchildren. The four year old twins are most anxious to learn the signs. We can talk together.

I have been sick and it hurts to talk. My daughter suggested that I sign to communicate. This has been an exercise which has taught me that I really need to work on learning the signs so that I am prepared.

We are never too old to learn. I have been surprised by what I can understand. And you never know when you will need to use the knowledge you gain. I would not have guessed that the class we took would allow me to heal and still be able to communicate. Mostly, I have to fingerspell (spelling out words using the signing letters). And often, I give up and speak. Tomorrow I am going to be more diligent to use sign language. This is an opportunity for me to grow.

When I was a child, our family went to my Aunt Gwen’s house for Thanksgiving dinner. My dad always made the fruit salad and Aunt Gwen always had made her fabulous apple pies. My parents made a fruitcake (their fruitcake recipe is the best. It is the only fruitcake that I would eat.  It had only enough cake batter to hold the ingredients together, and it had many more pecans than fruit pieces.) The feast was phenomenal.  When we were done cleaning up and doing the dishes, we would play a game of football in Uncle Warren’s front yard. I don’t remember who won, I just remember how much love I felt. As we grew older and could drive a car, the teenagers would often go to a movie on Thanksgiving afternoon. We just loved being together! Isn’t that what family is all about, loving being together?  How grateful I am for my family. Even though we are now separated by miles and the “ busy-ness” of things, we still love each other and will do anything we can to help one another.

It would be fun to hear about your family. Can you share a family story under comments today. It is easy and all of us who read the blog will love to hear your Thanksgiving stories.