I hope everyone had a safe and Happy Thanksgiving. I would like to thank my nephew Jack for arranging Thanksgiving dinner at the Sandpiper in Pocatello. It was great getting together with family and the food was terrific.
Since it’s customary to say what you are thankful for, of course I am going to let everyone know the biggest thing I am thankful for is my family. But, this year I would like to let two amazing women know just how thankful I am for them.
To my Mother-In-Law Berna Deane, I am thankful for her generosity. Her extremely generous donation to the Foundation this year, will provide many cancer patients a grocery gift card for Christmas dinner. I am thankful for her example of strength and courage. She has worked very hard taking care of her family, and despite the loss of her husband, and two children, she continues to do so much for her family and her neighbors. It was an honor to go to her 90th birthday party, and see how many people came to show their love and respect. Most important of all, I’m thankful to be able to call her every week and read her my story. It helps me feel the closeness of our family, and it always strengthens the bond with my Angel Shannon. I am thankful to have her in our family’s life.
I am thankful for my Mom. She turned 94 on Friday, and she is amazing. I have watched my Mom work hard at teaching school, taking care of the house, us kids, and the ranch. My Mom was pretty darn good working cattle from the back of a horse! She instilled the value of hard work in all of us kids. My Mom has always been there to help me out, and I appreciate that so much. Most important of all, my Mom has taught me to never give up. She has accepted every challenge with strength and determination. I will always be thankful for that.
I want to tell them both how thankful I am for their faith. It helps me work harder to be a better person. Thank you both from the bottom of my heart.
I hope this year everybody was able to build some special memories with your families. I will always be thankful for mine. I am especially thankful for the love of my Angel Shannon. I will always LOVE AND MISS YOU sweetheart.
Next week: Arizona trip 2017
P.S. It was a much wiser decision to have Thanksgiving dinner at a restaurant than to leave me alone and unsupervised with leftovers.