The Thanksgiving holiday is a special time of year when we
pause in our whirlwind lives to remember what we are grateful for. I do try to
think of each day with gratitude, but sometimes we do get caught up in the
hurried way we live our lives and we start to see only the negative things that
happen.
Sometimes the simplest things are what give me pause, bring
me to tears:
- · A spectacular sunset
- · The full moon in a clear sky
- · The warm sunny days and crisp cold nights
- · My cat sleeping in my lap
I consider myself lucky (maybe that’s the wrong word, maybe
it’s the recipient of great gifts) for bigger things in my life too:
- · The parents who inspired me to be self-sufficient and independent
- · My close family, including my “in-laws” who I think of as sisters
- · The wonderful teachers who encouraged me to develop my interest in reading and writing
- · The publishers who believed in me and my work and gave my books life.
- My dear husband who always supported my writing dreams without question
And even though I lost my husband this year, his love and
support and the memories live on, and I’m able to find solace in simple things.
May you all find gratitude this Thanksgiving.
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A native Montanan, Heidi M. Thomas now lives in North-central Arizona.
Her first novel, Cowgirl Dreams, is based on her grandmother, the sequel, Follow the Dream, won the national WILLA Award, and Dare to Dream rounds out the trilogy. In addition a non-fiction book, Cowgirl Up! A History of Rodeo Women has just been released. Heidi has a degree in journalism, a
certificate in fiction writing, and is a member of the Independent
Editors Guild. She teaches writing, edits, and blogs.
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