November

November.  I like the sound of that month.  I don't know why but it has a pleasant sound.  Maybe because there is so much associated with it that it makes a person feel happy.

We just had the mid term elections yesterday and I'm sure there are a few who will read this and not be happy, but for me, I am very pleased at the results.  And even more so that I was a part of it right here in my state of Oklahoma where we made history yesterday in electing the first woman governor of our state.  And I think we selected the right woman for the job.  We had two women running but of the two, the conservative won and she will turn this state around and get us back on track and she won almost by a landslide.

We will be ending day light savings time next Sunday, November 7.  Ordinarily it occurs in October but this year it was moved back.  It is already hard to get used to the dusk settling in so early, so I imagine next week I really will be confused as it comes an hour earlier.  I know it is kind of confusing but I just remember the saying, "Spring forward, Fall back," and then I get the right time.  If I'm not sure, the clock on the TV programming guide or my computer will verify it for me.

We will celebrate an honored holiday on November 11th.  Veteran's Day.  To me, it is a very special day as it was the day that I married my husband, 49 years ago.  We would have celebrated our 49th anniversary this year but I won't let it go by.  I plan to go visit him.

But the big holiday will be Thanksgiving.  I love Thanksgiving if I can have all my family together.  Not only do we prepare a huge meal that leaves us feeling miserable and asking why we had to have the second helping, and then all the leftovers that we'll be feasting on for a couple of days, but just being together for talking and laughing, playing games and enjoying being together as a family.  We are not a sports oriented family so there will be no fighting over the TV to watch a football game.  No sirree!  Not in this house.  We will be playing card games or board games or word games with the grandkids and the adults too.  We have as much fun as the kids do.

It is also the day that starts my favorite time of the year, Christmas.  My tree will go up and if the grandkids are here, they will help with the decorations.  I will have already put up the outside lights and decorations so when the sun goes down, the automatic timers will flip on the lights on Thanksgiving night to begin the Christmas celebration.

I used to get up early and hit the stores for the bargains on the Friday after, but not any more.  Being on a limited budget I try to buy little things throughout the year and only buy last minute or if it is a big item, it will be the last on the list.  I love the decorating inside as well as outside, so I'll be busy putting up decorations all around the house, just about in every room.

I have several collections, a Santa collection, my husband's Nutcracker collection, which I have added to this year, plus I have several Nativity scenes that I display along with an open Bible with the story of the glorious birth of our Lord for all to read.

So I guess when I say November, not only is it nice to say, it reminds me of all the delights that lie ahead of me this month and next month.  But most of all it reminds me of all the things I am thankful for as well as my family, near and far.