Giving Thanks...

STILL trying to come to grips with Thanksgiving being this week. Sad, I know. Normally I'm much more prepared, so NOT being prepared is fully throwing my OCD self for a loop. Auwe. Anyhow, had a GREAT time at Hui Hawai`i O Utah Hawaiian Civic Club's 25th Anniversary party! Lots of kupuna, lots of friends, and family and of course mea `ai! So rejuvenated, and ready to do big things in 2011!!! Especially with KALEA! Was so funny, David was like, "Wow hon, it was so good to see everybody!" only he said it like 20 times. Can you tell he misses being with everyone??! Yeah, little bit. Hahaha.

Back to Thanksgiving though, in this time of giving thanks, I am acutely aware that not everyone will have a table full of food to gather around, not everyone will have a home to enjoy the holiday in, and not all of us will be surrounded by family and friends. Those of us who are fortunate enough to have even a little of these blessings, be thankful. Be humble. Be giving. If when you're celebrating, you experience a moment when it is all driven home for you, just how blessed you are, take the time to realize that not everyone will enjoy the same blessings. Then do something, anything you can, to change that, even if for just one person.

On a different, but no less serious note, one thing I am heartily grateful for is the fact that THERE IS NO CAPTAIN COOK DAY. Mahalo Ke Akua for this small blessing. In light of our Native American cousins examples, we can be grateful for this small gift.

We are now gearing up for the civic club's Christmas party which should be fun!!!!!!!!!!!!! So many things to look forward to!!! This Thanksgiving, we hope you all are bountifully blessed with the gifts of family and friends and the blessings of warm homes and warm meals to sustain you. From our `ohana to yours, may EVERY DAY BE A DAY OF THANKS