Kicking off 30 Days of Thanks and Giving

This is a candy stick up, hands up and step away from the candy bowl & no one will get hurt!  Today marks a day of not counting calories from all the Halloween candy but a day to count your blessings!   

Every November 1st I declare to count my blessings & give thanks for the next 30 days! Four years ago I started a lil Thanks Blog but I am grateful & thankful for more than words can say. Today kicks off a digital journey to give thanks to all who have touched my life & left footprints on my heart!  Thanksgiving is 26 days away- and It is more than turkey & stuffing... it is Thanks & Giving!  

The Verdict is in... Let the Thanks Begin!  

To Kick off Day 1 of 30, Let's Rewind it Back to the Beginning to where it all began, the very first day I was adopted into the Blake Family!   I was exactly 4 months old.

Two Amazing People, Linda & Ken Blake did the most selfless thing and opened up their hearts and home to bring me into the family.  I became part of the Blake family; made up of Linda, Ken, and Christoper!  Linda, my mom- weighing in at a towering 4 feet 9 inches with a heart the size of the Grand Canyon,  Ken, My dad, who could leap buildings in a single bound, the smartest man alive- my dad, and Christopher my brother, the writer, musician, artist extraordinaire!
That day those three people changed my life forever & I will be forever grateful!  Words cannot express all that they have done for me.   Through the years have been countless laughs, smiles, cheers & tears!  Every moment has helped mold me & make me who I am today.

They are the most amazing people in my life, once you meet them you will never forget them.  
They will leave footprints on your heart! So raise a glass with me, coast to coast to thank the most amazing family- Ken, Linda & Christopher Blake!   We are Family

Day 1 of 30... Thanks & Giving! 

Day 10! Thanks for Friends!

Roll the dice, sometimes you may get lucky!  

I am blessed and beyond lucky to have the best friends in the whole world!  I toast my friends from Coast to Coast!   To my friends who are on opposite coast- You may be miles away but you are always close in my heart! I am truely blessed above and beyond to have friends from Sea to Sea!  My friends are there for me in good and bad times!   My friends are a big part of my life-  Some may not think I am Rich- but I feel like the Richest woman in the World because of my friends!  My friends are priceless!

There aren't enough words in the english dictionary to express my thanks & gratitude, just want you to know that I love you and thank you more than words can say!
My friends understand my past, believe in my future and accept me just the way I am.

My journey has been a wild and crazy ride and I love the fact that my friends have been there right by my side!   I will cherish everything you have done for me, everything you are!  My friends keep me dancing, laughing and loving!

Truly great friends are hard to find, difficult to leave, and impossible to forget!
click the link... Thank you for being a friend!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZY5H6vLqVU

Day 9 Thanks & Healing

Today I am writing about Thanks & Healing, so many have been stricken with illness and disease!  I am blessed and thankful for all who have fought the battle with cancer!  Many friends and family have had to fight the battle- some lives were ended too soon.  
They are looking down on us and spreading their wings around us!  I know you are there- and I love you!
I wear a pink ribbon every day to remember all who have fought and are fighting cancer.   I wear it close to my heart & I am always thinking of them.
I am thankful I have my health and try to give anyway I can.  I haven't had to fight the battle but I can be there to offer support anyway I can.  I can give healing hugs & shoulder to cry on.   I try to raise awareness and funds for cancer research.
My prayers are always with you---  Prayers and thanks to My uncle John & Alan Cooper who lost their battles- they are angels in a better place!  We love and miss you!   Prayers of strength to so many friends who are survivors... Helene Webster Goldstein, Amelia Harrison, Michelle Jegal, Barbara Brown, Debra Rounds to name a few...

I will continue to do anything I can to help find a cure.  I have walked over 400 miles raising funds for a cure and I will keep walking till a cure is found. 
I have a breast cancer boutique- all sales go to Cancer Research.

Gr8 Day 8- Celebr8 Life!

Life isn't counted by the breaths you take but the moments that take your life away-   I am thankful  for my life!   My life was almost taken at an early age-   

Rewind back in time... Flash back to years ago- I was just a little girl, in the car with my family, 5:30AM my dad was driving the family roadster and I was sitting on my mom's lap, strapped in (Before car seat laws).  My brother was in the back seat sleeping   When faster than the speed of light- our car hydroplaned, the car flipped, rolled, rolled and rolled 10 times down a 50 foot embankment.   

Luckily there was a truck driver that came to our aid- he witnessed the whole accident.   He pulled my family out of the car.   I was thrown from the seat belt and went through the windshield, I was flown so far they couldn't find me.  My dad & brother searched and found me in a near by field, not breathing.   The truck driver loaded us all in his Truck and called for help, this was before cell phones- an ambulance came and met us- We were transported to a local Hospital where angels swarmed...

To make a long story short, my dad & brother were lucky and came out with cuts and bruises, my mom had a broken neck, and was paralized on the right side, she spent 28 weeks in a circular bed with prongs in the side of her head that was flipped every 2 hours.   My right lung was punctured & left lung collapsed, every bone was broken in my body and my body full of abrasions.  I was in intensive care, and spent 28 weeks in an oxygen tent.  Doctors gave me two weeks to live.    

Our will to live was strong and we fooled the doctors- We truly were miracles!   Mom got all feeling back and beat any prognosis.    Soon we were both, running, dancing and singing in the rain!  

We were given a gift & we embrace every day as it is truly a gift, every day is a new gift to unwrap.

Day 2- Thanks to U!

Today November 2, (day 2, Greetings to you!)   Sending up Thanks to all the Angels looking down on Us!  They are everywhere- you may not always see them, but their beautiful hearts & wings are taking flight and wrapped around you. 

Sending thanks & giving hugs to My Four Wonderful Grandparents, I wish you were here today- I would say I love you in every way!   My Grandparents- from the Golf Course to the Kitchen Table- the memories have a hold of my heart & I cherish today & always!

First Viola... Grandma Blake, Who made the sun shine brighter, hearts beat louder, and smiles grow larger.  She was tiny but mighty.   I can remember the big Italian Feasts she would feed to all who entered her home.  And the lil hands that would sneak in the kitchen and eat the hot meatballs sizzling off the stove!

Next up Shine- short for Moonshine... My Grandpa Blake,  The Head of the table, head of the house, Golf Pro, Card Shark, NY Yankee Fan.  (Grandpa, sorry the Yankee's didn't win this Year!)  Devoted Husband & Father of Two, My dad & Aunt Teresa!   What a house!   Grandpa- I miss how every holiday meal he would sneak fresh dollar bills under our plates and we would lift our plates after we said Grace!    Lord, bless this Family & Food we are about to Eat!  AMEN.
I will always remember Thanksgiving at Grandma & Grandpa's!
A true Italian Family- We had Lotsa Rasta Pasta with our Turkey & Stuffing!

Grandpa Egbert, My mom's Dad, He raised two Beautiful Daughters my mom & her sister, my aunt pat!  Wow did he have a BIG JOB raising those two wild women!   Kudos to you Grandpa!  Grandpa we love you and miss you- Your life was taken too early but we honor and cherish the days you graced this planet!   I can remember your laugh, your hugs & your infectious smile!

Lastly my Grandma Egbert who I never had the joy & pleasure to meet, she was taken up to heaven before I was born.  But her legacy lives on in our hearts!   She was one woman I wished I had the chance to meet- I know she is truely one of a kind & I know she is dancing up in Heaven with the other angels!   Especially dancing the Charlston- her favorite Party Dance!  She was and will always be the life of the Party!   I know my mom gets that trait from her, and I know it was passed down to me as well.   So hugs to you Grandma!  Lets Dance!

I know you are looking down on us & you make my heart smile!   So My Heart, Hugs & Thanks go to you my wonderful Grandparents....
Buongiorno -( good day italian)  xoxox muah ;)

Day 2 of thanks & giving... To my wonderful Angels, My 4 Grandparents!

30 Days of Thanks & Giving

Candy Hangover?   Hands Up, Step away from the Candy Bowl & no one will get hurt!  Today marks a day of Counting Calories from all the empty candy wrapers & Celebrate Happy HalloLEAN- a day to eat your Veggies...  Today(as I try everyday) is a Day to Count your blessings!   November 1 .. I declare to count my blessings & give thanks and giving for the next 30 days!
I am grateful & thankful for more than words can say.  As buzz lightyear says- To infinity & Beyond... Today I feel I am wearing that costume... I have to infinty & beyond a lifetime of gratitude!   That can't be measured in time & space! 
Today kicks off a digital journey to give thanks to all who have touched my life & left footprints on my heart! 
Thanks giving is 22 days away- and It is more than turkey & stuffing... it is Thanks & Giving!
I thank you for following me on my next 30 days of thanks & hope I can give back to all!

30 Days of Thanks & Giving

Do you have a candy Hangover?  This is a Candy Stick Up- Put your hands up, Step away from the candy bowl & no one will get hurt!  Today marks a day of counting calories & blessings.  Today kicks off the Annual 30 days of Thanks & Giving, a journey to give thanks to all who have touched my life and left footprints on my heart.
Thanksgiving is 27 days away- and it is more than turkey & stuffing... it is Thanks & Giving!

To kick it off, let's rewind it back to the beginning to where it all began,  the very first day I was adopted into the Blake Family!   I was exactly 4 months old.
Two Amazing People, Linda & Ken Blake did the most selfless thing & opened up their hearts & home to bring me into the family.  I became part of the Blake family, made up of Linda, Ken, and Christopher!  Linda, my mom, weighing in at a towering 4 feet 9 inches with a heart the size of the Grand Canyon,  Ken, My dad, who could leap buildings in a single bound, the smartest man alive, and Christopher my brother, the writer, musician, teacher and artist Extraordinaire!
That day those three people changed my life forever & I will be forever grateful!  Words cannot express all that they have done for me.   Through the years have been countless laughs, smiles, cheers & tears!  Every moment has helped mold me & make me who I am today.  
They are the most amazing people in my life, once you meet them you will never forget them.  
They will leave footprints on your heart! 

So raise a glass with me, to thank the most amazing family- Ken, Linda & Christopher and our newest addition Kennedy Blake!   
Cheers from Coast to Coast to my family I love the Most!  xoxoxo  :)

Thank you!