"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough." Oprah Winfr

In just two days, Thanksgiving will be here,?one of my favorite holidays.?No presents, no major decorating, just food - good food, turkey and gravy, mashed potatoes and pies, and lots of all of it. When my late husband and were younger and living in our beautiful 1936 Tudor house, we had as many as 40 guests every Thanksgiving!?Scott loved to cook, and we would make two 25 pound fresh turkeys with lots of stuffing, mountains of fluffy white mashed potatoes, homemade gravy, fresh cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, and all the other accoutrements.?We started preparations early in the week, and by the time Thanksgiving Day came, we were exhausted! Our house was packed with people - we had some friends and family who came for hors d'oeuvres, some who came just for dessert, some who showed up for after-dinner drinks, and a throng of friends and family who stayed for the whole day. It was so much work, but there was so much love, so it was worth every minute of buying and prep time.?

Scott and I always invited folks we knew who had no family.?Our late friends Leo and Marie, our friend Cam, and so many others.?Most of those folks who sat at our table all those years are gone now, yet the pleasant memories of those golden Thanksgiving days linger on and I bask in their glow every November.?

I am making new memories now - with my brother, George, and his lovely wife Joan, and their 6 sons and their wives and so many beautiful children. It is a different kind of Thanksgiving, but just as rich and fun as the old days.?Do I wish for the old days??Of course!?But they can no longer be, so I am embracing the new days.

When Scott first died, I was so sad that I could not even recognize what I had.?Grief colored everything black or gray.?Through the years, I have learned to concentrate on being grateful for all that I had then, and all that I have now, and the burden of my loss is lighter to carry.?

I hope that you will find it in your heart to be thankful EVERY day, not just Thanksgiving Day.?I find that practicing gratitude each morning makes my day start better, and a positive attitude makes for a positive day.?

Happy Thanksgiving, dear readers, and may many blessings come to you.?

"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough."?Oprah Winfrey?

As?always, I welcome your comments and suggestions.?Rittman Publishing, LLC ?

Please invite GRADY GETS GLASSES (and me) into your school, in person, or on Zoom. Email us at [email protected]

I do college and university presentations for student teachers with my practical "Dede's Three C's for Classroom Success: Confidence, Communication, and Creativity" in person or via Zoom. Please email me at [email protected]

Please invite Grady Gets Glasses (and me) into your school. ?if you are not in the Pittsburgh area, we do virtual field trips with groups called Field Trip Zoom and Streamable learning . We will come into YOUR classroom via ZOOM.

GRADY GETS GLASSES was the winner of Best New Children's Book 2016 and 2018 (new edition) from The Authors' Zone. Grady also won a 2018 prestigious Moonbeam Award for Best Children's Book with Merchandise.

Visit Dede's web page for complete details on her award-winning book, STUDENT TEACHING: THE INSIDE SCOOP FROM A MASTER TEACHER. Many colleges have made the book required reading.?Signed copies are available?www.dederittman.com?Dede is also a national speaker on The Three C's for Classroom success: Confidence, communication, and Creativity; Avoiding Teacher burnout; and many other inspirational topics.?

I LOVE writing. And I love writing children's books- my newest passion. Although it will be a ton of work, I am looking forward to selling my books.?Since I was a secondary teacher, I know that I have much to learn about elementary students, and I will have to follow my own advice and be my genuine self.?However, I also know that I am passionate about helping kids who have to wear glasses, and that GRADY GETS GLASSES sends a?positive?message. I am willing to work hard and do all the things that also made me a successful teacher for 37years. I remain inspired!?

Elementary teachers in Western Pennsylvania and beyond - I am willing to come into your classroom in person or as a virtual field trip?through?a group called Field Trip Zoom.?Check them?out!?https://www.fieldtripzoom.com/?

Teacher?friends-?let me know if you want me to read?GRADY GETS GLASSES?at your school.?I am willing to come in to discuss the?creative?writing process, why writing is important, and personal fulfillment through writing, along with reading my book.?I would appreciate the exposure, and I would make signed copies available for purchase in your classrooms following the reading.?Please email me at?[email protected]?The website?www.gradygetsglasses.com?now has plush Grady bunnies for sale!

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