Giving Thanks

It's beautiful day. Hubby and I have managed to spend some quality time together, doing laundry, walking dogs and visiting our new niece.
It's the first day in about 3 that our eldest dog (16 years old) has wanted to go for a walk so we took her and youngest dog out. We didn't go far but we were out for about an hour on a fabulous fall day. This week had so many rough days for old dog that we have started the 'what are we going to do...' conversation. We've had each other in tears a few times. She has been an amazing dog and we hate to see her struggling. It's probably harder because we know she'll be the first we lose of the 4 geriatric animals we own. One cat is 14, the other is 12 and youngest dog is 9. I'm getting choked up just thinking about it.
The bright spot in the week was the birth of our niece. Sister-in-law had a c-section yet got to come home after 2 days. Good thing brother-in-law can be home to help. Baby doesn't sleep for long yet, so we've been going over in the afternoons, just about the time they've run out of energy. Today my father-in-law was there enjoying his girl. It's been 80 years since there has been a girl in the family so the baby is big news. Once we arrived sil headed straight to bed. Father-in-law handed over cranky baby to me, while brother-in-law made a late lunch. I managed to get her to burb, which helped some of the crankiness, but it took hubby's magic touch to get her to go to sleep.
Tonight will be another gathering of the family to finish off the Thanksgiving leftovers. It is one of the traditions we have developed over the years. The best change has been making most big family meals potlucks. This has really spread out the work load. I expect the young cousins will be fighting over who holds the baby again tonight. Last night, from the time sil and bil got there that baby did nothing but pass from family member to friend to family member. These big gatherings are an integral part of our family life. Our boys know there are family and friends that love and support them. And are just as quick to give them grief when they get in trouble.
To give thanks can seem so minor but we have to acknowledge when we have good things in our lives. How else are we going to grow as human beings?