Thankful
Hi everyone,
Here they come…. the holidays…..Thanksgiving is the first important moment of the holiday season, and even for those who try to avoid holidays, we are reminded of the busy, crazy days ahead, and holidays are not always easy. They are so often bittersweet for so many of us. We are not only grateful for the friends and family at our table, but also aware of those who are no longer there and sorely missed. In our family, my late son Nick, and my ex-husband and children’s father, who passed away two years ago. Even with a crowded table, we feel their absence. And my three oldest children no longer join us for holidays, and either spend them with their in laws, family in other cities, or in their own homes establishing traditions of their own. So whereas once, there were 9 children at our table, their father even long after we divorced, as we remained very close, now I spend thanksgiving with my five youngest children—–a huge blessing to be sure, but half the number at our table only a few years ago. It is a change, and makes Thanksgiving bittersweet.
For many, holidays are spent alone, without family, or among friends, or in aching solitude. The holidays often point out what we don’t have in our lives. And there are many ways to spend a holiday like Thanksgiving. For many, serving others less fortunate takes the sting out of their loneliness as they forget themselves and give to others. For those without relatives to spend the holiday with, we form a family made up of friends (who are sometimes easier to get along with than our relatives, and even more fun!!). And for many, the holidays are a challenge that is hard to face. We all spend the holidays differently, and it helps to remember what we are grateful for.
I was reminded of two things tonight. A saying that meant a lot to me a long time ago, before I had my family. “God places the solitary in families”—-sometimes in other families, if we don’t have one of our own. And a friend reminded me at one time that Jesus fed thousands with ‘fragments’ of fishes—not even whole fishes, but fragments. Sometimes all we have are fragments of what we wish we had. But those little bits and pieces feed us better than we expect. Sometimes we need to be grateful for the fragments, until life gives us more.
Thanksgiving is a holiday about gratitude and friendship, about reaching out, and embracing others, and being grateful for the good in our lives. I hope that your holiday is peaceful and gentle, warm and loving, and that you are not alone on this holiday. And I hope that there is much in your life to be thankful for. I am grateful for you, my faithful friends…. for my family…. and the good times that we share. May your Thanksgiving holiday be blessed,
love, danielle
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Thank you for a beautiful post – and for all of the wonderful stories you’ve given us throughout the years. I hope that your holiday is blessed and filled with joy!
Happy Thanksgiving and hoping everyone has enough food to eat, just in case an unexpected visitor pays a welcome visit. xxox
Happy Thanksgiving Day Danielle..all the best for you…
I just finished reading Winners.I absolutely loved another great book by Danielle. Your never disappoint us. Have a great Christmas and a wonderful New Year and, once again, thanks for all your hard work you have put into your books over the years.
Thank you for the stories and contagious spirit of gratitude, Danielle. Wishing you and your loved ones a peaceful, magical holiday!
Thank you for writing of those who are alone or can’t be with their families this holiday. It really resonates with me. I feel like during Thanksgiving people talk about being blessed with friends and families so all others are forgotten. Thank you for thinking of lonely people, Danielle! Happy Thanksgiving 🙂
Dear Danielle,
what a wonderful Post…Thank you for your thoughts of others, and sharing your family tradition..and the change that came about. Yes,
things do change with Family, and we adapt. I just finished reading
Winners…and I really liked it! It is amazing how you end with all
“is well and wonderful” in so many books..including this one. I enjoyed the ending…a very good book.
Happy Thanksgiving to you as well,
Carol O. in So. Calif/by the Ocean.
HERE GOES MY STORY; I FINALLY STARTED READING AGAIN; DIDN’T STOP BUY YOUR BOOKS THOUGH CRAZY AS THAT MAY SEEM.
I PICKED UP LONE EAGLE LAST NIGHT AND GOT TO PAGE 14 AND IT JUMPED TO PAGE 39 SO I FIGURED I LOOK FOR PAGE 15-38 AND FOUND ANOTHER GROUP OF PAGE 14-39 AND THERE ISN’T ANY PAGE 15-38. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY ‘LONE EAGLE’ HARDBACK COPIES STILL AVAILABLE. I’M ONE OF THE WEIRD PEPOLE; USED TO WORK IN A LIBRARY BACK IN THE EARLY 1970’S. I PUT IN THE COPYRIGHT PAGE, THE DATE I PURCHASED, WHERE AND HOW MUCH; I KNOW THAT IS A BIT STRANGE BUT WHAT I DID IN THE LIBRARY MANY MOONS AGO.
IF POSSIBLE PLEASE LET ME KNOW; I DON’T BELONG TO A BOOK CLUB AND I SEEMS TO PURCHASE ONLY DANIELLE STEEL’S HARDCOVER BOOKS. JUST LOVE HER WAY OF WRITING SO DOWN TO EARTH. MY HUSBAND SAYS I HAVE A “RARE BOOK” I SAY NO I HAVE AN INCOMPLETE ONE. THANKS FOR LISTENING AND HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON WITH AN ANSWER FOR ME. MARILYN PAGE FORT ST JOHN, B.C. CANADA IN THE -20 C AND BLOWING SNOW RIGHT NOW. YEA!!!!!!!!!!
im doing a slide about you and i need detaials thx ashley
just to tell you its for school 🙂 ps my mom is a big reader of you thx
Hello,
Would you please consider reissuing your older novels onto audio cd books like crossings, the ring, heartbeat, zoya, Jewels,palamino, The books stores no longer have these on Audio Books and I cant find them online not even used. I would love to have these on Audio Books I already have them on Hardcover books and some of your movies but would you please consider re issuing them on Audio CD Books I have been a fan for many years I hope to hear from you soon about this Audio cdBooks question. Thank You. Lesley Lindop
I continue to eriexpence an Omnibox bug on Samsung Series 5 Wifi(aka SAMS ALEX ALPHA-US)When applying a colored theme to Chrome, the Omnibox becomes shaded and is no longer white.e.g. The black Glow theme turns the Omnibox grey. The blue Gradient theme turns the Omnibox light blue.This makes it more difficult to read URLs and search results in the Omnibox.Same issue exists on Beta Channel.Please fix so Omnibox always remains white no matter what Chrome theme is used.