THANKSGIVING WHATS HAPPENING

I know we all have Marilyn on our minds this morning and it is quite a shock to have to deal with. She was a very special lady to all who knew her. And i know her husband ,Tom is going to be lost without her. I talked to her for a few moments on Tuesday and she was happy about having the surgery and was excited to get home and start her new life. All of our hearts are heavy and sad about losing her But she would tell us to still be grateful for what we have and make the most of it . Tell the ones you love how much they mean to you. Give someone that doesnt have much a hug and a smile. Instead of being sad for her make someone else happy. that will be the best tribute to Marilyn that i can think of. .Hope you all can find lots to be thankful for this year. My list is long and cant possible even say all that i am thankful for. First i am thankful for my Lord ,Jesus Christ because without him im nothing, and would have none of the other things to be thankful for. Second im thankful for family, all of them even the ones that leave a lot to be thankful for at times. They are still family and i love them all. Third is my friends. The ones i talk to every day , the ones that i share most everything with. . You all are like my family too. But this family i got to pick and they are what you would really want in a family, supportive and loving. Just want to thank all of you for being my friends and loving me warts and all. We just all need to be mindful about how short life is and not take our loved ones for granted, always tell them you love them no matter if they are just going to the store and will be back in 20 minutes. It might be the last time you speak to them. I havent heard anything from Melissa or Terry today. Has anyone else heard if she is still improving? I hope all else is well. Everyone that has company in for the Holiday enjoy your day or days with them Take care of yourselves , eat what you are suppose to and remember to chew well. I am keeping each and everyone of you in my prayers and thoughts today and hope your Thanksgiving is a wonderful reflective thankful day. I guess I did the Whats Happening post a little different today and didnt respond to each one but wanted to say these things. LOVE AND JOY AND PEACE ABOUNDS JAN I

Jan you always know exactly what to say in the Whats Happening. I know Marilyn wouldnt want us being sad over her death because she herself is in a place of happiness and joy. Like what Deb M. said in another post she gave the scripture , Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths. Prov. 3:5-6 I too am so thankful for my Lord and Savior this year and for my family and friends. I'm really thankful this year for my family here on OH. I would not of made it as far as I am without the prayers and support of this board, THANK YOU ALL so much, I pray that others could experience the closeness that we here on the Missouri Board experience every day, it's truely amazing. Today the wife and I instead of cooking or going somewhere for a big meal are gonna go visit her dad in the nursing home and have Thanksgiving dinner with him. The nursing home there actually has pretty good food and since I'm only on stage 2 they are gonna fix my plate accordingly and it really will bless the FIL to have us there for the day We usally bring him home to our place but his legs are so weak anymore it would be hard getting him up the 3 steps into our house and I cant lift that much yet. Im actually looking forward to going, I love being around the old folks there and talking to them and all, it really blesses me and makes me so thankful. I hope everyone has a blessed thanksgiving. You all are the best around. God Bless ALL of ya!!! Andrew

Happy Thanksgiving Jan! I just wanted to tell you how much you are appreciated!!! I look foreward to your messages every day. Your message today was perfect! Thank You!!!! Hugs; Barbara

Jan you always know what to say to make people feel better, you are truly blessed, and we love you so much, I am not good with words . Marilyn is really gonna be missed. but you know what we will have a much better body in Heaven than we can get here on this earth if we Love and serve the Lord. God bless each and everyone this thanksgiving day....Vesta

Good morning and Happy Thanksgiving, I was so saddened by the news of Marilyn, I pray for her family. It is always devastating to lose a loved one but when it's this time of year it makes all the hollidays in the future a very sad time. I wanted to pop in and wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving and as Jan says, take time to really be thankful. Take time to tell your family how much they mean to you. As the word of God says, James 4:14 whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life ? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. Everyone have a great day with your family, hug them and tell them you love them God Bless Brenda

Hi, I think we are still in shock over the loss of Marilyn. But I'm with Jan, the greatest tribute we can hold for Marilyn would be to give of ourselves during this Holiday Season. I know Deb M. put Proverbs 3:5&6 on the board, that has always been my "life verse". Trust in the Lord with all thine heart. Lean not on thine own understand. Acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths. May we all be Thankful for our Lord, Jesus Christ and for the many blessings He gives to us daily. Hope everyone hugs their relatives and friends extra tight today and tells them EVERY day how much we love them! Take care, Debbie D.

Hello friends of the MO board! I only learned today of Marilyn's passing. Such sad news. As Jan has mentioned here though, she'd want to see everyone taking hold of our second chances at life after WLS as she'd planned to do. We do not know what God's plan for her is, but while we are still HERE, we'll put every second to good use, staying positive, continuing to support those who need us, and keep reaching for new goals in life that wouldn't have been possible for us to reach prior to WLS. My family of 4 took it easy today with Boston Market for dinner, which Jim picked up last night. It was VERY good and I must say I'd just about prefer that to cooking a big meal every year! : ) I had my PS yesterday and I'm taking pain pills every 4 hrs still, fighting off some nausea still, but overall feeling not too bad. I went for a walk with my girls to feed a freind's dog while they are out of town. I even did my hair and make-up as we may taek some pics this afternoon for the annual Christmas photo cards. : ) But we may skip that and just set up the Christmas tree today instead. Hugs to all, Tami

I've been offline for a couple of days and I finally had the chance to logon to catch-up late this afternoon. On a day when we give thanks for all the blessings in our lives, I was so saddened to hear of the passing of Marilyn. Her excitement and her curiousity about WLS and life's new opportunities were so evident in her posts and her interaction with folks on the Missouri Board. She'll be missed. Thoughts and prayers for Marilyn and her family in this difficult time. Today was spent with family - everyone ending up in tears not because of a loss in our family - but because of the gift of life. My niece and nephew were in a car accident on their way to school and it's only because they were wearing their seatbelts and the cars airbags deployed that they were with us to celebrate and give thanks today. The car they were in was absolutely destroyed and emergency crews and police who first arrived on the scene expected the worst. Not only did they survive the accident, they both escaped serious injury...a fireman put it best by saying that God decided it was not their time. So - we're so thankful and blessed to have those two kids with us today. I hope everyone had a pleasant day with family and friends. Today I'm also thankful for a new beginning and for the love in my life. It's that love that ALWAYS and FOREVER will drive and inspire me regardless of where I am or the cir****tances that life throws our way. Best wishes and Happy Thanksgiving! Cards Fan Springfield, MO

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. I like everyone, my day is tempered with the loss of Marilyn. I have spent the day being reflective and being thankful that all my family was together this year, and we are all better for wear than we could be. It was nice to see 8 people sitting at my mom's table, and giving thanks. My niece and nephew made us cards telling us why they were thankful for each of us....It's been a love filled day. I ate very slowly and kept down what I ate. My new stomach is quite touchy, and finicky. But today she shined on me..... I am sooooo thankful for each of you guys, here at the MO WLS OH Board. I came here in total despair in July and can not believe how much better my life has become since learning of each of you. Blessings, Sherr 278/216/150