First THANKFUL THURSDAY A HUGE Success!!

The theme of our very first "Thankful Thursday" was to request stories about the seniors in our lives that we have learned from, love, and are SO grateful for!

It was an obvious first choice. On Sunday 4/18 the beautiful wonderful LUCILLE DILENA turns 88! She brought Judith into the world, who in turn, brought me in!
She deserves to be honored and adored, every day! And that is a mission we happily accept!


Below are the shared stories from you! please enjoy, and participate in next weeks THANKFUL THURSDAY!

*update on Beazie's journey to become a 'companion' for the nursing homes. Got a clean bill of health from the vet yesterday (yippee!) along with the designation of "The sweetest dog she has ever seen." THAT'S MY BOY!!


THANK YOU!
*an original drawing of Beazie by the incredible Juli Moon, tattoo artist and soon to be GTJ Seed!xxx

With love to all,
Rachel

"I am so so so thankful for my Grampie, Ralph Latimer! He is by far the most positive and happy person I have ever known. He has taught me to appreciate little things in life and to really LIVE. At 83 years old he is more full of life than most 30 year olds I know!!! (still playing pool on Tuesday nites, bowling on Wednesdays and Sundays and ... See Moreshuffleboard on Thursdays!!) There isn't a person in the world I would rather spend time with, whether we are playing cards over one of his famous rum cokes or playing darts!! He is one in a million and I truly am thankful for him every day :)' Courtney Philos Jensen (gtj manager!)

"Happy Birthday Lucille Dilena you must be very special-you have a special daughter and granddaughter. The very best to you on your birthday.

For me I am thankful for my Dad he is 87 survived Pearl Harbor, has Parkinsons Disease, and never complains. He is funny, call his daughters "his girls" still asks if I need gas $$$, makes me call him when I ... See Moreget home after I visit with him. He always told us to do well in school because nobody could ever take your education away from you. He is the greatest Dad ever." NJEB


"Gosh, I am so very thankful for so many things that I could write a book, however, in my heart at this very moment I am thankful for my mother! At 83 years young, she has weathered some big storms. She lovingly adopted myself at 9 months old and my sister at just over two years. She taught us that hard work always pays off and to treat your friends... See More as the 'rare jewels'. Growing up I did not appreciate alot of the things she was attempting to teach me, but, now that I have my own family, it becomes daily clearer to me the journey she stepped out to take....she cared for my father for many years before he passed away....and now she is fighting cancer herself....with grace and strength that amaze and inspire me all at the same time. She is still absolutley GORGEOUS...and I feel the 'biggest' things she still has to say or teach me are yet to come.....so I travel home often (a 2 1/2 drive) to sit with her, have a glass of wine and find out all the amazing things I have still yet to learn about her. She is incrediably able NOW to tell me ALL the good, the bad and the lesson in it all.........so, yes, thankful for YOU Patsy Carter Love for taking a huge sacrificial step in making me into the person I am meant to be and still become! Oh, and I am oh so very thankful for her sticky buns that melt in your mouth with morning coffee! Ahhhh, so good!" Susan Love Vaughn


"I love my Grandpa, Roy Wayne. He was so special to me growing up, and now I get to watch my daughter with him. I see so much love in his eyes for her, and I know he must have looked at my mom and me the same way." Jenni Chrobak Schroeder

"I sometimes volunteer with my parents (who do it all the time) at a local veterans nursing home. And they have lots of dogs there visiting the residents! They LOVE it! Beazie will really make people happy! And so will YOU!
But yeah... I've gotta be thankful for my Dad, who's made it through yet AGAIN! He's one got one ... See Morehell of a 'lifeforce.' He's a goofy guy, a fab host, and is always cracking jokes, wanting everyone to be happy and comfortable. He doesn't dwell on sadness, and that's inspiring to me. I'm so happy he's made it through this latest health nightmare and is back to the business of living life!" Jennifer Gunn


"I used to work in retirement communties, nursing homes and hospice and the people i have met there will be a part of me forever. they have led amazing liv es! they have shown me how to be brave when facing the end and have helped me not be so terribly afraid of growing old. They are truly a treasure to me!" Christine Crosby Taylor


"Onto this weeks thankfulness. I am thankful that when I was in my 20's I got to live with my grandmother. Together we ... See Morewould dress for our respective dates, share stories afterwards, fix each other up with age appropriate men (always the nice but oh so nerdy jewish men, grandma would find for me). I also was there with her when she was diagnosed with cancer and was with her during her chemo and radiation and made her doctor tell her the truth about her illness, when her daughter's wanted to "protect" her! It was her jewelery box I raided when I was young, and got the nickname "diamond lil" from, she taught me to only buy high priced lingere, to love shoes and TO LIVE OUT LOUD! I could not have had a better 20's than being roomates with my grandmother, the late, Elsie Sugar (that was her name). My only regret, is that I was one hour late when it came time to say goodbye to her. I was driving to see her at hospice and got there 1 hour late. I know she would be so happy to know that I did marry that nice jewish boy, I have two wonderful children, an amazing career and a vast amount of baubles that my daughter now tries on and keeps" Lori Green


".. these stories are so special. .these PEOPLE are so special.. thank you so much for letting us bask in their light and wisdom.. and yours.. i now will remember nbs dads strength, Patsy's love and humor, Ralph and Roy's eternal youthfullness.. Jenn's awesome dad. ELSIE ... See MoreSUGAR (can i BE just like her when i grow up.. same name and everything!!) THIS IS SO AWESOME!!
the first time i lived in nyc.years ago.. i lived with Grandma in Yonkers and commuted by bus.. everyday, the city ATE ME UP..but every night. i couldn't wait to walk the mile home.. up tuckahoe road.. to grandmas house.. she'd be waiting, and together we would sit side by side in our plush and fancy easy chairs, eat our dinners and watch jeopardy.. later, id make my c.ds for my spinning classes (back before ipods) and make poor grandma listen to every song to see how it would work.. she was tireless with her love for me.. still is.
sigh.. crying again.
XXX to all!" me :)

"My Grandad died when I was 5. He was a military policeman in ww2. He was a true man's man, old fashioned. He actually wasn't my real grandpa, my mom's mom died when she was 3, her dad was a drunk so his sister and her husband (my grandad) took her in. Her real dad would never let them formally adopt her.. Anyways...I am thankful he was in my life ... even for that long - he described me as a "bright little bugger" as I would roll to where I wanted to get to, rather than crawl as it was quicker. He was such a kind, big hulk of a guy. I was in awe of him. Losing him at such an early age made me realise how important it is for my kids to form strong bonds with my parents so for that I am totally grateful" Sarah Dodd


my grandmother was my rock...she was the foundation that my soul was built upon...my dad died when i was young and my mom really had a hard time...so most of my childhood was spent with my grandparents -- my grandmother never complained...she just raised me like i was her fourth child...she taught me how to play poker, how to wash dishes, how to laugh whenever anything happens because its all good. She taught me to be kind to everyone for everyone has a story, that when people die, they never really leave us and that they just become stars and watch over us all night...

Her and my grandfather were funny...they showed me what real love was -- and that it was not what i read in my romance books - and that you should find someone who makes you laugh because after the looks fade, the laughter grows stronger and becomes your salvation --

I lost both of them 11 years ago - they dies 18 days apart after being married for 47 years, and not a day goes by when i do not miss them and thank them for teaching me well....... Heather Leake

I love this idea Rachel! My beautiful grandmother started taking me to nursing homes when I was about 5 or 6 to help me understand how we can bring JOY and Hope to their day! They need it so much..... and I love the idea of your Beazie bringing JOY to them as well... how wonderful! We are most happy when we are sharing and loving others.... Heather E Connor


WE ARE ALL SO THANKFUL FOR YOU!!