The other day all four grandchildren (and their moms) came to visit. I was sitting at my kitchen table holding 10-month-old Shane while the other kids circled around and around banging drums, blowing horns and shaking the maracas Dave collected for “Pop’s Band”.
The parade was a little disorganized and loud—VERY LOUD!— but it was so much fun.
Even the baby enjoyed the show!
It occurred to me that Shane wasn’t even here yet last Thanksgiving. Now we can’t imagine our family without him! I am so grateful for Shane—and for Claire and Carleigh and Joey. (And their moms and dads too!)

Our holidays had become very low-key in recent years, just a bunch of grown-ups sitting around. Now with little kids we go trick-or-treating again and color turkey placemats for Thanksgiving and get ready for Santa. It’s all new to them. And it’s all fun, so much fun! Seeing things through their eyes makes the holidays more fun for the rest of us too.
I’m looking forward to sitting down next Thursday at the turkey placemats we colored, and giving thanks with a grateful heart for all of the people sitting around the table with me.
It has been a year of big changes for me.
I’m grateful every day for all of them.
After Shane was born earlier this year, Dave and I decided to retire from Sawdust Specialties, the shop we operated in Leesburg for 15 years. We had a terrific run! I’m so grateful for all of the talented crafters and artists we had the privilege of working with over those years. I’m grateful for all of the customers who kept our shop in business for so long. I’m especially grateful for all of the wonderful friends we made in that little white house.
I thought we had a great plan for fixing up the house, selling it and enjoying retirement.
I’m so grateful now that God had a bigger plan for us!
It has been a lot of hard work, but I am truly grateful for the opportunity to open All Things New Again. I am grateful to be keeping in touch with our old friends—and making new friends too. I am grateful for my creative spirit and the opportunity to create beautiful things that will grace other families’ homes for years to come.
If you think about it, a table is more than just a piece of furniture. It is a gathering place for family and friends. It is a spot in your home where memories are made, meals are shared, placemats are colored. Some days it is a grandstand for giggling children to parade around playing musical instruments and waving to their Grandma as they pass by.
I hope everyone has a happy and blessed Thanksgiving!
~ Cathy
P.S.– Thank you to everyone who voted last week on the color scheme for the desk we are painting at our Midnight Madness holiday shopping party on Thanksgiving night.
The winner is…

… this pretty brown and blue floral.
Please stop by Midnight Madness from 8 p.m. to midnight. We will transform an old desk into something beautiful again—and show you how you can easily do the same for tired furniture in your home.
Plus enjoy 10% off EVERYTHING in the store!
Paint demos start at 8:30, 9:30 and 10:30. See you there!