I have always depended on the kindness of strangers...

We always have eachother!

Me and the physical embodiment of Compassion!

They welcomed strangers into their home,beautiful family.

I can't sit here and write that today wasn't an extremely difficult day emotionally, that would be a lie and we can't always stay positive,we are only human. I don't think that our family has ever spent a Thanksgiving apart, It's our Holiday, we've spent Christmases apart but never Thanksgiving. MB just broke into tears when she thought about what we would be doing today if she were healthy, we'd be bickering over my mashed potatoes, running around decorating the house, anxiously awaiting our relatives who can always be counted on to make us laugh. We'd be eating and laughing with those we love as we exchange hysterical stories around the table. Being here is just a reminder that we may not see another Thanksgiving like that. Everything has changed.

PB, BB(baby bear) and Lil Sis also had it rough, I think they just ordered tamales.My heart broke thinking of the depressing Thanksgiving dinner they were having. One of my uncles did stop by after my Dad invited him. Our beautiful neighbor who is an ANGEL, dropped off a cooked Turkey and dessert. People like her inspire me to be better. She visits my MB every Friday and has made a concious effort to drop off food for My PB, BB and lil sis while we've been away. She isn't a blood relative but has shown more unconditional Love and Support towards my family than anyone I know. Some of my blood relations haven't even come by to see my MB the whole time she's been sick, I no longer consider these people family, we just share some DNA. Mrs. Howard, she's family!  

2 weeks ago, a beautiful cousin did throw an early Thanksgiving for those who were going to be away. That meant a great deal to us too. I'm like an elephant, I will never forget the people who have been kind to us during this difficult time and I will never forget the people who were absent. MB and I will never understand why  people we've known for years have been relatively distant. We finally agreed that maybe they were just socially retarded and never learned how to act with compassion.There is no excuse or reason to be completely distant other than you just don't care. One of my cousins lives 2 hours away and still manages to see my MB regularly, another cousin is to shy to come by because she says it makes her sad to see my MB sick but she still shows her support in other ways and lets us know she's there for us. Someone we haven't spoken to in YEARS put together a fundraiser for us and gave us 500 dollars. There are so many ways to help all you have to do is ask and offer. Don't wait for us to ask for help because we are busy researching and looking for things for MB,its always nice when someone just offers, it's even nicer when they just offer to fundraise at work or with their friends. Asking for money is hard for us, we are very proud people but this treatment has taken its toll on our savings. We will never reject any help or support.

When PB(Papa Bear) called, Mama Bear hadn't even heard his voice when she broke into tears. I worried because the stress was making her back hurt. Finally, I had to amp her up and tell her that WE WOULD be doing all those things next year. When she finally regained her composure she began to get ready to go to a Thanksgiving dinner here in Houston. We met a woman here that has gone out of her way to make us feel welcome, her middle name should be compassion because thats all she's shown us. She insisted we go to her families house for dinner.

The simple invitation meant so much, being around a loving caring family made us miss our family a little less. The home cooked meal was excellent and the company was even better. My friends kids are super cute, they are definitely their parents children. When we arrived they ran out to greet us and give us hugs. They were so excited we were coming they cleaned the whole house. Her 7 year old was super attentive and quick to bring us drinks whenever we asked. 

Thank You Monique for teaching me about compassion, being here has changed me, it's made me a better person. Don't worry wacky Mariela is still in full effect but I feel more empathy for people now. I think I'm more sensitive, children are growing on me and the urge to slap old people in the face has subsided. Could this be a Thanksgiving miracle???