‘Tis the season to give abundant thanks

BY Dawn Rankins

Hello friends and neighbors. I do hope this column finds you doing well. I trust you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with love and maybe a new memory or two. If you are missing someone dear to your heart, my thoughts are with you.

It makes my heart heavy and sad when I know someone spent a holiday alone. As a community of family and friends, nobody should be alone, unless it’s by choice.

One thing I’ve seen in Canyon Lake in the year I’ve lived here is the outpouring of love and support for those who are alone. I am thankful to be a part of such an incredible community.

The many clubs here in the lake who go above and beyond for those who are in need, especially those who are alone, my appreciation goes out to each and everyone of you. Canyon Lake should be the official definition of philanthropy.

I absolutely love the holidays and making memories with my family and friends. Being here in Canyon Lake is priceless to me. The friends I’ve made in the past year warms my heart and these friendships I will forever be thankful for. I am blessed and grateful for being so warmly welcomed and accepted by so many people here in the lake.

Photo by Dawn Rankins

I love driving around the community and not only seeing, but feeling, the holiday spirit coming alive. I wake up every day and thank God for guiding me to this unique gem we live in, tucked away in the Inland Empire.

I am thankful for so much this year that I know I can’t write about everything, so I’ll choose just a few that especially come to mind.

I am first thankful for my sons. I am blessed to be their mom and not a day goes by that I don’t thank God for giving them to me to raise.

I am thankful for finding love a second time around. I begged God everyday to let me know what it would be like to feel loved. Sure, I felt love from my children, but I wanted more. I wanted to be loved by a man who would love me for simply being me. Once my sons were raised, God gave me John. Not a day goes by that I don’t thank him for bringing John into my life.

Everyone deserves to be loved the way John loves me. I am also thankful to be a mom to John’s son Grant. Though he didn’t come from my tummy, I love him as my own. One day, I hope to have the same relationship with John’s younger son, too, but for now, I will leave my heart open to him.

As I decorated my table this year for Thanksgiving dinner, I couldn’t help but feel like I was the luckiest woman in the world. John and I had three of our four boys gathered around our small dining room table, along with a daughter-in-law, a daughter-in-law to be and her wonderful mom and dad.

As I cooked dinner and waited for their arrival, I thanked God many times over for blessing me with more love than I could have ever imagined. I can say, I am thankful that God answered my prayers. He not only gave me the love of a man who is incredible, but he gave me the love I always dreamed about when it came to holiday gatherings.

On Sunday, I went to the Tree Lighting Festival at the Lodge and as I walked around, I was once again reminded of the many blessings in my life.

Seeing all the families gathered with their little ones made me reflect on the treasures we as a community share. We get to watch all these amazing little ones grow up here in Canyon Lake.

We get to enjoy seeing children with their parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles dance together as snow descends down on them from the fun snow machines. Though it was only snow flurries that grazed the air, those kiddos were dancing and twirling around with their hands in the air in an effort to just feel the snow. The smiles and laughter that beamed from their faces was a reminder of what Christmas is all about.

As a community, we get to enjoy the excitement of children running towards Santa Claus as he steps out of the Canyon Lake fire engine. The joy on all those children’s faces was a gift they gave to each of us. You can’t help but smile seeing Christmas come to life here in Canyon Lake.

I am thankful for being given the opportunity to be a part of a community that has such a zeal and love for life, for friends, family, and holiday spirit.

I am thankful for my life, especially now. It wasn’t long ago that I begged God to not let me wake up in the morning. I was in a really dark place. I was in a loveless marriage. I had been in a car accident that has continuously wreaked havoc on my life and my health.

I lost my job, my home and most of my friends, simply because I stopped believing the way they did. I can now look back, however, and tell you I’m thankful for those experiences. Yup, I am thankful because they have brought me closer to living the life I always dreamed of. Dreams do come true.

I am thankful for the lessons I’ve learned and continue to learn in my life. I am thankful for each and every one of the many blessings that God has given me. I am thankful for my sons, for John and for those friends I have made here in the lake. You, my dear friends, have shown me the true meaning of friendship. Thank you for that.

I am excited for all the wonderful and amazing events that are coming up this month and I can’t wait to share them with you. I am even more excited to take a step back from time to time to simply enjoy seeing families come together for yet another holiday season.

With love in my heart, I wish each and every one of you a wonderful and blessed holiday season.