With all the election hoopla, I had forgotten for a moment that Thanksgiving is only 2 weeks away! Y’all! I better get on the ball! This is my favorite Holiday. I like it best of all because it is simple, a good meal, friends, family and just being together. Don’t get me wrong, I love that at Christmas we celebrate the Birth of Jesus, but there is so much to that Holiday—parties, presents, glitz. I’m actually planning on cutting back and simplifying my family’s Christmas this year, but until then there is Thanksgiving! Glorious day to be thankful for all of the good things and good people in our lives. Here are a few of the Thanksgiving Things that I am Thankful for:
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade—Peanuts characters are a fav and so is Tom Turkey, I mean this feathered friend is the quintessential turkey! As a kid I loved watching the parade and now I love to watch it with my kids while cooking in the kitchen!
Hand Turkeys—it just is not Thanksgiving as a Mama unless my kids make some hand turkeys! We do it at home, they do it at school and that little souvenir on the fridge reminds me of the day ahead that I get to spend with my kiddos enjoying their company and being thankful I am their Mama!
The First Thanksgiving Story—Okay, y’all…I might confuse my kids with this one, but I tell them two stories. You see, I’m from St. Augustine, Florida and still live in the County, so I tell them the story of the “Thanksgiving” held there in 1565 and shared between the Spanish and the Timucua. I also tell them the story of the 1621 Thanksgiving that we all know, too, never fear.
Cooking—Cooking for me can be cathartic and also a lot of fun. It’s hard to prepare exquisite dishes on a daily basis because of time constraints, but Thanksgiving gives me the perfect opportunity to relax and cook to my heart’s content. It’s also super fun to be able to include Miss Seven and Mister Three in the process! I am so thankful when there is love and laughter in the kitchen.
The Casseroles—Okay, y’all, I could give each one its own entry, but aren’t they all essentially the same—some delicious veggies, some cheese, some mayo, some sour cream, some crispy, crunchy something on top—Yumm-O! I will give a shout-out to a Veggie Blend Casserole my grammy made because it used swiss cheese, which was a delightfully different spin on the old cheddar most of the family uses!
The Pies—Which pie to choose? I like ‘em all--Pumpkin, Sweet Potato, Pecan, Apple! A few years ago I made a Better Homes and Garden pie and it actually turned out perfect! It was a really yummy blend of cranberries and apples with hints of orange! I even cut the top crust in the shape of little leaves.
The Main Dish—Ham? Turkey? Something else? Which do you prefer? I like ham and turkey, but I usually opt for Turkey on Thanksgiving, it just feels traditional. You gotta load up your fork with a little turkey, cranberry sauce, and dressing for the full Turkey Day effect.
The Convos & the Kids—In our families (mine and the Husband’s) Thanksgiving is the kick-off to the Holiday Season. So, this is the first time I’ve seen some in-laws and cousins in awhile and the perfect chance to catch up on all the family goings-on while we watch the kiddos play in the yard. I am so grateful for a day to just take a minute to slow down, talk to my loved ones and watch my kids playing with their cousins and relatives.
The Entertainment—And by entertainment I mean the Nerf Football games or the Cornhole Tournaments. Am I the only one who think of that obnoxious show “Beavis and Butthead,” when someone says Cornhole? Ugh. Weird name, but so fun to watch all the guys and gals playing together. Some relatives get super-serious, others showcase their silly side, either way it’s a fun time to have a little fun and reconnect.
The people—I love my people. I am so, so thankful for my family. And I am so blessed to include The Husband’s family in that group. Sure, both families have “those” family members, the Uncle that is an expert at everything, the Aunt who has to help you fix your hair or makeup and those other characters in the mix, but they all come from a good place. Lord knows, they overlook my personality quirks, the least I can do is show grace to them. I love seeing the older folks taking an interest in the kids and telling them a story or showing them how to do something new. I love to see the sisters gathered in the corner, chitter-chattering like they did as girls. It is nice to have an afternoon to connect with the people in your life... and who wouldn't be thankful for that?
