We're still Thankful

Its nearly December 1st and Thanksgiving has come and gone.  Today we are neck deep in decorating for Christmas and my girls are already caught up on Home Alone and working on The Santa Clause.  This truly is my most favorite time of the year.

This was my 3rd year hosting Thanksgiving, and I will say it out loud, I LOVE HOSTING.  There is something so satisfying and fulfilling about planning, prepping, cooking, and delivering on one of the most special meals of the year.  Our bounty was full and we have so much to be thankful for.

This year we were blessed to have on of my best friends and her family join us around our table. Rebekah and Steve are two of the best humans out there and Bob and I are incredibly fortunate to call them friends.  They have been through a lot in the past couple of months working to find a solution to Rebekah's seizures, and it made my heart so light to be able to take care of them this year. I am thankful for them!  Plus my sweet potato pie got an A which is saying something coming from my Southern raised Georgia friend!  Whew!

Every year making homemade pies is truly a special thing because it is a tradition and a skill passed to me by my Grandma Fran.  Frannie Terrell could make pies, and I am ever so grateful that she taught me. This year was the first year that my girls participated in the whole process and as you can see we all made it through with no tears!  Man this growing up thing is a BLAST!

The turkey is always the 1 anxiety producing thing in my Thanksgiving preparations.  That bird is a big undertaking.  HUGE thank you to Sharyl Patton for the easiest, no worry, no stress, no pressure bird recipe.  Its magic guys, and as you can see, once again it worked beautifully.  My girls helped with the preparation and learned first hand where the turkey comes from.  My favorite line from this year's life lesson. "EWWW Mom, they put the neck in the Turkey's butt?!!!!"  HAHAHA. 

I spent the cooking time putting legos together.  It was oddly satisfying and wonderfully busying even if it was at times overwhelming.  We have thousands of pieces all mixed together so finding one castle's parts was tough.  It think my eyes may have crossed at one point.

Our turkey was carved, cut, and plated and the feast began.  Lily has been waiting all year for mountains of mashed potatoes. We had mountains, and so much other food her eyes were way bigger than her stomach.  The kids ate whatever they wanted and played for hours, meanwhile we adults ate, talked, and played a fabulous game of Settlers.  

I am so thankful this year for many many things, and we as a family have much to be grateful for.  Our lives are blessed most richly by the people we call friends and family.  I am exceptionally grateful for Grandma Jill and so glad that Grandpa Steve and Aunt Linda made it.  

We still remain ever grateful for life and living, and the chance to once again share the bounty. Happiest of Thanksgivings!

We're all Growing Up!

Time seems to always march on and this year I am equally hit with how quickly my children, my husband and I, and all our parents are growing up.  It happens to us all.  Time is truly a gift, and a relentless thief.  

I have been listening to sermons from the church we used to attend out in North Carolina.  At the beginning of every sermon they have a minute and a half opener affirming all humans.  They finish with the statement, "we affirm all humans because we are more and more aware that life is precious."  Life and time and the chance to grow old is a gift and one worth sheltering, treasuring, and celebrating.

I am really grateful this year that my parents followed us out to AZ.  Even though we aren't just down the street from one another, we get to see them, and share special holidays and times with them.  My girls get to fall in love with horses, and enjoy a small taste of my childhood.  It is a special thing and one that is already making a lasting impression on them.

Life is precious, and all life is so beautiful.  Even though we have different lives and communities, and lifestyle, we are all a family and this picture above shows it.  We got some country, and we got some City, but we have a family most of all and that is a truly beautiful thing.  Time can't ever take that away and I treasure it.

As thanksgiving approaches I am just ever so grateful for the chance to get older with my parents.  I am even more grateful for the chance for my girls to get older with my parents. 

Especially because they like to do crazy things like sit 3 on a horse!  

Memaw and Papa, we love you.  We are grateful for you this year, and we are blessed to grow old with you. Lets keep making memories!