Well, Thanksgiving is one week away. I sit and think about everything that I have to be thankful for and words could not even begin to describe everything that I am thankful for. I have a God who loves me even when I am not lovable and believes in me. I have a wonderful husband who loves me and lives this crazy life with me:) I have 3 beautiful children that God has blessed us with, even when I feel more like a referee, they are still a wonderful blessing that I wouldn't trade for anything in the world. I had wonderful parents who did everything in the world to raise each one of us right, and they gave and did without so that we could have. I have brothers and sisters that I love and extended family that I also love. I have friends that have been there for me and my family and that I enjoy being there for them. I have a church (actually 2 churches that have people that are wonderful and supportive). I could go on and on (our home, car, job, etc.). I am very grateful for my health and the health of my family and I thank God for that.
I have also been thinking of Thanksgivings past and how much I loved Thanksgiving. All of my brothers and sisters would be by at some point in the day and with them with be their children. Since our mother and my family lived in the same house we got to see everyone, and I loved it. The cooking would start a couple of days in advance. About a week before, Mike and I would be sent on a search to find the biggest turkey we could find, per mom. Then a few loaves of bread would be bought to make the dressing along with a lot of other food. Usually the night before we would tear the bread and let it set overnight to dry and the turkey would usually go in about 4 to 5 a.m. and about 8 our house smelled wonderful!! We would get up and help mom cook and get the house ready for everyone to come over. Usually my sister and her family would be the first to arrive then, then my oldest brother and his family would soon follow and usually before dinner (most of the time:)) our other brother and his family would show up. There would be homemade noodles, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, turkey, homemade dressing, rolls, pumpkin pies, and cakes. Our house not only smelled wonderful, but the whole atmosphere of the house was wonderful. All of us siblings and kids would fill the house and table to spend Thanksgiving together! Mom would usually wait until everyone was done eating to take her place at the table. She would say that she just enjoyed sitting and watching all of us enjoy each other and the food. I know that my sister is laughing while reading this b/c she knows exactly how it was! Even if we tried to force mom to sit at the table when everyone else did, she said no, she would wait, that was mom wanting to make sure everyone was taken care of first. Then after the dishes were done and everyone rested a bit, it was time for seconds and then we would play some cards. We just all relaxed and enjoyed each other. Other family members would drift in and out as the day went on.
Well, times have changed, mom is no longer here, our sister and her family have moved to Florida, my nieces and nephews are growing up and we don't have those type of Thanksgivings anymore. I would have wanted my children to experience those types of Thanksgivings. Steven has, but it has been 3 years and I know memories are fading for him. But, with the saddness of missing those types of holidays, comes joy of experiencing new ones with my growing family. I know that we will have to make our own traditions and memories for our chidren. We will be going to my cousin's this year and I look forward to that. With me being the youngest of 5 children and pretty much the youngest on my mom's side of the family, my children are the youngest in the family. Mike's family is pretty much the same as my side. Loved ones have gone on, including his dad. His brother lives further away, so his mother will be going with us this year. I am excited to go to my cousin's with my family and for us to celebrate our first Thanksgiving as a family of 5! I have so much to be thankful for. I am thankful for those past Thanksgivings and the ones ahead. I miss my mom and my all of my siblings being together, but I know that life changes whether you want it to or not, like they say, that's life. I say that because I also want to remind you all never to take for granted the time you have together with your family. I know it is a lot to get stuff ready for the holidays and sometimes it can be very stressful, but it is sad sometimes when things change and people move to other places, people pass on, children grow up and circumstances change and everyone isn't together anymore. So, don't worry if everything isn't perfect, but being together is what it is all about. That's what you miss when you don't have it anymore. It can change quicker than you think. Cherish each memory and make more for yourself and your family. I look forward to the many new memories we will making with our children. I have learned so much from them and from my adventures with them and their father! With Thanksgiving being a week away, think about what you do have and about what memories you want to make with your family! I now know of many children in an orphanage in Africa who would just like to have that, a family.
Here are a few pictures of the last Thanksgiving most of us siblings spent together and the last on spent with our mother. Obviously, Thomas and Josie aren't in the pictures yet b/c we did not have them yet. I know that the picture of my mom and Steven and my two nephews isn't the best picture of her, but it is one of the last we had at Thanksgiving. Also the picture of the kids just shows how all were together playing when the holidays were here. Then there is the one of Mike at the table helping, or eating I should say:). Then, I know that my sister will kill me when she sees the one of her cooking, but that is what I enjoyed and remember, all of us in the kitchen helping mom and cooking together and laughing. That is what I will work hard to have for my children and hope that they have these type of memories when they get older.
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