Sunday, November 25, 2007

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving may be one of my favorite holidays. I think I like it so much because it's the start of a season of family, love and gratitude. I spend the months of November and December thinking about the people I love, buying them presents and enjoying their company. Growing up Thanksgiving was always the same - in a good way. My mom always cooked dinner at our house and all morning wonderful smells wafted upstairs while my sister and I stayed out of the way. I remember a local radio station played "Alice's Restaurant" every year and I would lay on my bed and listen to all thirty-some minutes of it. When I was little I remember making place cards and setting them out, deciding where everyone would sit. And it was the same every year. We'd eat the same wonderful foods, Dad would say the same elaborate grace, my Mommom would make the pies, and we'd all sit around and listen to my uncle and dad snore with football in the background.

Now that I am an adult and a mother, I realize that every Thanksgiving, holiday - every day - is different. This year, my babies are older than last year. Turkey and stuffing and mashed potatoes are still relatively new to them. They are getting bigger and changing. And everybody else is changing every year, as well. I am so grateful to get to spend another Thanksgiving with my Mommom. And with my parents. And to see my cousins and how they and their families are changing.

Some things we may keep the same: the stuffing, the potatoes, the apple butter. And some things will change: the words coming out of my babies' mouths, the noise level in the house...and me.

I change every year. I am wiser, I am a better mother, I hope I am a better daughter and wife. I am a person who has lived through another year's blessings, disappointments, tragedies, hardships, joys, struggles, triumphs and grace.

For this I am truly thankful.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Beautiful post. Really.

frannie said...

I wholeheartedly agree with Julie

Anonymous said...

That was a perfect post! So glad that you had a wonderul holiday!

Life has been so crazy and I feel so out of touch with you! I mis syou, but happy things are going well!

Kellan said...

Ooooh, I love apple butter. Great post and so much to be thankful for - all of us. Take care.