thanksgiving 2018...

I don't want to carry gratitude in seasons.

I want to carry it in my bones, 

I want it to rest on my tongue, 

like it is a language

that I never stop speaking.

                            -- Arielle Estoria

Giving thanks should be something that comes naturally to us.  If we really take a minute to think about it we all have so much for which we can be thankful.  So why do we take things or worse, people, for granted?  Why does it take something drastic for us to really appreciate what we have?  

For instance, how often do we take notice of the sky?  I can tell you with certainty that those of us in Northern California are truly thankful for blue skies after weeks of smoke blanketing the horizon.  It takes practice.  I am trying to make a practice of being grateful.  Life goes by so quickly & we aren't promised tomorrow so why not let people know how much they mean to you?  Why not focus on the things that we have instead of the things that we don't have?

I'm grateful for the Thanksgiving day that we had.  I am also thankful that I have a husband who makes amazing meals.  He takes time & carefully plans out what he is going to make, taking into account all the (many) allergies within our family.

Hal & Jenny arrived bringing every appetizer the kids requested & then some.  

Ashlyn spent some time drawing while the Pepper & Charlie kept an eye on the neighborhood.

Landon & Olivia played a little "oot ball", a game they created themselves.

Pepper likes Thanksgiving food & Papa who shares it with her.

Annual Thanksgiving photos...

Upa & Molly arrived shortly after Olivia headed off to her family's Thanksgiving celebration.  And then it was time for food!

For the second year in a row we went nontraditional with our meal & skipped the turkey for something that we all enjoy a bit more.  This year Chris made honey bourbon ham, roasted green beans, garlic mashed potatoes & his cranberry fig compote.  Chris mentioned that he made this cranberry compote years ago & Craig told him that he should make it every year.  He has never missed a year.

We almost had as many pies as we had people!  We had pumpkin, cherry, squash pie from True Food, gluten free French silk & gluten free coconut cream pie. 

I think my favorite part of any family dinner is when everyone is gathered around, eating good food, enjoying good company, talking, laughing & sharing old memories.

After everyone went home we settled in as a family & watched Elf to usher in the Christmas season.  

Home full.  Heart full.  Grateful.  Thankful.