Alexis B

Well I guess it is better late than never.

So I hope everyone had lots of turkey, cranberries, pumpkin pie and all the other trimmings that each individual family enjoy and have as tradition.

Our family had a some what traditional dinner with a few changes made this year. My sister has a friend whom is a gourmet caterer part time and this year her family was away so she joined ours for the weekend. She wanted to contribute therefore her touches were way different than we would usually have.

We normally have peas that end up being thrown at each other; this has been a thanksgiving and Christmas tradition for as long as I can remember, so it was an unfamiliar change to have Brussels sprouts instead. I far prefer peas. Corn was served, a spiced up squash, and carrots. There were so many vegetables and so many left over. I like the Philadelphia cream cheese and sour cream, peas, and moms squash, turkey, stuffing, Mars pumpkin pie and apple crisp, Belles gravy and cranberry.

Ok so I am a traditionalist through and through. I do not adjust well to change. There are 2 times of the year that family times and traditions should remain exactly that.

Now something we started a few years back was sharing around the table what we are thankful for, but since we had an outsider there and dinner was being served her way and things at our table were not the same this never happened. Hopefully we can get back to our family traditions for Christmas.

I will share with you the things I am Thankful for. I am thankful that this year I have been free to be there for my parents and to help around the house in what ever way I can. We have been under renovations for months; we have had new furnaces, central air, new floors, and many other things which needed to be taken care of. I have become a self appointed property manager for my parent’s home. I am also thankful that as my parents are aging and they need to lean on us that I am here and available to help them with what ever they need me for. There have been times in my past that I am not proud of or proud to mention, but I really was not a good and reliable daughter. However as I have aged I am finally able to give back a little that my parent s have given me over the years. They have always been there for me and now I can be there for them. What a gift.

I am grateful for all of my family and for my friends. I am grateful for my church and what it has done and given to me so freely. I am very grateful for my friends The Lavender family and all the special times spent with them and their children, spouses, and grandchildren. Amen for good friends, great family.