Last year at this time I was dreading Thanksgiving dinner. I’d been through one with Henry’s family and had one more to go with mine. It’s not that I don’t love our families. I do. And it’s not that I don’t like Thanksgiving. I do. In fact it’s my favorite holiday.
It was that I was unsatisfied with life. And it’s hard to be thankful when you are unsatisfied. Or maybe it’s hard to be satisfied when you’re unthankful. Whatever the case, it’s what I was.
I was unsatisfied because my son was in the hospital and while I wanted to be with him and couldn’t stand the thought of him being alone, I also wanted the girls and Henry to have a nice Thanksgiving day with extended family. I felt guilty for leaving Ryan.
And if I am honest with myself (oh how I hate it when I figure out I’ve been lying to myself), I would admit I was unsatisfied not because we were not with Ryan, but because Ryan was not with us. Not with us…. such a constant last year.
Ryan. Not home.
But guess what! We are all together this year… all under one roof. Ryan is with us! And this was the best Thanksgiving I can remember. We hosted Henry’s family.
I’ve hosted before and it was rather stressful, but I like hosting and I like being in my own home. Today was not stressful.
I was satisfied this morning.
I felt good. Henry and I worked together all day yesterday getting the house ready…
This morning we put on the finishing touches. We played music while we worked, the girls colored and played quietly and drifted in and out of the kitchen where we were working. They helped set the table.
My good friend helped by making most the sides while I made the bird and peeled potatoes. About two hours before meal time I decided we needed more dessert so I made up individual chocolate trifles. I think it was Ainsley’s favorite part of the meal.
Group shot.
Ryan enjoyed his mashed potatoes, green beans and turkey. But his favorite by far was the pumpkin pie. The boy couldn’t get enough of it. He asked for more later in the evening when he saw it on the counter.
The boys watched football while I played scrabble with Marmi, Missy and Roger in the next room. They had me at Scrabble.
It was a great day. I can’t wait to do it again tomorrow with my extended family. How was your day?
Comments (5)
What a wonderful Thanksgiving day for your family! Praise the Lord for blessing your family this year especially for Ryan to be with all of you. Love the photo of Henry & Ryan so precious! :o) Happy Thanksgiving!
So wonderful that all your family was together. This year, all my sisters but one were in town for the big celebration. It was great! There is nothing better than family.
you did such a beautiful job! and SO glad ryan is WITH YOU this year!
How wonderful that Baby Ryan was home with us. You are the hostess with the mostest!! Wonderful meal, wonderful family. Thank you, Lord!
Ours was wonderful,so glad you had all your family this Thanksgiving!