Thanksgiving Day comes, by statute, once a year; to the honest man it comes as frequently as the heart of gratitude will allow. ~Edward Sandford Martin
As the commercialization of holidays increases, the holiday ‘season’ gets longer and longer. I was able to do a bit of shopping for Christmas decorations BEFORE Halloween even had a chance to say BOO! I am not entirely sure how I feel about Christmas and Thanksgiving paraphernalia hitting the shelves in October but I do enjoy the lengthened version of the overall festive spirit. Winter days can seem long and cold but planning, arranging, and scheduling a big event can help us feel busy and remind us to be thankful. I work to teach my children all year to be thankful for what they have. We talk about being thankful when we read books, when we pray, and when we see people who are less fortunate than us. But as an adult I find myself forgetting to be truly thankful for the blessings I receive each day. I find it much easier to spend my days dreaming of where I want to go on vacation or how I can improve the functionality and appearance of my house or my body. I’m not even sure how often I feel gratitude for the simple fact that I have a house and a healthy body. November is a time when we are constantly reminded to be grateful for the things we often take for granted. We plan and prepare to have a large feast, a celebration with our family and friends to demonstrate the blessings we have been given. At this time of year the thing I feel most gratitude for is my family. I plan to spend the third Thursday of the month doing nothing but enjoying the day with the people I love.
Most families find that a certain holiday brings to mind one particular tradition or another. Thanksgiving reminds me of turkey, yams, Dixie Salad, and homemade rolls. In your family it may be the green bean salad, the cranberry sauce, or the mashed potatoes and gravy that gets your memory flowing. I also enjoy being with the ladies in the kitchen while the kids run around playing with cousins and the men watch the football game. I know the Macy’s day parade, an afternoon nap, and preparations for black Friday are also big Thanksgiving holiday traditions. However, I must say my very most favorite part of Thanksgiving is pie; especially banana cream and German chocolate cream! Check out “On the Stove” in a day or two for instructions on how to make the BEST cream pies around!
I would love to hear your favorite Thanksgiving Day traditions!
