Thanksgiving 2008

Thank you everyone for your desire to be together as a family this special Thanksgiving day. Craig brought his digital camera and took the pictures you see on this blog. Thank you, Craig.

The holiday preparation began Tuesday prior when we began the onerous task of dusting and vacuuming and washing and mopping etc. In reality, we welcome family gatherings at our place because it gives us an incentive to clean the house. Hence the Tuesday beginning. Time for the feast to begin was 1 p.m. Thursday. Early arrivals were Conrad and Debbie followed by Melissa, Lindsey and Jace and their friend Matt; Tyler and Elizabeth and their two little ones; Kelly and Mindy and their two children plus two of Mindy's nieces; Travis and Liberty; Stuart and Allie: Kim, Eddie and Eden; Norm, Karla, Trent, Ryan, GJ and Amelia; Mary Monson; Craig, Sandy and Kaelyn.

Grandma and I don't have the biggest house on the block but - at Grandma's insistence - we seated everyone upstairs. It was a little tight but we managed. Everyone had assigned seating and were served family style. Menu consisted of appetizers - dips, crackers, veggies, cranberry juice, stuffed celery, olives, pickles - followed by turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, candied yams, stuffing, vegetables. After a short break to catch our breath, some absolutely boffo dessert was offered for those who still had room.

Some had to leave early to be with other relativea and others - including Sean and Jana and The Girls as well as Ryan, Doris and Parker - dropped in later that evening for talk and snacks. Two ithers - Cole and Christi and family plus Teral - flew in later that afternoon.

There is nothing that can replace family. Family creates a sense of belonging, of oneness with those you love, of being part of something bigger than ourself. It implies genuine concern for others, of moving outside our paradigms to effect a sense of connectedness with those whom we share our thoughts and feelings.

Again, thank you for coming this beautiful Thanksgiving day and for being who you are. Grandma and Grandpa