Thanksgiving Day 2013!

Thanksgiving Day for this family of five was a little bit different this year. From the time we were born to now, this day for Andy and I has always included the parents with the family gathered at their house, around their table, with their dishes, with their timetable....but this year, it was on us.
 When Andy and I were first married and still living in MN, each year we headed "up north" to my parents house for an extended weekend of turkey-stuffing and constant-grazing on leftovers for the days following--and as tradition holds, I helped my mom unpack those Christmas bins hidden in the secret door above the stairwell. How I never fell and went tumbling down the stairs is beyond me...that was like walking a balance beam to get those decorations out each year! But totally worth it. ;) Anyway, since moving to NV, Thanksgiving has always been around the Anderson table...and not ours. Since having my own children, I wondered at times what it would be like if we ever held such a significant meal in our own home, around our own table. This year, we got that chance. 

traditional cinnamon rolls (compliments of my amazing hubby) while watching the Macy's parade!

A tear still slipped out every now then in the days preceding and even the morning of (come on, who am I kidding...I'm not that strong...) but even in the midst of missing those who have become the staples around the dinner table (Morris & Darlene, Alan & Karen), the blessings were counted more often than not. It's the holidays. Emotions for this girl are running higher than usual. There is also an element of 'getting older' that I have self-learned and gleaned from others, that no matter how "old" we get, when the parents are "missing", it's noticeable. There's a void. There's an ache. But at the same time, there just may have been an element of pride for us Anderson kids in saying, "We pulled it off! Without any parents around!" (no offense mom and dad ;) )

what's Thanksgiving without a little backyard football?!

Anderson sisters!!

Anderson cousins!!

Now to some of you, this may seem trivial; but for a small-town country girl who grew up with an exceptionally large table (and tables in the other rooms to boot!), the cheerful chaos commencing at sunup and continuing to sundown, including bouts of laughter and a shriek of pain every so often from the mouths of babes, to have it take place within these four walls was a little bit of a bigger deal!

Happy Thanksgiving!! :)

Carson and Daniel--wish bone!

I've continued on in the tradition of post-Thanksgiving-Christmas-decorating, playing the same music my mama and I would listen to as those bins emerged from that closet. It's nostalgic. It's soothing. It's something my boys now look forward to as well and as the Manaheim Steamrollers echo throughout our home, "it's the song from Grandma's house!" become the joyful exclamations. :)

Thanksgiving with my best friend ;)

As we move on from Thanksgiving, completing our fall thankful tree, I leave you with more of the Anderson thankful thoughts and sentiments for this year. 

 


















"Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the heart of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always." 1 Chronicles 16:8-11