Today (Nov 24) was my 10th Thanksgiving Day here in America. Before that, back home on the Caribbean island I was born and raised, we didn’t have this holiday. Our Thanksgiving Day was Christmas Day. Too me celebrating Thanksgiving Day, as well as Christmas feels kind of like celebrating Christmas Day twice.
There is something special about these two days for me. Preparing and sharing a special meal with your family and loved ones. Just forgetting all your worries and reflecting on all we have that is good. Our blessings. More than we can even count.
When I think about my Thanksgiving Days past, each year and season brings a Thanksgiving Day that looks a little bit different and a little bit the same. Our first Thanksgiving started out small, we lived in my mother-in-law’s small apartment, our little family of three (my husband, daughter and I). It was just us four.
Through the years our family has grown. People have become a part of various seasons in our lives. We have had Thanksgivings where it was just us (our immediate family), some where we have had a full house of family, friends, acquaintances and even strangers.
One Thanksgiving we were invited to our friend’s house and we kind of reluctantly went. This was a few days after I lost my son. I didn’t want to refuse their hospitality. I wanted them to know that I appreciated them being there for our family during those very difficult times, but honestly, I just really didn’t want have to socialize at that time.
A few thanksgivings after that, we have had a full house. My husband did most of the cooking and I was his sous chef.
We discovered that we liked inviting people to our home, and making them feel at home and loved and cared about. We enjoy feeding them exciting and interesting meals.
Like I said, we have had all kinds of seasons of Thanksgiving Day celebrations from year to year.
Last year’s Thanksgiving, my younger brother and his wife (newlyweds) dined, laughed and played with us (board games). We had a blast. This year, they couldn’t come.
However, this year, we had my mom and little sister with us. This is the first time they ever spent Thanksgiving Day with us.
In Thanksgivings past, my husband did most of the cooking. This year I contributed meals to the table, uniquely mine, that tasted great and I am very proud of them. This year, my daughter, was also able to contribute in meal prep and cooking. She made the brownies all by herself. That is a whole lot different to when we started, we had to do it all ourselves because she was too young to help.
Seasons changed, things changed, we grew and evolved, and people came and went from our lives.
But the things that have remained consistent is how much God loves us and how much we are truly blessed. God is unchanging.
I am thankful for our thanksgiving feasts, past and present, our thanksgiving guests, past and present and for the family God has blessed me with, with whom I could grow with.
I’m thankful for ALL my blessings every day, because every day is thanksgiving day.
Peace, Love and Blessings to you.
Sunday Show ‘n’ Tell
Happy Thanksgiving, and thanks for hosting the linkup!
All that food sure does look yummy! So glad you had a good Thanksgiving. We had a nice quiet one at home with just the immediate family and then a short trip to my sister’s for dessert and seeing the rest of the family. It was the perfect combination of quiet and visiting.
What a wonderful take on your Thanksgiving. Very touching!
We too loved having our son help this year. :)