FEELING LIKE A GROWN UP!

Because of COVID, we did not have our usual large gathering of family and friends.  

This meant that I had to provide all the food for my crew of seven.  

I've never had to make an entire Thanksgiving meal.  Usually with the large gathering, we divvy things up and each person makes 1 or 2 dishes.

But this Thanksgiving it was all on us.

I feel like a real grown up.

Full disclosure: 

I did assign my family 

some of the cooking duties.  

Abigail: Green Bean casserole

Stephen: Sweet potato casserole

Lydia: Pies

Andrew: Cranberry relish

 So together, I think we did pretty good for our 1st Thanksgiving going solo. 

However, I do truly hope next Thanksgiving things can be back to "normal".  

Our Thanksgiving Feast

Getting Ready to Eat

The boys were so excited to have both Abigail and Stephen home for the holiday.  They love having the whole family under one roof as much as I do!  

IT'S ALL HOW YOU FRAME IT

This year we celebrated our Thanksgiving dinner in the community room at my mom's nursing home.  It was actually our turn to host the gang at our house, but we thought it might be easier to bring the party to my mom since our house isn't set up that great for her wheelchair.  

I'm sure none of us expected at last year's Thanksgiving that this year we would be eating at a nursing home.  

However, as I sat and looked around the room full of family and friends enjoying the yummy food everyone brought, I realized it's all how you frame it.  

The community room at the nursing home is beautiful and BIG.  The little kids had room to play the fun games my mom had organized.  We were so proud of how my mom took on the role of hostess by planning activities for the kids and the adults.  

Of course, we wish the stroke had never happened.  We wish she could be living at home with my dad.  

But as I get older (Sorry Lord, I'm so slow to catch on), I'm realizing true thanksgiving isn't just being thankful for the good and easy in life.  It's being thankful for the bits of good you can find in the midst of a difficult situation.  That is when we have the opportunity to truly praise the Lord- when we trust Him enough during  a time that is not going according to our plan.  

So did we have Thanksgiving dinner in a nursing home?  OR did we have Thanksgiving dinner in a beautiful facility the Lord has provided to help my mom and dad at this time in their lives?

I guess it's all how you frame it...

Here are a few photos from our dinner 

THANKSGIVING THOUGHT

I think this says all I want to say about Thanksgiving!