Preparing for THANKSGIVING, Monday, November 24, 2014

I absolutely LOVE the TV show BLUE BLOODS.  Most every time I watch, I leave with a lump in my throat or tears in my eyes.  I KNOW this happens because of the scenes that take place around the table.  They all have a task in helping prepare the meal and they say THANKS.  I was watching a rerun last night and a couple of them WANTED to say GRACE.  If ONLY, we were ALWAYS WANTING to offer the blessing, instead of shrinking down so that we would NOT be called on to pray!

 I was one of those who was raised around our kitchen table.  At 6:30 PM each night, we were EXPECTED to be at the house, ready to eat supper TOGETHER.  It was NOT a punishment, but a way of life.  I BELIEVE that made a difference in the way we reacted to the world.  We knew what was expected of us and we didn't question it.  We laughed, we cried, we fussed, we made-up around that table.  We shared LIFE.

This is the week of the American Thanksgiving.  While I believe that we should live a THANKFUL life, it sure doesn't hurt to have ONE day set aside for that SPECIFIC reason.

I've been thinking about Thanksgiving a lot these past few weeks.  I've been trying to remember my FAVORITE memories and I can close my eyes and see and hear my family gathered for a day to GIVE THANKS.

We always had Thanksgiving with Mother's family.  She was the baby of 8 children and she also had a twin sister, Mary.  Mother always said that SHE was named properly and was most definitely a MARTHA, because she worried about things that didn't matter, and her sister, Mary was the one who would have sat at the feet of Jesus while Martha was busily readying the house for HIS visit.

We would have potluck at one of the sister's houses each year.  The hostess would provide the meat and drinks and others would bring POT LUCK items.  They would call each other to discuss who was bringing WHAT.  Aunt Becky or Mother made the dressing (we do NOT have stuffing in my house...the ONLY thing we STUFF is our FACES.  Dressing is made in a separate dish from the turkey.) and she ALWAYS brought the turnip greens and usually cooked apples.  Aunt Sybil would bring a container of just about ANYTHING she had from white beans to a CAN of Cranberry sauce.  Mother ALWAYS made cranberry relish like her Mother had taught her to make with oranges, apples and cranberries ground together with sugar added~~Thanksgiving was NOT Thanksgiving without this relish.  My cousin, Cheryl, would make deviled eggs because Uncle Cecil LOVED them.  We always had enough food for everyone to take home enough for another meal or two.

Today's funny memory is the year SOMEONE forgot the vinegar for the turnip greens.  Jack, my cousin's husband, thought surely the WORLD would end!  NEVER did THAT happen again.  

My favorite TOUCHING memory is when we would gather at Aunt Sybil's house and before Grace, we were each asked to share ONE THING for which we were THANKFUL.

TODAY, I am THANKFUL for YOU.  You have shared with me.  You have supported me.  You have uplifted me.  You have encouraged me.  YOU have shown me love WAY more than I deserve and I am THANKFUL!  

THANK YOU for stopping by my little corner of the world...I hope that I have brought you some JOY...Blessings to YOU...~charlotte