Thanksgiving Eve....

I honestly don't know where the month has gone. I have been trying really hard to slow down and take better care of myself. I have help for the business now, which is a huge relief and takes a major weight off. (thanks Christy! - LOVE YOU!) I have a few days left on the heart monitor, so that will be another big relief to get rid of all the wires and such. Will have a couple of doctor's appointments next week, so looking forward to news from those.

Today, on this Thanksgiving Eve, I have some loose ends to tie up, some orders to place, etc. Tonight, the "feel" of the holidays will finally show up. It always does as soon as we stop everything and start to prepare for tomorrow. I LOVE IT! I will hang out with Aaron and the kids and make food to to take. We will be going to Aaron's families at noon and my dad's in the evening. Not one but TWO big dinners. It has been that way for the last 20 years, so we have learned to pace ourselves.

I don't get to see my mom on Thanksgiving, and that is always a real bummer. But, I am looking VERY forward to seeing Kent and his family. Haley is home from college, so can't wait to see her. Have not seen Max for months, so can't wait to squeeze him too. Jaden is SO excited to see Abby, he can hardly stand it. I can't wait to stand in the kitchen, crowded around the cheeseball, catching up with everyone while we wait on the turkey. It's tradition.

My family has a lot of Thanksgiving traditions...we are a predictable bunch. Dad and Kent will hang out in the garage watching some ball game, Julie, Patti, and I will hang in the kitchen and talk about everything we can think of. Evan will kind of migrate between the two. Big kids will impatiently await the food (which simply cannot be eaten before at least 7:30!) Little ones will run up and down the hallway, only stopping when papaw burns catches them.

We will gather around the table, take turns telling what we are most thankful for. My grandma Burns (almost 92!) will give thanks, and dad will be all misty eyed. Then we will proceed to stuff ourselves till we can hardly move, forgetting that grandma has made pumpkin AND chocolate pie! Somehow we will all find room for a piece or two. Kent will stand (cause he is too full to sit) in the kitchen eating several pieces of the persimmon pudding I make him every year. He will invariably say "Man, Aunt P, this is excellent! (his kids call me Aunt P - long story) The rest of the evening we will just be together and anticipate the Christmas season.

Doesn't that sound like just THE most perfect Thanksgiving! I can't wait.