photo by Emily Chappell Photography

I love that Thanksgiving is the holiday that focuses on gratitude. Not on materialism, but on thankfulness, gratitude and appreciation.

This year, I am overwhelmed by God’s protection and His grace. We’ve had a doozy of a year, and we’re nearing the end of this journey that has helped me put so much into perspective. His mercies are new each day, and I am so thankful for that precious gift.

I can’t even come up with words to tell you how much love I have for my family and how incredibly thankful they make me feel each day. I get to be the mom to the most wonderful, sweetest, most hilarious little boys I’ve ever known. And I have a husband who loves and respects me and makes me laugh every day. All the other blessings in our life are just icing on the cake, because these three people mean the world to me.

We are so blessed with parents and a brother who get along and love each other, and enjoy being together. That means so much to us, and makes celebrating holidays so much fun because we can all be together.

Today, we’re starting the day bright and early with our favorite breakfast casserole, and we’re settling in with coffee and hot chocolate to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

We’re in Indiana at my parents’ house with my brother, Todd’s parents, and Todd’s grandmother. We finished up almost all of the prep work for the big feast, so today will be a lot of fun as we just enjoy the parade and each other’s company.

We’ll have some fried turkey, some of our favorite casseroles (I told Nina that all of our holiday traditions revolve around food), and my favorite chocolate pie.

And we’ll end the day with our annual Christmas Vacation viewing.

Today is my mom’s birthday, and I think the thing I am most thankful for this year is my sweet mom. Her battle with melanoma has strengthened us all, and I am so proud of her. I’m thankful that she is here, and we continue to pray for complete healing for her.

I hope that you and your loved ones have a fun-filled Thanksgiving full of laughter, gratitude, and guilt-free feasting!

Today I wanted to do something a little bit different. Being a part of the blogging community has helped me get to know some amazing women that I otherwise wouldn’t know at all. I’ve been encouraged and uplifted by so many this year. Their words, their walks with the Lord, their kindness. I am just so thankful.

I asked a few of them (really, there are so many more that I love!) to share with me their favorite Thanksgiving memory, a favorite Thanksgiving tradition, or what they are thankful for this year.

I think you’ll love hearing what they have to say as they talk about the really important things…and the other really important part of Thanksgiving…the food!

Paige Knudsen

Mix and Match Mama and Mix and Match Family

Kelly’s Korner Blog

Lauren Haddox

Jenny Collier

Sweetwater

Courtney DeFeo

Fancy Ashley

Life in the Green House

The Good Life Blog

According to Nina

I Love You More Than Carrots

1. I think the thing I’ve been most looking forward to with the move is getting to decorate for Christmas. Seriously, if we had moved into the house the first week of November, I think I would have gone ahead and put up my Christmas tree. I’m so excited for Christmas! (And we absolutely love Thanksgiving, but putting up Christmas decor takes a lot of time… I want to enjoy it for as long as possible.) But, alas, we’re still at Nana’s house, so I’ve decided not to put up a tree here and just wait until we get to our house. (We did put up a tree at Nana’s last year after I couldn’t hold out any longer.)

2. I kept the boys home from school today. The stomach bug is going around, and I didn’t want to take even the slightest risk that Hudson and Hayes would get the stomach bug before we drive 11 hours tomorrow to Indiana.

3. The Gamecocks made us proud on Saturday. We won’t be going to the Clemson/Carolina game next weekend. We gave our tickets to my brother. Todd has never seen the Gamecocks beat Clemson in person, so his superstitious nature tells him to stay home so the Gamecocks will win!

4. It’s also worth noting that the Gamecocks haven’t lost to Clemson since Hudson was born. Our little good luck charm!

5. I’m not a Black Friday person. I’m an introvert. I don’t like crowds. Shopping online is my jam. In 31 Thanksgivings, I have never shopped on Black Friday. And when all those committed shoppers are lining up on Thanksgiving night, I’m cleaning the kitchen and gearing up to watch Christmas Vacation.

6. We’re heading to my parents’ house tomorrow with my in-laws and Nana. My brother is there, too. We’ll all be together this year! And I think we’re all looking forward to the chocolate pie, sweet potato casserole and broccoli cheese and rice. Yum!

7. Did I mention the dogs are coming with us? Our car will be a zoo!

8. Hopefully you understood the Home Alone reference in the title.

It’s the official start of the holiday season! I’m so excited! I’ve got the spirit.

 

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