November 28, 2009

• A Thankful & Grateful Heart

  It is with a heart full of gratitude that I sit here writing my story today. 

  Such a hard time (loosing my dad and brother within weeks) and having to face a holiday, just a few days later.  A holiday  I was no longer looking forward to celebrating.  I didn't think I'd be able to pull off a dinner, entertain company, nor (truth be told) did I even want to try.  Such a deep, dark depression settled over me.  Depression isn't anything I've ever dealt with very much in my life.  Things haven't always been easy for me, but I'm not prone to depression. 

  This year was hard.  VERY hard.

  Because of family who swooped down upon our house and, like angels, bore the load of work, making sure I only did a few things, Thanksgiving was a lovely holiday.

  My wonderful sister-in-law and brother-in-law came Wednesday afternoon and the baking began. 

  Rissy showed Uncle Frank and Aunt Sharon around the kitchen and I was repeatedly told to, "Get out!" of the kitchen!

                         
                                                   Sharon & Frank (Jesse's brother)

  Wednesday night, Rissy and I mixed up the turkey dressing.  No, I take that back.  Rissy mixed it and this year I tried to measure ingredients to make up a recipe card for her of "Mom's Turkey Stuffing"  She did a great job.  She remembered everything she'd been taught from years past. 

  She and I made the fruit salads Thursday morning, then Jesse's mom and Frank & Sharon did everything else.  I was barely allowed to wash a dish or dry the clean dishes.

    
  There was food galore.  A ham AND a turkey,  Jesse's & Frank's mom made some Mexican and "down home" recipes the girls and I weren't accustomed to eating.  His Mom made two types of corn bread dressing, and fidel - a Mexican pasta with neck bones.  Frank made cabbage and neck bones and Jesse's famous hot sauce was present in the buffet line of food.

  
  There was so much food.                                                   I made 2 horrible pecan pies and one pumpkin pie!!!  

  I had to throw away the pecan pies.  Mixing them is no big deal, but knowing when to remove them from the stove is a different story!  This year was my first attempt.  I'll learn!  Now, I'm determined!  The pies were stored in the garage - what we called "the overflow room" for food!  There was food on the kitchen bar.  Food served from the top of the stove.  Rolls, butter, and salt & pepper on the table.  Food EVERYWHERE!!!!

  The three girls set the table with my good silver and we used our everyday clear glass plates.  I made it as easy on myself as possible, but things were still very nice.

   

  We have a Thanksgiving tradition of cutting out construction paper leaves and then handing five leaves to each person.  They are asked to think back on the year and write down five things for which they are grateful.  The leaves are placed on the table with the written side down.  It's done anonymously, but some leaves were obvious.  They are used as part of the table's decoration while we eat dinner.  In between dinner and dessert, I usually read the leaves and it always brings smiles and laughter. 

  This year - a few tears.

      

  I'm aching today.  Annamarie rubbed my back last night and I felt like it must have been black, blue, and purple from bruises . . . but, it's not.  Just that happy kind of ache when you've done too much, but enjoyed every minute of it! 
  

  Anyway, to finish my story . . .

  There was a ton of wonderful food (not counting my disastrous pecan pies!  LOL!!!) and I was sure we would be giving leftovers to departing guests and still be stuck eating turkey for the next 2 weeks!

           
                          I've never fit so many people into my tiny kitchen as I did on Thursday! 

  
  Everyone licked their lips, surveying the food, and made solemn declarations of how they weren't going to make a pig of themselves this year! (snicker!)  

  
  Uncle Frank and Daddy helped the little girls with their plates - filling their requests for this or that! 
   

                                 
                                                  Food was dropped, and spilled everywhere, but . . . 
                                                    there was plenty left and it was never missed!

           
                                             Jesse gave thanks before we served the food, then
                                               everyone began to seat themselves and "dig in!"

  It was my pleasure to "politely" try all of the food cooked and served!

              
                                              My plate before 

                                             
                                                                                     and after!!!!! 

  After "the reading of the leaves" while we ate dessert (a LONG while after finishing our dinner!!!), Jesse, his brother and mother played cards at one end of the table while Sharon and I enjoyed a really nice conversation at the other end.  The girls watched something in the den on TV in front of the fireplace and the dogs and cats lounged around the floor, in front of the fire - their bellies stuffed from all of the table scraps!

  Jesse's mom went home yesterday evening (Frank & Sharon left in the morning) and like everyone else across the country, we had leftovers for dinner!  And, I'll be making a turkey casserole for tonight's dinner to use up the dark meat.  Oddly enough, most of  our Thanksgiving banquet has disappeared.  I never thought we would eat through it all - but we gave it the all American, good college try!

  I will take it easy today.  I'm going to plan the girls' school lessons between now and when they break in December (until after the first of the year).  My ultimate goal is to only teach two more weeks of school.  If they work hard, I think we can do it.  Only two more weeks of teaching sounds wonderful to me!

          
                                                What's left of the destroyed Thanksgiving table!

  With free time, I can concentrate on relaxing and enjoying this season.  I really want to move slowly and take in as much as possible. 

  We haven't made a huge deal out of Christmas, but this year we are going to do more than we've done in the past.  Over the next few weeks, I will read poems and stories to the girls about old fashioned winters with long ago families, where homemade simple gifts were exchanged, and the fireplace or cookstove roared with heat, warming hearts and bodies. 

  I'm going to bake a bit (cookies) each day to put in the freezer.  Probably mix the dough one day and bake the dough the next.  Then, the plan is(!!!), haul it all out and eat like a pig!  I'm trying a new candy recipe this year and will also make my yearly fudge.  If anyone has a white fudge or even blond fudge with nuts recipe you could share, I'd appreciate it. 

  The decorations in my house will be much more simple this year.  It hurts to reach and I'm not going to try to do as much as I've done in the past.  The garlands will, most likely, contain only red berries and white doves.  Several asked and so I've taken before and after pictures and will take final pictures and post them.

  So that's the week we've had around here.  A heavy heart lightened by thoughtful friends and generous in-laws.  I'm feeling better.  I am so thankful for all of your kind, kind notes and messages to me.  You've made me smile and appreciate Xanga all the more!

  Be Blessed  ~

  • 2:58 pm
  • 11 Comments