The Tradition Continues {Thanksgiving 2017}

Yesterday was one of my favorite days of the year.

Ah, Thanksgiving--when we gather to eat and celebrate and make memories and recognize the blessings...but we don't have the work (even though it's joyful work) of preparing for Christmas with all its many (wonderful) tasks.

I really do love Thanksgiving immensely.

As we've done in past years, we headed north first thing in the morning to spend the day with my brother David and his family; and, as always, it was a completely delightful day.  Well, except for two things...

First, Jeff was not feeling well, and even entertained the idea of not going.  I'm so glad that he decided to go, but unfortunately he felt even worse this morning and has continued to be pretty miserable all day (even to the point of not going to work today and cancelling all his appointments for tomorrow--something he NEVER does).  Also, my brother David wasn't feeling up to par either; and, in fact, his voice was about an octave or two lower than it normally is!  ;-)  The first time I heard him speak yesterday, I thought, "That is not my brother's voice!"  ;-)  I wish that both of them had been feeling better.

Second, when we got to their house and were getting out of the van, I stepped out, the diaper bag slung over my shoulder, then heard the alarming sound of something falling and glass breaking.  It was my camera!  :(  I had put it in the diaper bag, and I thought the latch was secure.  I was wrong.  When it happened, I assumed the camera wouldn't work at all; but when we looked at it, Jeff quickly ascertained that the only thing that broke was the outer glass of the lens.  The knowledge I have about lenses could just about fit on my fingernail, so I don't know how it all works.  But apparently there is another layer of glass (maybe more than that?), so the lens actually worked okay, despite the breakage.  Why then is there that extra layer of glass in the first place?  I have no idea.  At any rate, I was not at all confident that the camera would work well for any pictures yesterday after suffering such a gravity-demonstrating incident, but was relieved when I got home and downloaded the pictures to see that there were some acceptable ones.  Whew!  I will certainly be more aware of the need to thoroughly check the latch of the diaper bag from now on!

Well, that's all the negative stuff.  Time to change gears and get to the celebration!

BY FAR, the very best part of the day was having three new cousins there!!  Last year, we sat around the table and talked about the swiftly-approaching adoption of three siblings from Colombia; my brother and his wife Lori were due to fly to Colombia soon after Thanksgiving.  This year, what joy to have them there as part of the family!  Adoption, especially of older children, is such a life-revolutionizing event; but I'm extraordinarily proud of my brother and sister-in-law for their awesome (in the true sense of the word) commitment to loving and training and walking with their children as they deal with some pretty tough stuff.  They are definitely heroes to me!

Due to a variety of reasons, we had actually not met Dilan or Evelin, the oldest and youngest of the new group.  We had met Melany when she came down with Lori to visit their other daughter Elizabeth at a nearby college, but hadn't had the opportunity to meet the others.  It was so great to finally be able to do that--an extra reason for giving thanks!

The day went as it usually does, the old familiar pattern being exactly what we love to do.  Feasting, conversing, relaxing, playing--it's just right.  I am incredibly grateful for Lori and all the work she puts into making it such a special day for everyone!

Moriah and Evelin are fairly close in age and had each been so excited to meet the other in the days leading up to Thanksgiving.  When we got there yesterday, however, they both acted pretty shy at first, which surprised me because Moriah is usually more outgoing than I was as a little girl.  But after a while, they overcame their reticence, and I enjoyed watching them play together.  I am quite sure in years to come, they will treasure these chances to be together.  :)

Benjamin found a LEGO buddy in Keith (who is married to Lisa, who is the sister of Lori..."framily" is the term that fits us, I was told yesterday, since we're not officially closely related enough to be family, but there's a connection).  :)  At any rate, Keith built "tractors" for Benjamin who carried them around for most of the rest of the day (even in the group photo we took later).  :)

The pool table was a hit.

My "official" job is to be the photographer, so while others are running around cooking or washing dishes or putting things away, I stand around feeling mostly useless but with a camera in my hand (and usually a baby or toddler, too!).  I'd say I have the better end of the bargain!  :)  Here we were getting ready for the group photo that I always cajole everyone into taking.

Some day they'll thank me.  ;-)

It wasn't really as warm as it looks.  Most of us just scurried outside without our coats on to take the picture and then scurried back inside to the welcome warmth.  But Benjamin thought it would be a good idea to stay out a while longer.  :)  At this point, I had put my other camera away but snapped a few pics with my cell phone.

He loved Aunt Lori's chickens!

Moriah and Evelin blew some bubbles.

Bananagrams was the game of the day.  :)  I should mention that Jacob's fancy hairdo was done by Melany...and he was a good enough sport to leave it in.  ;-)

As evening fell, we got ready to head south again, and I put my youngest two children in sleepers so they could get comfy for the long ride home.  Moriah was really tired and was happy to snuggle with Aunt Lori.

Of course, having the camera out attracted some photobombers. It happens. ;-)

And last but not least, no Thanksgiving would be complete without a picture of the Davids!  :)

With that, we headed out the door after a final round of hugs and goodbyes, and for once, Jeff, who usually does all the driving on Thanksgiving, let me drive home while he slept (tried to sleep?) in the back seat.  After we played our normal round of What Was Your Favorite Food to Eat This Year (top answers were turkey and mashed potatoes, but brussels sprouts made a showing, too...oh, and the maple fudge) :), the van quickly descended into quiet as most of the riders fell asleep, our memory banks holding a fresh deposit of warm, happy moments of family togetherness.

Thanksgiving is just one day a year, but what a day it is!  It's not the only day we give thanks, since we try pretty hard to keep gratitude as a theme of every day.  But it is the pinnacle of the Thankful Mountain we strive to live on!