Thanksgiving and Super Hero's

Thanksgiving.....a time for family, eating, working jigsaw puzzles, football, eating, giving thanks, laughing, sharing, eating, reflecting on years past and those who aren't with us anymore, picture taking, and eating some more!! More families get together for Thanksgiving dinner than any other time of the year! 

This year I had invited all of our kids and their families, my brother along with his family, and my sister and her family to come to our house over the weekend of Thanksgiving. I had high hopes of an old fashioned "familyThanksgiving" like my mom used to pull off. I envisioned everyone converging on our home, making beds wherever we could find an empty floor space, and wall-to-wall people. I had planned out all the meals....breakfast, lunch and dinner. It was going to be a Thanksgiving everyone would remember!!

Well.....it's not going to happen at all like I planned.....disappointed....yes and no! It seemed that everyone had things come up.....hunting leases.....playoff football games.....and as the kids get older and married, they have in-law families they want to spend time with. It's hard to balance the holidays when families grow, they want to start traditions for themselves and with their kids....I can't blame them for that!! 

What did happen was something so unexpected. This past weekend, my brother and sister-in-law came to stay with us....not because they wanted to see me....my brother's deer lease is only 20 minutes from Abilene and their daughter attends college in Abilene....LOL....I am their bed away from home!! SO while they were here and we were sort of stuck together because of the inclement weather, I made two different kinds of soup and a crockpot full of chalupa roast.....and.....we had "Thanksgiving". It wasn't planned, it wasn't traditional, and it certainly wasn't as I had envisioned!!! My sister and her family weren't here, our second son wasn't here and we didn't have turkey and dressing BUT we did laugh a lot, caught up with each other, watched football, ate, worked a jigsaw puzzle, took pictures, reminisced about our loved ones that are no longer with us, gave thanks for what we had, and ate some more!!

As the day came to a close and the kids were leaving to get home and tuck the grand kids in bed, it was decided that because none of us could all agree on a time we could be together....this would count as our "family Thanksgiving". My heart was saddened that my sister and her family couldn't be here but on the other hand I felt very blessed to have had this time together. I have thought a lot about this and realized that thanksgiving is about family and feeling thankful for them and what we have. I realized that I am blessed with a brother and sister that love the Lord and are strong and healthy, I have 4 amazing kids and 6 even more amazing grand kids, my husband loves me unconditionally and spoils me rotten....don't say a word anyone!!! Most of all I have a God that sent His son to die for me and take on my sins, give me grace, mercy and forgiveness and is preparing a place for me to spend eternity with Him. Yes I would have liked to have the "family Thanksgiving" as I had dreamed about but I will take a bowl of soup and a hug from my grand kids any day!! For this I am thankful!!

 Serious conversations took place!!

 Cousins got to love on each other!!

Taking time to check email?!?! (Even the TV is showing an electronic device) LOL

Uncle Brad loved on baby Luke!!

As for the super hero's....well just like the unexpected thanksgiving, we had an unexpected visit from two very special super hero's....Superman and Batman! Did I plan it....NO....but it was a unexpected treat for our unexpected "family Thanksgiving". To my friends David and Michelle Kessler and their son Chris.....THANK YOU!! You made my grandson, Cooper a very happy boy!!

Cooper's day was made!!

As all of you prepare for Thanksgiving, remember it isn't about having the table set perfectly, fixing all the family favorite dishes or stressing about who is going to sit by everyone's favorite Aunt....It's about family time....giving thanks....and counting your blessings!

From my corner of the world....counting my blessings and enjoying a bowl of soup!!