A Season of Change

These two turkeys next to me are what I am most thankful for today and every day.

Thanksgiving is a season of thankfulness and family, but in my family, it has also become a season of change. When I was a little girl my family got together for every holiday, but Thanksgiving was always one of my favorites. We woke up, watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV, played in the turkey bowl, and then would eat dinner together. Growing up, my family would always gather at my grandmother's house for dinner — all 31 of us.

Privately, Walt and I were always more interested in spending time together than waking up to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Now that I have gotten older, a lot of things have changed. Many of my older cousins have gotten married or moved away, so thanksgiving has become a smaller affair. I'm very thankful there are more of us in the family; and now that everyone getting together is such a rare occasion, each time we are able to it is even more special.

The turkey bowls numbers have dwindled down quite a bit in the past few years. Between family traveling, everyone getting older, and me deciding to be "girlier,” it just isn’t as huge of a deal to us anyone. Some of the boys still come out and play, and if it's not too cold I'll come out and take pictures, but the turkey bowl has lived on more so through sharing memories and laughs together.

While this year is the first time in 54 years that we aren't celebrating Thanksgiving at my grandma's big red house, I'm very thankful that we all still get to be together.

My thanksgivings have changed a lot in the past 21 years. However, that doesn't mean it's still not wonderful, and it certainly doesn't mean I have any less to be thankful for. At the end of the day, change is a good thing! Change is also certainly something to be thankful for; it means we've been forced to grow. No matter how much has changed, one thing has stayed the same and always will, I am surrounded by a family full of love--and maybe a little drama (but what interesting family doesn't have that?!).

Wishing you and yours a very happy Thanksgiving, and a whole lot of love and pie! May your bellies and hearts be full today and always.

So, here's to always remembering to keep one foot in front of the other, and your heels as high as your standards...xoxo Suzanna Rita