Happy Thanksgiving

Katie Grace came to town for turkey lurkey day. we had a good ole southern time. I was excited to get to share my first Thanksgiving in the house with someone. I was cookin it up hot in the kitchen. We did a good job of baking enough carbohydrates for a small starving nation in Africa. I roasted a turkey breast, as well as cooking green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, corn bread, and scalloped potatoes. I also made a pumpkin pie. I used my great grandmother's pie crust recipe for the first time. There was definitely something special about using a family recipe for the pie crust. I think that Kate can attest to it - the food turned out delicious!

Kate’s stay was fairly uneventful, relatively speaking. She got to meet her new niece as well as play with the "old" one. We have taken to talking about them as the old one and the young one or the big one and the small one. That way they don't know that we are talking about them. I can officially say I am a mother now. Last week I caught myself telling them to stop roughhousing and to go play outside if they were going to play like that. When did I turn into my mother? Next thing you know I'll be telling them not to bother me if they aren't bleeding profusely. We know I'll never have to tell my girls to clean their plates - they are experts at that.

My friend Jano did an absolutely Fabulous Thanksgiving blog in which she summarized some of the many things she is thankful for. Following in her lead, her is a late, but no less important list of some of the many things for which I am thankful for – in no particular order:
I am thankful for two silly yet cute dogs, all adorable animals, the people I love – both friends and family, the unconditional love of God, children, and dogs, a wonderfully fulfilling (most days) job, the feeling of heartfelt laughter in the belly, the twinkle in the eye from a true smile, snow days, fires in the fire place warming my toes, getting lost in a good book, an education that is second to none, cute shoes, the big ten network, an outstanding basketball program, music in my head and in my heart, the start of the Christmas season despite the over commercialism, St Jude – the patron saint of lost causes, a nap on the couch, the joy of cooking, the oppertunity to help others, and life in general. Hopefully you are thankful for as much as I’m thankful for, if not more!