Thanksgiving 2010

Thanksgiving is a time for reflecting on all your blessings from the past year, getting together with your family (yes, even if they are crazy, which whose family isn't?), and of course, eating a big 'ole turkey until you feel stuffed yourself. Many of us have Thanksgiving traditions that revolve around food. Whether it's baking a turkey, making green bean casserole with those crunchy fried onions, or rolling out the best sweet potato casserole (more on that sweet potatoe casserole at our house in a moment), there is often more to Thanksgiving than just a good looking bird with all the fixings.

This year, my mom, dad, older brother and his wife and kids joined us for Thanksgiving. I enjoyed our time together. It was great to have Paige and Taylor's little cousins here with us as well. There were even some Norman Rockwell-esque moments when we sat around the dinner table together as a family...granted that didn't last too too long because after all, Thanksgiving Day was also when the Dallas Cowboys game against the New Orleans Saints played. And, we've got serious Cowboys fans in this family, so dinner ceased when the 'Are You Ready For Some Football?' shout-out rang out over the television airways. And, that was just right too...scattering from the table to the family room to enjoy a game of football together!

With all this reflection upon Thanksgiving this year at our house, I'd be remiss if I didn't take a moment to reflect upon the fact that the holidays can be a tough time of year for many people and families. In fact, the holidays can be far from ideal for those friends and families who have had a death in the family this year, or if someone is in the military serving abroad, and so on. You can't turn those holidays into fantasies, but hopefully, even in spite of the difficult circumstances many are facing this year and during this holiday season, blessings can still be counted and found no matter what the circumstances of life may bring...and, may God bless us all.

Below are a few pictures taken from our Thanksgiving this year. Enjoy!

The night before Thanksgiving, Paige and Taylor play "Thanksgiving" with their stuffed animals.

Left to right: Paige, Courtney, Brandon, Taylor

Momo and Poppa from VA with Paige and Taylor

The 4 of Us - Thanksgiving Day

My Sweet Girls

Aunt Kim with Paige and Taylor

With My Mom and Sister-in-Law Kim

Take One: Sweet Potatoe Casserole - Yes, I Burned the Marshmallow Topping! I've Made This Recipe for Years, And This Is A First. That's What I Get For Talking Too Much, and Forgetting All About What I'm Doing...

Take Two: Sweet Success! Thank Goodness for Do-Overs! And, The 2nd Time Around, I Did Less Talking and More Watching of The Sweet Potatoe Casserole. Ha, ha!

Dinner at The 'Big People' Table for Thanksigiving

The Post-Dinner Crash and Food Coma on the Couch & !!YES!! Some Cowboys Football

Post-Thanksiving Dinner Soccer Matches for The Kids with Mike