Giving Thanks

Ahh, Thanksgiving.  It is truly my favorite holiday.  It's all about family, friends, and food.  No commercialism.  No frenzy (hopefully).  It's a day for counting one's blessings....and eating good food.  This year we roasted our first fresh turkey from Turnbow Flat Farm right outside of Palouse.  It was a Bourbon Red turkey and it was delicious.  We're pretty traditional when it comes to the Thanksgiving table.  There is always turkey and dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, cranberry-orange relish and some lovely vegetable.  This year it was a spinach salad with pomegranate seeds.  And, this year, I fixed sweet potatoes like my Grandma Alta always fixed, smothered in a sinful caramel-like sauce of butter, brown sugar, and (gasp) melted marshmallows (but no marshmallows on top).  Paul was very skeptical about the marshmallow part and completely won over when he tasted them. Oh, and, of course, a pumpkin pie. 

I love the traditions of Thanksgiving, like grandma's sweet potatoes and Paul's Mom's cranberry relish.  Paul always does the turkey and gravy and I do the rest.  We get out the Smith family china and silver along with some pieces of my great-grandmother's dishes and my good crystal goblets.  We light candles at the table in my grandma's pewter candelabra.  My favorite tradition, however, is when we go around the table and tell things we are thankful for.  It usually gets a little emotional and always touches my heart.  We have so many blessings in our lives and it is humbling to enumerate them.  I always come away from the table feeling very lucky.

Today I saw a quote in a comic strip, of all places.  It is my new favorite.  The author is unknown.  "I give thanks for this perfect day.  Miracle will follow miracle and wonders will never cease."   All I can add is...in all things, give thanks.