Thank-FULL-ness Day

For years I have struggled with finding a core significance to the day we call Thanksgiving. The Pilgrim's and the Mayflower weren't anything culturally I could relate to. Now the Native Americans were something a little bit more familiar being that I have some blackfoot blook running through my vains, but I also wondered if they regretted that first Thanksgiving feast. In my own world, for my whole entire life it was a day my parents filled us up with family, faith, and food. Giving me an emotional and spiritual connection with this American holiday. All I ever had to do was just show up!!


It wasn't until this Thanksgiving that I got to experience the possibilities of this day. You see for the first time in my whole life my momma wasn't here for Thanksgiving. She made her own personal pilgrimage to Kalamazoo to reconnect with her childhood, memories, and family. So I was forced to make a decision-pout or host.

I decided to host.

Eric and I were both nervous and excited. I mean with the reputation of fabulous cooks in our families you couldn't just hope to make something good-you HAD to make something good.

Spread out in the kitchen was a beautiful and delicious smoked turkey and prime rib. My honey put his "foot" in that turkey. Mom Brown brought the tradition dressing, sweet potatoes pies, homemade cranberry sauce. And the rest of us just filled in with our favorites and family members personal request. The food was amazing and we stuffed our selves full. I really should have went to the altar for prayer today. Seriously, every time I walked past the table I grabbed a piece of turkey..or pie...or cake..

But more important than the food was the abundance of love in our home. Every level of our little tri-level was filled with activity and joy. Hearing stories of my husbands' childhood,the giggles from children echoing down the stairs, shaking and crying uncontrollably at the clowning and joking rolling around the table. It was wonderful.

The highlights of the evening were 80 something year old Mrs. Rose playing cards with us. Watching her deciding to join in on life instead of just being a spectator silenced the fear of aging that had been growing in my mind. Witnessing the expressions of love and worship my daughter Aliyah offered up to our God in a praise dance. Cooking, cleaning, and creating this memory with my husband-thankful once again for the oneness that we share.

However what I am most thankful for is a deeper appreciation for what I got, who I am, and why I'm here. I got an amazing life, family, friends, and faith. I am a child of the King of Kings, I am royalty. And I am here to continue to pass down the legacy of love and laughter He has so lavishly poured down on me.

Happy thank-full Thanksgiving!!

Thank you Lord for all you've done for me.
It could of been me, outdoors ,with no food and no clothes
All left alone without a friend our just another number with a tragic end.

But you didn't see fit to let any of these things be.
And each day every hour you keep on keep on blessing me.
And I gotta say thank you Lord for all you've done for me! (Mary Mary-Thank You Lord)