Thanksgiving, it's more than just a meal

Thanksgiving is more than just a meal.  It’s time spent with family, catching up with those that you haven’t seen in a while & reminiscing on days past. 

This Thanksgiving was a bit different for me, mainly because of some immediate family drama that's taking place, but it was one of the best that I have had in a very long time.  I spent it with my handsome love, my Aunt, Uncle, their 3 adorable & crazy adopted kids & their foster son.  I  We enjoyed every minute of it!   

Finally a Thanksgiving that I didn’t feel lonely or stressed!  

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always been surrounded by family, my immediate family, but I’ve always felt lonely, at least during several of the last Thanksgivings.   Like something was missing & I couldn’t figure out what it was.  

I couldn't tell you or try to pinpoint what may have been missing during Thanksgiving celebrations of the past several years...  
 - Maybe it was not being in the wide open space of the Merrifield Hall where my Dad’s family would gather & I would get to see my cousins from far & near .  It was great being surrounded by the children of my cousins that I could hold in my lap.  Merrifield Hall gatherings ended several years ago when my Grandparents could no longer tolerate the car-ride from Sterling to Falls Church. We lost Grandpa in 2007 & Grandma in 2012.  
 - Maybe it was the fact that I was single for so long... I thank God everyday for blessing me with the loving man He brought into my life this year. 
 - Maybe it was because I was so very busy prior to & after Thanksgiving gatherings the last 6 years, anticipating the busyness of December at the church I used to go too (who am I kidding, it was always busy while I was there, no time for much of a life outside of it.  I may or may not post about it later, I haven't decided.)  

Anyway, enough about that. 

Thanksgiving was great this year!  Delicious food, conversation, playing games with the kids, lots of laughter & a connection between an aunt & her niece that never faded regardless of the years & distance between them! We had so much fun!  When I was a kid, I spent a lot of time with her & my cousin Jason.  

I miss Jason.  I know that we weren't as close as we used to be, unfortunately, not many of the 23 cousin's are anymore; time, distance, life, marriages, families & everything in between have pushed all of us apart.  Sadly, Jason passed away in 2007.  

All in all, Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful for those around you.  Thankful for the blessings in your life.  Thankful for the drama that has presented itself & that you can learn from.

Here's dessert from Thanksgiving 2014:

Sour Cream Chocolate Cupcake with Vanilla Cream Cheese Buttercream

Pumpkin Pecan Pie with Sour Cream Crust

Y'all have a wonderful day!

~a