Getting Excited about my Favorite Holiday

No secret at all.  Thanksgiving is my very favorite holiday.

Now, yes. I do like the holiday season and the lights, the merriment, the decorations (not the act of decorating though) and the music. I like the looks on the faces of the kids---and the adults---when they open their gifts.  I especially enjoy the "Reason for the Season."  But I digress.  Christmas is not my focus.

THANKSGIVING!

Some Thanksgivings in the past have been not too cheery or have not met my expectations for My Favorite Holiday. 

Three years ago.  I was recovering from unexpected knee replacement repair surgery, then shingles on top of that.  I was so tired and worn out that year that I don't really remember too much about the day.

Two years ago.  I had been diagnosed with pneumonia and the big family dinner had to be moved from our house to Gary's folks.  Gary did so much of the cooking that year.  I spent the day in the recliner.  He brought me a plate of food.  Clay came to visit.

One year ago.  Agnes had just died two weeks before.  We were still in the fresh stages of grief of losing her but also of losing Leo a few months earlier. The dinner was moved to their house for one last time of gathering together there.

Now we come to 2017. 

Since last year, Mom died also.  That means that for Greta and Kent, there will be no Bob Evans meal to order, pick up, take to Wooster to eat on small plates, and leave the leftovers for Mom to pick through.  That also means that Greta and Kent can join the Siemens crew for the holiday in Indiana!

We finished harvest in 1 1/2 days two weeks ago, so there will be no interruptions with equipment breakdowns or fields to finish or grain to haul in or equipment to move.  All of that is finished.

Our calendar has been a little less busy right now since Landon's ball games are over and wrestling hasn't started yet.  Lynnlee has been born so we can go to visit her and not think about carving out days to visit her and her mommy in the hospital or plan to have Cooper stay with us.

On Saturday when everyone was here, the girls (mainly Megan) and I planned the Thanksgiving menu, assigned food items for others to bring, and began to plan.

Last week when Gary and I were in Nashville, my purchases revolved around decorating for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Tonight's grocery shopping list included the items for a trial run of Mom's stuffing recipe plus some other items I know I will need and  that I can purchase ahead of time and store.

This week will find me in the kitchen, beginning to clean some things in preparation - the oven, the fridge, the hutch, the Amish cabinet, the top of the fridge, the front and side of the fridge.  Gary is going to work on the laundry room and we need to go through more boxes in the sunroom so it can be used on Thanksgiving also.

Usually I have a feeling of dread for the prep work.  Why?  I am usually up to my elbows in grading.  And while I am teaching the Trine class, the workload is not nearly as great as teaching five classes and having to be on top of everything so they can work on the next steps of their research papers.  No more weekly discussion groups for American lit either.  The load has been lightened.

I am getting excited. It will be fun to have Greta and Kent here with us.  It will be Lynnlee's first Thanksgiving.  It will be the start of the Christmas season. 

We have so much to be thankful for this year. So much. And I intend to enjoy every minute of the celebration!