Thanksgiving 2017 is in the books!

And a wonderful Thanksgiving it was.  Here is my list of highlights:

• EVERYONE in the family was at our house at some point on Thanksgiving Day.  14 for dinner.  23 total during the day.
• Greta and Kent were here for four days.  It was the first time in over 30 years that Greta and I had been together at Thanksgiving.  Having them here as part of our family celebration was wonderful beyond words.  
• It was Lynnlee's first Thanksgiving!  I know she is the 5th grandchild to come to our family, and sometimes after the first and the second and then the third.....the "Oh it's a baby!" has worn off a little.  But Lynnlee captured the hearts of her great-aunts and great-uncles and cousins and was passed around, cuddled, hugged, snuggled, and the center of attention at many point through the day.
• The good was good and plentiful!  One of my favorite scenes of the day was when everyone was seated at the table, plates were being passed, comments of "Put some green bean casserole on my plate please!" and "What happened to the gravy?" were heard (among many other comments and questions).  It was great!
• The afternoon scene - kids playing; Gary, Landon, Kent, and Blaine outside shooting; Clay asleep upstairs, Matt asleep on the fireplace room couch, Angie asleep in one recliner with the snowman blanket pulled up to her chin, Mike asleep in the other recliner, Nick asleep in the orange chair; the rest of us around the dining room table talking and playing Tripoley
• Two hot games of Shang'hai Rummy in the evening
• Christmas ornaments for the ladies
• Drawing for the Siemens family gift exchange on Christmas Eve
• Sandy and Kent stayed until 3:00!  
• The weather was beautiful!
• And we are indeed thankful for all of the blessings that God has bestowed upon us.