My husband likes to read my blog.  And he reminded me that I haven't blogged since "Squid Day", so today I will do Turkey Day.  Except I really have nothing to say about today.  You see, I would really prefer to ignore this day altogether.  The only way I can get through it is to look forward to my early a.m. shopping trip to one little store in our little town on Friday, the day after today.  Pitiful, I know but I have my reasons.  I was going to blog about my reasons but decided it was too painful and depressing to write about so, maybe I'll just say a bit about how my day did go.  We spent the morning trying to figure out what I was going to wear to my mother-in-law's for dinner (always a major decision for some reason!)  Got there on time - I mean, they do live all of 5 miles away!  Even remembered to bring the ice cream, as asked.  The family members that had already arrived were all people I enjoy spending time, none of the mildly odd relatives that sometimes show up.  My kids were very good, except for one trying episode with 5 y.o. Carmen.  For some reason, she didn't want to sit down at the table with us.  After a few attempts to get cooperation, I simply said, "Fine, you can stand there and I'll eat my dinner."  So she did!  Finally, I gave her a bite of her roll.  Then another.  After that she decided she'd like to sit down after all.  Why, oh why do things like this happen when your elders are watching to see if you handle the situation the way THEY would?  What would you have done?  No one said anything but it was a bummer to me.  You know, before I go to a family gathering, I have learned to pray beforehand that I would not say anything to offend anyone.  Well, I think I need to start praying that I wouldn't be offended.  Some things were said by a relative that really hurt my feelings and I said nothing.  Didn't Jesus say to turn the other cheek?  I'm still a little hurt but I'm glad I didn't say anything I would regret later.  I am well aware that family gatherings are hot-houses for tension or misunderstandings.  We all want a happy time with everyone and for the most part, it was.  So, I'll just try to remember the good stuff and discard the uncomfortable.  It was so nice that my kids behaved better than I expected and they had fun.  And, hooray!!!, it's over and we can get on with Christmas!  Don't get me wrong, I believe we need a national day to remember to be thankful for our nation's beginning and the people who came here to worship our Lord in the way they wanted to.  I am so very thankful for that and I try to remember to thank the Lord every day for many things.  But Thanksgiving is still so painful to me that it's always such a great relief to have it over.  So, now I'll stop ruminating on this and go to bed.  I hope you all had a very nice day!