I am so excited.  I love Thanksgiving.  I love the warmth of a house laden with the delicious smells of an Autumn feast, the lazy day of games and puzzles, and the anticipation of the following days.

Thanksgiving reminds us of all that we have been blessed with and are so very thankful for... but, it is also a time of anticipation.  Because we know, that tomorrow is another day and the beginning of a very special season.

Many people don't like Christmas.  They feel that Christmas is a time of hypocricy and pretention.  They may be right.  I understand the complaints that people are generous and loving for six weeks and then go back to being their self-centered selves.  It is frustrating perhaps.  But how much worse would it be if people were NEVER loving and giving.  IF people never smiled at one another as they hustled through their afternoon's worth of shopping. 

The song "Silver Bells" is my very favorite Christmas 'song'.  (Carols are another story!).  I love the way the song helps you FEEL the 'air of Christmas'.  You can sense the anticipation of the shoppers, hear the clink of change in the Salvation Army bucket, and the scent of cinnamon and peppermint permeates the air.  People smile as they see children's faces pressed to the window display at stores, or sitting on Santa's lap. 

You know, my children have never sat on Santa's lap and as far as I know, I did only once.  My picture of that day is hysterical.  My smile was absolutely side-splitting.  In spite of this lack of childhood rite, I have very happy children who get a kick out of seeing other children sit on Santa's lap.  The children's faces are happy and eager.  I may be an optimistic blind woman but I don't think it is solely because they want to demand this year's 'loot'.  I think the whole tradition is beautiful and fun for all who choose to partake in it.

I remember shopping in the Esplanade in Oxnard California with my friend Marianne.  We could hear the shrieks half way across the mall.  Some child was NOT happy about their visit on Santa's lap.  As we drew nearer, the shrieks grew louder and more terrified.  I turned to my friend and wondered why the child was so terrified.  Her response is one I'll NEVER forget.

"How would you feel if you were plucked from your mom's arms, plunked down on this strange fat man's lap with hair in his face and an idiot expression in his eyes and he's incapable of saying anything more intelligent than 'ho ho ho'.  Some idiotic girl is standing with a huge camera just a few feet away and squeezing the h*ll out of a duck!"

Giggle.  It was funny then, and I still chuckle now.  So of course, these memories are not always a blessing for everyone!

Where was I?  Oh, Thanksgiving.  Our Christmas holidays begin then.  I can't wait to share our Christmas traditions but for now, I'll start with thanksgiving.

The next few days I'll be grocery shopping in small spurts.  Almost European style.... enough food for every day as I can.  This allows me to buy one turkey a day at the extra reduced price.  These I give to my friend and her family eats them year round.  (We have permission from the local store to do this btw).

The Wednesday before thanksgiving, I'll be making peppermint bark and Hungarian coffeecakes.  These I'll pass around to friends and save for our family.

Thanksgiving morning we'll start the turkey, and start the fun.  Games, reading, music, working on the yard decorations for the next day... it all has it's proper place.

For dinner we'll eat

Turkey

Green Beans

Cranberry sauce

Cornbread stuffing

Rolls

Pumpkin Pie

and gravy of course.

Then we'll munch on Hungarian Coffee cake and probably watch a movie.  We are so blessed.  I am so very thankful.