Holiday Preparations

Thanksgiving is an interesting holiday around the Greiner home. As the vagabond children who moved away, we can't just hop in the car and pop in at this house for lunch, this house for dinner, this house for coffee and dessert, etc. The first year we lived in Texas, we flew home for Thanksgiving and drove up for Christmas. However, because of Andy's busy work schedule, the baby, etc., that's just not feasible anymore. Having just made the drive in October, we are definitley NOT coming up for Thanksgiving. We've been very blessed every year to have been "adopted" by the families of friends and provided a great meal. This year, we recieved even more invitations than we usually do (proof again of the wonderful friends we've made). As much as we love spending time with our friends, it's always a little bittersweet to be involved in someone else's holiday tradition. We always knew exactly what we were missing at home.

I love traditions. I love the idea of "this is how WE always do it!" whatever it may be. It's so precious in a family to just know things are going to be a certain way. Being here and being away from those traditions is difficult, especially now that we have a child. BUT...this year we finally decided to stop greiving over the Thanksgiving traditions we were missing out on, and eavesdropping in on those of other families, and start creating our own. We have our own little family now...it reminds me of a bible verse my Dad quotes often in church: "Where two or three are gathered in my name, I will be in their midst." Our family may be small, but we are still a loving--and fun-loving--family! So the Texas Three are giving Thanksgiving a makeover, Greiner-style!

Andy has often mentioned when he was very young and his family lived in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, that they would host an "Orphan's Thanksgiving". Anyone from his Dad's work that had relocated away from home would be invited for dinner. Andy mentioned that maybe one of our new traditions could be hosting an Orphan's Thanksgiving of our own. So, that's the plan. I'm not going to lie, I'm freaking out. I NEVER cook at Thanksgiving! Sure, I stir this, or arrange that, and I never mind baking...but a TURKEY?!?!? With stuffing? Holy smoke...what have I gotten myself into? I hope my guests won't mind if I have to call Domino's.

I plan on taking lots of pictures of the preparations and finished products. AND this gives us a chance to finally bust out that electric knife we got for a wedding gift almost 6 years ago!

And today is Wednesday...that means just about a week until T-Day! Yikes!