Thanks Giving Bates

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday all year. The family gets together, hangs out, eats, and enjoys each other with no other stresses. No presents or dressing up (at least at our gatherings!) or expectations over the day. Just remembering that we have each other and what a blessing that truly is. This year I am filled with thanks for Little Miss, our adoption community, my family, our stable and flexible jobs, Daddy and his utter patience with my endless demands, the food on our table, the community of SVCC through softball and small group, and of course for the workings of God in my life.

This year was our first at having Thanksgiving at our house. We rearranged the refrigerator to fit Daddy's experimental brining turkey in a huge tub. I picked up the whole down stairs, and we did a considerable amount of cleaning, despite my assertions to myself that it was just my family and not necessary. We finished our prep, making sure who was bringing what, turkey in oven, with at least 2 hours to spare. I decided to try my hand at a little braiding and Little Miss loves people to play with her hair. So, then we sat around relaxing until the doorbell rang.

Within 20 minutes of the first arrival, all 11 people were at the house and talking. Papa, Mimi, and kids were enjoying the pool area and the beautiful 80 degree weather that was blessing us with its presence. Auntie K, Uncle R, Adam, and Dan all were playing Blokus or talking and hanging around the house and watching football. Daddy and I were making sure that everyone was good, and everything was taken care of.

Daddy's experimental turkey was AMAZING. Not kind of good, but unbelievably juicy and incredible. We had the usual mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, cranberry salad, rolls, green bean casserole, turkey and ham. We ate and ate and ate... it was yummy!

Alas, after many hours of playing games and being together, the family had to leave. Papa had to work at 3am on Black Friday and Uncle R had to go to his family dinner. We were left, just the three of us, watching Daddy's Broncos smash the NY Giants and Little Miss played Fort.

She actually fell asleep in the fort, where we left her until Auntie K came to pick her up around 8pm. Mommy and Daddy both had to work the next day and Little Miss's preschool was closed.

Special big super Thank you to Daddy. Not only did he cook most of the food, but because of Mommy's knee injury impeding... did most of the cleanup as well. It did not go unappreciated. Daddy, Mommy loves you, you are the best.