Thanksgiving

As usual Thanksgiving was a busy one.  Baking pies, cheesecake and frog eye salad the day before.  Then up at 5 am to get the turkey and ham in the oven.  Then on to the side dishes.  I was so tired - too tired to eat in fact.  I was also dealing with many emotions that day but I did okay at keeping them to myself.  I was so thankful to have all of my children there with the exception of Royal.  He and Charlee spent the weekend with her family and had a nice time.

I did have a special treat in the morning.  When I worked at Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine & Health Sciences I became very close friends with Shannon.  She always made me laugh, was so smart and good at her job, and I could tell her anything.  We became the best of friends.  She took me to California one year for my birthday to meet her family, spend time on her parents yacht and then took me to Sea World.  She moved back to California after her husband graduated and shortly after I resigned at the College and moved to Queen Creek.  I was so happy to have her stop by in the morning and spend a couple of hours.  She is the type of friend that even when you haven't seen her in 5 years you pick up where you left off. 

Shannon with her twin sons, Ronan and Mateo.  She is also expecting a baby girl in May!

Shannon and RaLee

After Shannon left we got busy in the kitchen again and the two John's tended the babies.  I LOVE this picture... so precious!

Caden, Ellie, Nolan and Izzy

Payten was so hungry.  She picked out her spot and sat there until dinner was ready.

RaLee, Crystal and Spencer

A sweet couple! 

Kids table

And the adults tables

Baby Ellie

Tiny little Nolan

And finally Jayden at the end of the day.  We sent the kids upstairs to get ready for bed and this is as far as our little curly locks made it.

We had a wonderful meal and shared the day with family and friends.  It doesn't get much better than that.  I can't help but wonder if somebody will be missing from our table next year?  Two years in a row with one empty place is almost more than I can bare. 

But we are looking forward with hope and faith and hanging on to family and friends.  We are ever thankful for a loving Heavenly Father and we know that he is mindful of us and our needs.  What a comfort that knowledge is to me.