Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving has changed over the years for our family. My mom always hosted, but with both parents having passed it's changed. All the traditional things we did are now different.  I am the older generation in the family now and the last few years we've had Thanksgiving at home with our sons (and now granddaughter). We do things a bit more relaxed. Jeff, my husband, and I start our turkey in the morning and enjoy the day together watching the parade while sons visit their father's family.

In the evening we gather and enjoy our meal together when they return. I usually don't break out fine china as my mother did,  but it's the family togetherness rather than the china or centerpieces that matter to me.  I definitely miss my parents and I know during the holidays my sons do too. They so associated every holiday season with them and having a meal at the grandparents house.  So I understand this changing of the guard is difficult for most family members. 

I'd like to extend prayers and warm hugs for the grieving today who have an empty seat(s) at the table.  Holidays are a time of great joy and thankfulness, but they can also be difficult for those who are missing people they love dearly. 

I remain ever thankful and blessed by my small little tribe here at home. My wonderful husband, my two sons and my granddaughter are a blessing. Like any family, we have our ups and our downs. It takes patience and perseverance and lot of love to make family relationships work.  To me it's not the quantity of relationships that matter, but the quality of relationship that matters.  What we lack in number, we make up in love.

We are thankful and blessed.  Whether you family is big or small... remain grateful for those who are in your life and truly support and care for each other in times of hardship and times of bounty. 

I created a autumn themed slideshow below.  I added some of our fall/autumn themed bouquets to start. After those, I added some of my nature photography.  Taking nature pictures is my other passion.  These photos came from all around this great state of Michigan.  Many of them were from right here around my home in Monroe, Mi.  Others were from Marquette Mi from when we lived in the Upper Peninsula and also from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Northern Lower Peninsula.  Hope you enjoy it!

​Happy Thanksgiving.

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