Gobble Gobble: Memories and THE list

Ahh, Thanksgiving. I love it!

My first memories of Thanksgiving are waking up to the smell of turkey cooking. I also remember always watching the Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV. For some reason I remember one year there were these really big pig balloons and we were teasing this guy who really liked my oldest sister about them. Odd memory, don't you think?

My mom is a pie maker. She make tons of pies. All on the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving. She is amazing with the designs she makes on her crusts. And the smells, Oh, the smells. I loved and still do, when I come home walking into the warm house and smelling apple pies, cherry pies, pumkin pies all baking in her oven. It is welcoming and amazing! See why we typically go there for Thanksgiving.

We would always eat on my mom's best china. Many a goblets were broken at Thanksgiving. My sister actually bit one just to see what would happen. It did. We usually had other friends or family at our house, so I was always at the little kid table. Even when I was big. Even now. Okay, not now. But that's only because it isn't called the little kid table. That or there are little-er kids than me. Hmmph. Someday!

The rest of the afternoon was usually spent eating pie, playing games, eating left overs, cleaning up, more pie, watching and playing football, visits from friends, still more pie, sometimes a movie, and finishing up the pie. Good times!

Just so you don't think I'm un-grateful because I haven't mentioned being thankful all month...here is my thankful list:

I am thankful....

...for allrecipes.com and other websites/blogs with recipes on them. They make me look good.

...for a full night sleep without interruptions. That happened last night.

...for laundry. Just kidding!

...for a good book, a warm blanket and the dream of having time to use them both at the same time.

...that Hubs decided, on his own, to put up Christmas lights, for the first time evah!!!

...for my iphone. I really can do everything on there.

...for my blog. I had no idea how much fulfillment I would get from blogging. It really is fun for me. Both in my writing and in reading others' too. Thank you!!

...for my dog. He greets me every night when I come home to a dark, quiet house. A lot of comfort comes knowing that murderers, theives and other varments are detered from getting us because there is a mean sounding bark on the other side of the door.

...for friends. I am thankful for the friends who will call me in a weak moment and share their yummy chinese craving with me, because I am supportive that way.  Or the friend who has a coupon for the new peppermint hot chocolate from Starbucks and drops one off for me.

...for my children. They are the joys of my life. I thank God every day for the opportunity to be their mother. And am so glad how forgiving they are of my many, many flaws! Plus, they provide great blogging material!!

...for Hubs. This handsome guy lets me write about him. Every week. On a public forum. And he still loves me. Who wouldn't be thankful for that? He is the best!! Then, as if that isn't enough, he is the "champ" dad ever. (Excuse the ASL speak.) Plus he's handsome. I tell ya ladies, I scored...big time!!

But mostly, I am grateful for a loving Father in Heaven who blesses me with everything that I have. He loves me, even when I am unloveable and mean, undeserving and always falling short.  So much so that He sent His Son to make it possible for me return to Him. For that I am eternally grateful!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

What are you thankful for?