Nov 29 2008
Giving Thanks
For a long time now, I have considered Easter my favorite holiday, but this year I think Thanksgiving has moved up to the #1 spot on my list. Here’s why: my in-laws.
That may be over-simplifying, so let me explain. Since my hubby and I have had kids, we celebrate the “big” holidays at home, far away from our families in other states. In four of the last five years, we have hosted Thanksgiving with my husband’s family–his dad, one or the other of his sisters and their husbands and our one little nephew. This year we got them all! One sister-in-law and her husband now live in town (what a blessing for us!), and the other set with their son drove in with my father-in-law.
I love having our home full of family, and this particular group on Thanksgiving always feels so relaxed. I love making casseroles and baking pies, and my husband enjoys deep-frying the turkey. I make recipes that I grew up eating at get-togethers, such as my favorite great-aunt’s cranberry-raspberry jello, so I feel like I’m sharing some of my old family traditions with my “new” family. I feel intertwined. I love seeing my daughters playing with their little cousin and hearing the kids’ laughter through the house. I love having my sisters-in-law at my sides, helping prepare dishes and set the table. I love hearing the “boys” chatting and laughing while waiting for the food to be ready. When mealtime comes, I feel gratified to see everyone stuff themselves and pat their full stomachs with satisfaction. Well, everyone except my adorable nephew who is a picky eater and said he “just wanted to look at the food.” And that’s all he did–he was content drinking orange juice from a wine glass. 
Once the kids are put to bed, we typically play a game. This year we played Trivial Pursuit 90s edition, then moved on to two games of Cranium. If you have never played Cranium, I highly recommend it. It’s a board game played in teams with questions or activities in four categories: Word Worm (word puzzles, definitions, and spelling challenges), Data Head (factoids, true/false questions), Creative Cat (drawing–sometimes with eyes closed, or sculpting with clay to convey clues), and Star Performer (charades, acting like a famous person, or humming a tune to be guessed). With such variety in the game, it never becomes stale. We laughed so hard and so often that we had to take breaks to catch our breath a few times. My father-in-law would win the Performer of the Night Award if we gave one; he was supposed to hum “We Will Rock You” for his team to guess, but he opted to act it out (which was really not an option!) by imitating a head-banger. The expression on his face was so priceless that we all laughed to the point of tears; I’m still chuckling to myself remembering it! I think we might have played a third game if it weren’t past midnight with some of us facing work or a long drive home in the morning.
Family, food, and fun–it’s cliche, but it’s why I love Thanksgiving. I deeply feel my blessings with each of my senses: seeing the smiling faces around me, hearing the chatter and laughter, smelling and tasting all the yummy dishes, and feeling the embraces of loved ones. Of course I miss my natal family and wish they could share the holiday with us, too. But this year, with the ten of us, I felt full. My husband’s parents and siblings have become more than just legal relations to me; in my heart they are my family now too. Maybe I can call them my “in-hearts” instead of “in-laws.” Whatever I call them, I love them, and they help make Thanksgiving special, joyful. Being together with them makes me feel very grateful, indeed.
This year, among my many blessings, I give thanks most of all for my family near and far.
