Last Supper...

This was my first BIG family holiday dinner when I moved back to my home town, It was a beginning to an end that came to soon. My mom took this picture and we got one more big Thanksgiving dinner with her after this then the next one was the year she died, which was hard but we were all together. Now there will be no more....at least not with my "little" family I came from, not one with my mom bringing the pies and calling her for advice, there won't be another where my brother tells me that the food is FIRE! and not one where my sister and I attempt making the rolls and they explode out of the package or her making the green bean casserole. Holidays are different now but I miss how they were even if we didn't get many together later in life, I miss the memories of holidays past and grieve the missing memories of future holidays.

Holiday's are tough in general but add in missing loved ones who have passed and it can definitely become a depressing state of mind if you let it. I LOVE all things GRINCH for Christmas and the joy it gives me is a kind of therapy, so this year, my decorations went up almost right after Halloween! Now this doesn't mean I'm skipping Thanksgiving, I could do no such thing, I love food and I do love being around family and friends no matter how infrequent we see each other through out the years. Yet I know families are hard to like especially your own at times! So since The Grinch screams through out my home, in true Grinch fashion, remember this on Thanksgiving, "Maybe Thanksgiving isn't all about the food and perhaps it doesn't bring out the best of one's mood but remember what you are thankful for, family and friends and perhaps Thanksgiving will mean more in the end!"

Though these next few holidays will be extra hard, I'll hold onto memories and still include them in our gatherings. An ornament my brother made hangs right on my tree and many of my mom's hand made decorations are out to see. Hold onto those you love even if they are not here, remember to say I love you and try to see them more than once or twice a year. I hope you enjoy your Thanksgiving and remember what it's really about, making the best out of the time you have and not missing out. Love to my family and friends near, far and up above, Happy Thanksgiving.