Thanksgiving

This year we had a quiet day with my parents and my Grandma. I woke up feeling the onset of a cold so I slept some more while Nick played in the annual Mount Airy ward Turkey Bowl. This always proves to be pretty fun for Nick and guarantees men out of the house while "THE MEAL" is being prepared. I call it "THE MEAL" because Thanksgiving dinner is no joke. My mom prepares a feast that could feed a small nation and we gratefully scarf it all up!!! My mom is an awesome cook and I know, for her, it's another way of her showing us how much she loves us by sacrificing time to make such a beautiful meal. My Grandma brought her famous potato and macaroni salads which are AMAZING!!! Though we really had a great time together eating, watching football, and playing Skip-bo (another childhood favorite)I couldn't help notice my mind wandering as to what my family out west was doing. Luckily, they all go to be together because Krista got a free ticket for Josh to fly to Utah from LA. I was happy for that but I couldn't help missing all of their faces around the table. I missed my brother's bantering with my husband about the football game and who REALLY threw the longest touchdown pass. I missed Tommy & Keira fighting over who gets to say the prayer and to hear their tiny voices thank their Heavenly Father. It also made me think of Nick's parents who are so far away and how much I love them both. This was our year to spend Thanksgiving with Nick's family so I couldn't help but not be so grateful for the wonderful family I married into and now consider my own. We really did have a wonderful day and I think it was good for me to feel this way. It made me realize how very grateful I am for my wonderful family. They really are my best friends and I miss them, really miss them when they are not around. I am so happy to have brothers that I really like as people and want to be around. Nick and I feel lucky to know that our little boy will have such awesome, loving uncles, aunts, cousins & grandparents. This year I am also grateful for modern medicine and technology that allows me to be healthy and pregnant. I am grateful for good doctors and priesthood blessings and a loving Heavenly Father who watches over us each and everyday. I am so grateful for a wonderful, giving husband who helps me be a better person and makes me so excited to be a mom. My heart is full! Nick and I both had off Thurs. thru Sunday which allowed us to spend a lot of time with my parents. Friday, Nick went over to help my Dad fix up my parents bedroom. While they worked, my mom and I did a little baby shopping at Lucy's!! We got some cute outfits for Brady just in case the 400 we already have don't look cute on him!!! Friday night we went out on a triple date with some friends which was really fun. We got to play a really funny game called Snorta - you gotta play it - it's great!!! Saturday Nick and my Dad went over to a family in our ward to do some service for several hours while I did some laundry. That evening we met my folks up in Frederick at a furniture store where they were picking up a bedroom set. Nick and I were just supposed to be meeting them there and ended up picking up a few pieces of our own! We are very excited about our new coffee table and shelving unit!! We then went to Outback for some steak! All I want to eat is red meat - I crave it all day, every day! We went back to my parents and turned on some football. Not too long after we got there, we learned of the passing of a wonderful man in our ward. He has courageously fought cancer for years and was such an example to everyone. His wife and children are all wonderful people and I know that our Heavenly Father is watching over them. His was a life lived faithfully and he will surely be missed by all of us.