Thanksgiving Holiday

This week was another wonderful week. Wednesday, Matt and I did some Christmas shopping and finished cleaning the house in anticipation of the plans ahead. Thursday, we attended dinner at Matt's Aunt's home and enjoyed a wonderful meal and visited with some much missed family. Thursday night started the thankfulness for us though. We picked up my sister and nephew and headed to Sevierville to view the Shadrack light show- which was so amazing. My nephew was in awe of the lights and the girls were pretty amazed too. We celebrated a family tradition that we have attempted to stick to for some years now. Every year, we each get a new pair of pajamas and enjoy decorating the Christmas tree as a family. My sister, nephew, both girls, and my husband decorated the tree while I snapped pictures of the wonderful memories. Matt got Superman pajamas this year. I got black and white polka dot pajamas. My sister got gray and blue artsy design pajamas. My nephew got polar bear pajamas and each girl picked out some Christmas design pajamas.
Friday, Matt attempted some Christmas shopping but only obtained a few goodies. He did, however, get the one thing that I requested for Christmas- a steam mop (don't act surprised that it is a cleaning supply). We took the girls and my nephew to see the miniature train set up at UT gardens, then to see the Three Rivers Rambler (which I did not realize would be running), and on to Worlds Fair Park to take some pictures and let the kids enjoy the playground. We managed some awesome pictures of my nephew on the train tracks, playing with his new Thomas the Train, and wearing his new train shirt. He has a passion for trains right now! We are planning some Christmas pictures of the girls this coming weekend. We did a little Christmas shopping Friday evening and watched the Polar Express.
Saturday, we had to take my sister and nephew back home. It is so sad to see them go back home but we have plans to see each other again in a few weeks. For those who don't know, they live about two hours away from here. I love them both so much and enjoy my time with them, which I never get enough of. We also visited with my grandparents Saturday and ate some delicious home cooking, courtesy of Mamaw.


From the light show in Sevierville
Matt in his Superman PJ's, decorating the tree

A photo from the miniature train exhibit

I have given a lot of thought to the changes in tradition this Thanksgiving. I have been so accustomed to our Thanksgiving breakfast at Mamaw's and I missed it so much this year. My Papaw is getting sicker and preparing a large meal has become a burden that my Mamaw can no longer bear. My Papaw has talked with me about his progressively worsening health and his preparation for death. I think about all of the changes that I have seen among my family over the years and how each one has been a struggle when I was faced with it but new traditions were celebrated in its place. I worry about how another lost tradition will be replaced when it was such a significant part of my life. I am thankful that I have traditions that I have started with my own children and I want to continue to instill those things with my girls. I want Thanksgiving to always be important to my girls and hope that they always remember that Thanksgiving is a religious holiday (started to celebrate how blessed our lives are because of Jesus' sacrifice for our sins, our ability to have religious freedom, and God providing much more in our lives than we ever deserved). I love my family more than anything on this Earth and am truly thankful for the many blessings in my life.