I am thankful for all of the blessings in my life…my health, my friends, my home, my husband’s job (that affords me the wonderful opportunity to be home full-time)…the Lord has blessed me in so many ways, but what I am most thankful for is my family…all of them.  Those near and far…living and in Heaven…those I talk with daily and those I haven’t spoken to in years…including those I have differences with.  I am thankful for all of you…you have helped make me who I am, given me so many memories that I look back on, especially at this time of year…Thanksgiving makes me nostalgic.

Thanksgiving always conjures wonderful scenes in my mind…the celebrations my Grandparents had are legendary.  I close my eyes and I can see it…me, my brother, and my cousin running around that big field…the men gathered around a huge fire…my Grandmother and her Aunts around that ‘cauldron’ making Brunswick stew…the Clemson vs. Carolina game blaring.  It was like it was supposed to be back then…the way books describe it…well maybe not exactly Norman Rockwell, I don’t recall any cold beers in his art LOL.  As the years moved on, there were more & more cousins running around (there ended up being 17 of us grandkids), new friends joined in…these were HUGE parties!  I wonder where I get the “the more the merrier” attitude from…definitely my Grands! 

Now it is my turn to uphold this family tradition, Grannie & Grandpa have passed on, but I hope their spirit of entertaining burns brightly inside of me. 

Today’s secret revealed…Thanksgiving is a time full of tradition…take a moment to remember where your traditions come from…enjoy the nostalgia that comes with this wonderful time of year.

**DON’T FORGET TO THAW YOUR TURKEY!!!