New Thanksgiving

Today is Thanksgiving, everyone has gone home, all the food is eaten and put away. I'm alone now, husband left after lunch to visit his side of the family. Both of my sons and their families had Thanksgiving at their homes with their wives families. So I guess this is it for now. New Thanksgiving for us. This is first time that I didn't have at least one of the boys with us, but now both are married and have their own families. I know this can be a really big problem for families as to where to spend holidays.

When I was first married, my husband and I tried to share the holidays, one holiday with one family and then switch for the other holiday. It worked out fine until the children came along. Both set of parents wanted us to be at their houses, so we tried to do that. Start out at one grandparents, visit, eat and then leave and go to other side. We would get home to late at late. Our boys were exhausted.

My mother was notorious for making you feel so bad it you missed a holiday with them. My husband has such a huge family that if we didn't show up, I doubt we were ever missed. My family was small. I said that when I had children I would never put my children in that pediment. So when both boys said they would not be spending Thanksgiving with us this year, I said OK.

I am OK with it, I just feel a little sad that they weren't here, but they both called me to wish me a happy thanksgiving. So a new thanksgiving tradition begins. My parents are still living, so they were here, my sisters and their families were here, so it wasn't like I was totally alone, just missing my children and grandchildren.

However, you have to remember there are thousands of parents missing their children today, due to death, illness, away in a war or living for away. You have to be grateful for the things you have in your life. So I am grateful for of God's blessings today. Happy Thanksgiving.