A day of Memories

Last week was the Thanksgiving holiday here in the U.S. Traditionally it is a national holiday of thanks. But for me it has also become a time to think about what I have to be thankful for in my personal life. I try not to get so caught up in the feast and preparations of the day that I forget to be thoughtful and thankful.

This year we had planned to spend the day at the home of extended family. Two days before Thanksgiving Day, our plans changed and my daughter and I made a quick list and trip to the grocery store. All other tasks were put on hold while we baked. For the first time in many years as we set down to the table, it was just the four of us. Rather than feeling like the setting was lean, I found it to be quite nostalgic. I looked around the table at the faces of my 20 something kids and remembered the year when they were 6 and 9 and we celebrated this day with just the four of us. We did team baking that year also.

The kids and I have found community in the kitchen since they were preschoolers. We baked together for holidays, for many homeschool projects, and sometimes just for fun.

I've included pictures of the pies my daughter made this year - pumpkin, pecan, and apple,cranberry, pecan (a new one this year). And also a picture of her baking bread for her Grandpa's Christmas present when she was 2 1/2. She had a little help from her Daddy that day.