I took over hosting holidays the year after my grandmother passed away... and my family knows the ropes for any holiday and event I host and plan- expect lots of great food, a clean house, tiny quarters to sit in, a stressed out Hillary who you never see because she is in the kitchen cleaning, cooking and forgets to eat and doesn't sit down until everyone leaves.... yup that's me! Except now I have 2 kiddos... and a large family... 16 people will be in my 2 person camp that became a home to 4 of us!
So little by little since the beginning of this year, I have downsized my events... little by little I said! And with all of the changes that my family and I have been through, I wanted to enjoy this holiday season and not get stressed out for once. I wanted to welcome people into my home if my floor was recently mopped or not- and if I didn't get a chance to vacuum yet this morning- and dinner will be served in Tupperware by chance- you will be expected to bring something or physically help me out and I WILL SIT AND EAT and SOMEONE ELSE will be doing the clean up! :) And it has all gone just the way as planned!! I am a stay at home mom with 2 children- yes there will be toys and dust, come on in and enjoy!!!!
Menu is planned- all very good, tasty items on for this year.. and all with short directions and simple ingredients.. many can be made ahead and heated up! Uncle will bring the drinks, Gram bought the Turkey I will cook, we grew the veggies that will hit the table this year, Father in law will cook the ham we raised, and we will use plastic plates that can be reused! Pies will be brought and other Kimball/White traditional items will be (assumed) brought by others in attendance- yes that is it... and if we forget something.. no worries because this meal is about getting together, enjoying each others company, talking about what we have experienced this year, planning out the next gathering... and simply enjoying our time together as family and friends
So with 45 minutes left on my laptop battery, and the house pitch black... I am not worried or stressed out at all! If we don't have power by the morning we will pack up and host some place else! Who cares if it doesn't happen right on time... we have each other and that is all that matters this year!!!
The "I am thankful" series started on facebook has grown and I am so thrilled to see all of the posts today from others :) Even if I wasn't the one to inspire them, it is wonderful to know that others are out there that feel the same.
Black Friday will be upon us in no time... and no I am not going this year. Financially unable to spend hundreds of dollars on items that are not necessary- I will stay home... and I am thankful for this change of pace because it will force our family to take a hard look at what we really need and what we really want... and all we want this year is to be together as a family! I will look back and forget how upsetting some of this was, and will be thankful for the savings in our wallets :)
Have a Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope you have something to be grateful and thankful for and can maintain a positive attitude and outlook on life!
So with that I will end and will enlighten you with a tid bit about the mayflower from history.com
The Mayflower carried not only the Pilgrims but a few other settlers as well. When it arrived at Cape Cod, several hundred miles north of its planned destination in Virginia owing to storms at sea, the passengers realized they were outside the bounds of the governmental authority they had contracted with in England.
William Bradford, the Pilgrim leader, was alarmed to learn that some of the others felt no obligation to respect the rules of the Pilgrims. In his words, they wanted to "use their owne libertie." The male heads of Pilgrim and non-Pilgrim families therefore drew up a compact that bound all signers to accept whatever form of government was established after landing. The compact created a "Civil Body Politic" to enact "just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions and Offices." Every adult male had to sign the agreement before going ashore. The compact remained in effect until Plymouth was incorporated into the short-lived Dominion of New England in 1686 and subsequently absorbed into the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1691.
The Reader's Companion to American History. Eric Foner and John A. Garraty, Editors. Copyright © 1991 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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