The holidays in East Alabama are expected to be very busy, yet festive for all! From snow falling on Opelika’s downtown square to tree lightings on beautiful Auburn’s campus, there will be fun all around town from now until New Year’s. But first, Thanksgiving.
Will this year be a large gathering at your home with extended family from out of town? Or, a small, intimate meal for you and your close friends?
Maybe this year, you plan to travel and create a new tradition for your family during the holiday season. No matter the setting, Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to gather together, reflect, and be thankful for another year.
In this month’s edition, take a moment to read the feature articles, “8 Tips for Trouble-Free Thanksgiving” and “Host a Kid-Friendly Friendsgiving Party”, to get some really creative ideas to include in your festivities this year.
One great reminder shared is to remember to focus on the family. In my home, we have college kids who spend most of their fall away from home, in classes, and studying for that next big exam.
It is rare that all four of my children are home at the same time. It is our new normal. However, I am overjoyed when, on those rare occasions like Thanksgiving, all of us can come together for a few days to catch up, unwind, and have dinner together. It’s the small moments of laughter and love that are shared that make the stresses of the past few months just melt away…even if only for one weekend. Focusing on each other and being in the moment is a blessing to our family. I am always thankful for a dinner with all of us around one table. Another great tip is to remember the littlest of dinner guests who are sitting at the kids’ table. Sometimes, with all the hustle and busyness of prepping the meal and the dinner scape, it can become easy to forget to make the kid’s table just as special as the adult one.
Decorate their table with festive fun so that they can feel included, too. Instead of the white tablecloth, put coloring book placemats down and encourage them to brighten their Thanksgiving table with their own personal art.
Or, give them a fun game to play that will keep them gathered together while waiting on their meal to be prepared. Also, as a side note, how about a cool spin on the traditional turkey and dressing, by exchanging it with small turkey sliders and dipper-sized apples next to bowls of caramel. A Thanksgiving menu just for them.
No matter what the plans are for this year’s Thanksgiving, it’s all about the people gathered around the table that makes this time of year so special. Family that we may only see once a year, college kids home for only half a day, and those little ones at their own tables, are all the reasons to prepare and enjoy a Thanksgiving meal. Moments together can be rare, so let’s be thankful and embrace them every chance we get. From my family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving!
