There are so many things that I love about Thanksgiving. First of all, the food. Turkey, ham, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, stuffing, pumpkin pie, all of it, I love all of it. Thanksgiving is always the thing I look forward to in the fall. Especially now that I’m in college, mostly because it will be the first real home-cooked meal I’ve had in four months.
The only thing better than Thanksgiving dinner is getting to share it with my family. I have ten siblings, so anytime we are able to all get together it is a party. I love getting to see my extended family too.
My family is hilarious and crazy and so weird and I love getting to spend time with them. There is something about sharing a good meal that really brings people together. Other holidays just don’t compare.
Don’t get me wrong, I love Christmas and the Christmas-season, but there is too much stress and pressure that comes with it. Parents scramble to find the perfect gifts for their kids and figure out a way to outdo last year’s gifts. Couples worry about what kind of gift to get their partner because they don’t know how expensive a gift they will be getting.
In the end, everyone ends up spending an unreasonable amount of money. A lot of kids end up disappointed on a day that is supposed to cheerful because their friends got cooler toys than them. There is too much pressure to make Christmas perfect. But not Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving isn’t about getting what you want, it’s about being thankful for what you already have. It’s about being content with the life you’ve been given. No flashy decorations or expensive gifts, just some turkey, some family, and a lot of laughter. Everyone brings their famous dishes and desserts and we all get to share it with each other.
Thanksgiving has always been a joyful time and I can’t ever remember a time I had a bad one. Some of my fondest memories come from Thanksgiving celebrations.
I remember one Thanksgiving we had at my grandparent's old house that we fondly call “The Cabin.” It is the tiniest and cutest little house, and we somehow managed to fit all of the siblings, cousins and aunts and uncles in there. I remember this Thanksgiving specifically because it was the first time I played the card game Nertz.
My Uncle Paul J. taught me, my siblings, and my cousins how to play and since then it has kind of become a Thanksgiving tradition.
Another Thanksgiving memory is one that I’ll never forget, one reason is that my dad and Uncle Darrel set up a zip line in my aunt and uncle’s backyard and we all got to take turns trying it out. My aunt and uncle also have a pond, so we got to do some canoeing and exploring.
Another reason that that Thanksgiving is so memorable to me is that it was the first time any of my family met my brother’s then-girlfriend, now-wife, and it was so fun getting to know her and welcome her into our family. They now have three of the cutest kids in the world. That year we added a new member to our family, and it hasn't stopped growing.
These memories are very dear to me and they are part of the reason Thanksgiving has such a special place in my heart.
I am very passionate about food. The thing that I love most about food is that it has this power to bring people together. I think God uses food to incite fellowship. People laughing, sharing stories, making memories, all over a delicious meal. It is a beautiful image. And that is why Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.