Thanksgiving 2013

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.  I can't quite put my finger on why.  I'll take a stab at it though.  I think I like it because there's not the pressure and stress and hustle and bustle that some other holidays have associated with them.  No, Thanksgiving is the antithesis of Christmas.  It is a time to pause and reflect.  A time to really be grateful for things in our lives that we often take for granted.  We don't live extravagant lives.  We live very simple lives, but we're happy.  God is so good to us!

Laura Lee and Russ came in from college.  Benjamin was so happy to see them.  They removed all of the blankets from the linen closet and built a big tent in the den with the blankets and climbed inside.

Big Tent Revival

We all cuddled under the tent and watched a movie.  We had a big fire in the fireplace and it was nice and cozy.

Laura and Benjamin ended up sleeping in the tent on their indoor camping trip. Funny thing is I remember doing this as a kid.  Did you do this, too?  Family get-togethers don't have to be fancy.  They can be simple.

We pitched in and got the Thanksgiving meal prepared.  Most of it was done the night before.  The morning of Thanksgiving was just a matter of pulling the loose ends together.  We tried a new thing with our turkey this year in that we brined the bird. Old Tom, our turkey that we butchered and talked about in an earlier post, was brined in a solution overnight.  We were sort of concerned about old Tom.  We didn't want to have everything riding on the turkey and then have him disappoint, so my parents agreed to bring a Cajun Turkey Roll as well.  

We pulled Old Tom out of the oven.  Here's the moment of truth...

Nice bird.  (and nice butterfly apron)

That is our homegrown turkey.  No hormones.  No antibiotics.  No medicine or high protein feed.  He just roamed around on pasture eating grass, bugs, acorns and whatever he found appetizing.  His breast was not huge like the hormone-enhanced ones from Butterball.  Time to start slicing and take a taste.  Would it be okay? Would he taste too 'gamey?'  If you're wondering, the butterfly apron was one that Laura made when she was in Junior High School when she participated in a 4-H Sew with cotton contest.  

Carving up Old Tom

Finally, everything was out and ready to eat.  Prior to eating, we circled the island, holding hands and prayed, asking a blessing on the food we were about to eat, but also thanking the Almighty first for the Blood of His Son Jesus who provided salvation for us.  We thanked Him for the food, but we also thanked him for family. We thanked Him for always being there for us through thick and thin and giving us a family who also stands by us through hell or high water.  We are blessed beyond measure.  We then served buffet style.  

Thanksgiving 2013

This is the table where the boys sit - a card table.  My Mom and Dad, Julee, and my sister, Jenny, her husband and their six boys joined us this year to feast and give thanks.  Some of the cousins sat at the boys' table.  I remember sitting at a table like this growing up.  Things weren't quite as formal at the boys' table. They ate, cut up and laughed and did other things that cousins do when they get together.

The boys' table

The feast began and you know what?  Old Tom was good!  And so was everything else.  I've never been so full in my life.  It was good food and we spent good time visiting.  We built a roaring fire in the fireplace and enjoyed each others' company.

Feasting

What a great day!  We want to take this opportunity to wish YOU a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving from the Sonnier's!

Psalm 107:1  Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever.