Happy Thanksgiving 2024

annisa

2 hours ago

denim turkey craft thanksgiving decor using upcycled denim jeans to make turkey art

My kids spent this year wondering if Thanksgiving week would ever get here.

They know Thanksgiving is the kickoff to the Christmas season. That’s when I buy the eggnog and there are multiple days off from school. It might even snow.

On the other hand, I can’t believe Thanksgiving is already here.

During the pandemic, I let go of the expectations of how I thought a Thanksgiving celebration should look like when it was just our family of four celebrating together.

I asked myself what parts of that day do we really enjoy?

Pie? Let’s keep the pie then. Multiple flavors.

The first puzzle of the holiday season? Clear the table. I’m ready.

A long Thanksgiving walk? I’ll grab my jacket.

There will still be plenty of time spent around our table, but our Thanksgiving celebration is less food-centric – except for the pie, some things are sacred – than it would be if we were gathering with a large group of people.

I read a poem recently about the kitchen table that resonated so deeply with me. I thought it might touch your soul too.

Perhaps the World Ends Here by Joy Harjo

The world begins at a kitchen table. No matter what, we must eat to live.

The gifts of earth are brought and prepared, set on the table. So it has been since creation, and it will go on.

We chase chickens or dogs away from it. Babies teethe at the corners. They scrape their knees under it.

It is here that children are given instructions on what it means to be human. We make men at it, we make women.

At this table we gossip, recall enemies and the ghosts of lovers.

Our dreams drink coffee with us as they put their arms around our children. They laugh with us at our poor falling-down selves and as we put ourselves back together once again at the table.

This table has been a house in the rain, an umbrella in the sun.

Wars have begun and ended at this table. It is a place to hide in the shadow of terror. A place to celebrate the terrible victory.

We have given birth on this table, and have prepared our parents for burial here.

At this table we sing with joy, with sorrow. We pray of suffering and remorse. We give thanks.

Perhaps the world will end at the kitchen table, while we are laughing and crying, eating of the last sweet bite.

As we gather around our table this week, our Thanksgiving celebration might be simple, but it will be overflowing with heartfelt gratitude.

Some of that gratitude extends to you.

Thank you for all the time you’ve spent encouraging us this year as we live our lives in this old house and sometimes embark on ambitious building projects. We would do all the same projects even if no one was watching or reading, but it is more fun to share them with friends.

Be good to yourself and others this week. Maybe have some pie!

I’ll be back next Monday with a fresh, new blog post.

Happy Thanksgiving!

P.S. If you’re not already, please follow along with our adventures on Instagram or Facebook. I’m much more active on Instagram.

P.P.S. If you enjoyed that poem, it is from the book titled “The Woman Who Fell From The Sky. Poems” by Joy Harjo. She served as the 23rd United States Poet Laureate, the first Native American to hold that honor.

If you would like another blog post to read this week while I’m stuffing my face with pie, I’ve got you covered. Try one of these.

How The Royals Made The Christmas Tree Popular

Pink Christmas Tree Decorations

A Touch of Christmas On Our Barn

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