Baby It's Cold Outside.. well not so much.

Thanksgiving almost didn't happen at our house this year.

Let me back up. Thanksgiving is HUGE deal at our house. When I was born my parents decided that they would have thanksgiving in our own house, and it's been that way ever since I can remember. Big tables with incredible decor, colorful food from end to end, and all kinds of relatives from both sides of the family. Cooking starts early on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and doesn't stop until Thursday afternoon. It's a big ordeal. And this year is no exception. Except my parents decided to COMPLETELY remodel the kitchen. When I came home on fall break my kitchen was totally empty. no flooring, no cabinets, nothing. And I came home for Thanksgiving to a completely new, GORGEOUS, kitchen. I wish I had a picture, but I just haven't gotten around to it yet! (If you're friends with my mom on fb, she'll have photo's up at some time!)

But the kitchen wasn't OFFICIALLY finished until Tuesday. Tuesday as in two days before Thanksgiving. And throughout this entire remodeling process all of dishes and everything have been packed away. So Wednesday consisted of a TON of unpacking (and to top it ALL off my mom has a very hurt back!) which put us very far behind on Thanksgiving. And so needless to say there has been a lot of tension and stress in our house trying to get everything done. There was even talk about not doing Thanksgiving at our house (I was NOT pleased about this).. but honestly, it wouldn't matter where we were as long as we were a family. Thanksgiving is about being thankful for the people around you. It doesn't really matter if we have the biggest and best centerpiece or 5 different kinds of pie.. it matters about being grateful for the blessings in our lives. And that's a reality check I really needed.

I'm so blessed. I've got AMAZING friends, the BEST family I could ask for, a GREAT education, a (very newly remodeled) roof over my head, and a God that loves me unconditionally and has blessed me with so much more.

What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?

I'm off to go spend some quality Christmas-movie watching time with my family.. Or maybe the Taylor Swift concert special :)