Thanksgiving 2007 Brad (son), Diane (me), Adam (nephew-in-law), Bill (dad)
Thanksgiving is the day we are supposed to step back and give thanks and eat enough food for a week, in one day. No small task for both. This is also the beginning of non-stop stress. For some it’s cooking a huge meal they’re not used to cooking. Or maybe you’re traveling with the masses and you need a Thanksgiving to Go. It could be your first Thanksgiving gluten free trying to figure out how to navigate the most gluten filled holiday. Some of us are missing family members for the first time and others are celebrating the addition of new family members. Many will sit down with family they don’t even know and others will eat alone, or not at all.
Everyone has their story and set of circumstances. It just seems that this time of year things are magnified and seem so much more intense in our lives. So what can we do so we don’t all explode.
I’d like to suggest we first take a deep breath, and then another, and a few more until the heart rate has slowed down a little. Next, let us focus on others. What do others need? Living in Northern Virginia I think this is a foreign concept. It’s a very “me first” attitude in everything and it’s very easy to get caught up in that. Next, what are you grateful for? What has brought you joy? What really matters the most when you get past all of the yeah buts.
I hope I can follow my own advice and take time to breath, think about what others need and remember what’s really most important and what I’m grateful for.
Here are just a few things I’m grateful for:
Every day I wake up in the morning.
I have an amazing husband that loves me as much as I love him.
We have two boys that are so smart, creative, sweet and healthy.
My parents and husband’s parents are still here.
That three years ago we figured out that gluten was making me sick and all I have to do is not eat it.
The amazing gluten free community I am a part of.
That I get to share my cooking and my life with others via the web.
That you are reading this and sharing your life with me too.
What are you grateful for? Don’t think too long, just type it. I’d love to hear from you. I always love to hear from you.
I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving week full of joy and please know how thankful I am for you.
This reminder comes at a wonderful time; today I begin some cooking experiments that will hopefully result in a dessert to bring to Thanksgiving dinner. But really, how important is a good dessert when compared with what I am most looking forward to about the day: spending time with family!
Grateful for my health, my wonderful husband, that we will actually be spending Christmas with my sister and my dad, and being back in the mountains.
Cute picture!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! The photo is great =D.
Your words make me cry, Diane–in a good way though. The time we have with family and friends is by far the most important. I am the most grateful to have that every day, with Mr. GFE and Son, and my own immediate and extended family. I am happy to say my friends are many and have come via so many different paths–including fellow gluten-free bloggers like you who I've come to know and even get to "play with" personally. 😉 We all have such lives of abundance. We need to remember that and not get caught up in the silly stuff that won't matter a year from today or even next week (LOL).
Love the photo, too, because it shows warmth and love and you're smiling that beautiful smile of yours!
Hugs and happy Thanksgiving!
Shirley
Shirley- So grateful for you!
Though my family is gone to visit family, I have been blessed to be invited to a church family's home for Thanksgiving dinner. I am thankful that love travels across the miles. I am also thankful to find this website since one whole family is gluten-dairy-egg free in different mixes. All egg-free–and they raise chickens!!! I haven't been officially checked for allergies yet, but I'm sure there are some.
Sharon- I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
I'm thankful that I have a full time job (I live in Michigan!), a wonderful husband who has been with me through a lot of years of hit and miss diagnosis' and for people who's blog's I can continue to learn from daily like yours Diane. Thank you, I truely appreciate what you do.
Michele-Thank you so much for your kind words.
Well, Diane, what can I say that I haven't already said…many
times over. Thank you so much for being such a wonderful
daughter and sharing your wonderful family (including your
in-laws) with us over the years. The gift of many talents that
God gave to you is an added blessing. What you have done
to keep you and your family healthy is amazing. I have to
admit that when I eat at your house I feel (and this includes
my whole digestive system) soooo much better. I just wish
that we lived closer . Thanks for your hospitality and love.
Mom…well, I could go on and on but I have to walk my dog.
Mom- a little behind on my replies. Thank you for such a wonderful message. I was one lucky little girl to get left on your door step. I'm so glad you felt good after eating. Sounds like you should give gluten free a try. I wish we were closer. I'd keep you eating gluten free. Hope the dog had a good walk.
Thank you for a wonderful reminder that Thanksgiving is not just about the feast and the myriad of preparations to that we do– it's about family and celebrating all of the wonderful gifts in our lives. We did it 90% allergy-free this year (I made 2 regular pies for my father-in-law). So, on top of everything else, I was grateful to actually be able to eat this year. Stop by my blog to see photos: http://www.allergyfreedelights.com