Everyday Is Thanksgiving

My father-in-law use to drive me crazy every November. I would call him and my mother-in-law to make plans for Thanksgiving. You know, the really important detail stuff like their house or ours, how many are coming, should we have yams or sweet potatoes and is there really a difference. Anyway, as I would be babbling away on my end of the line, Rob would eventually say, “Marla, the details don’t matter to me because everyday is Thanksgiving.” That yearly declaration just about drove me insane. Did this man not realize the efforts by so many to plan and execute the perfect Thanksgiving? Rob has been gone now for fifteen years. The saddest part of that to me is not being able to tell him, “I get it, Dad. I truly get it. Every day really is Thanksgiving when we have a thankful heart and the details, well, they just don’t matter.”


Last night our kitchen was filled to overflowing with the usual plus a few. There were fourteen of us in all. I cooked a twenty-five pound turkey, mashed a huge pot of potatoes, whipped up homemade gravy and filled my favorite red basket with rolls to be served with real butter. There was steamed broccoli and chunky applesauce alongside a salad filled with everything but the kitchen sink. Bottles of wine sat on the table waiting to be served and the apple and pumpkin pies topped with whipped cream were ready and waiting on the counter top.



We all gathered in the kitchen, held hands and thanked God for my sister Kelly still being here after all she has been through. We thanked Him for my daughter-in-law Amy’s mother, Ellen, who left us an incredible legacy because of her loving endurance through her entire battle. We thanked Him for Denalee aka Silver Strands and her beautiful mother and asked that God would continue to walk with her mom through her treatments and recovery. We thanked him for my friend Monkey Man, who is healthy three years post treatment. We thanked Him that every day truly is Thanksgiving when we open our eyes and really see the people around us.



Then we ate and laughed and drank and laughed and ate and drank and laughed some more. Finally, it was time to do what we had come together for.

DeLinda showed up with her scissors and OU painted fingernails. We were ready!

First DeLinda had to get my hair wet and comb it out. I think she may have mentioned something about giving me a Swirly which I declined. Boy, OU fans just can't take a joke. 

Then my mane was braided.

Finally, those OU faithful fingers exacted their revenge on my bobble head.

Whoa! That thing is HUGE! What kinda bait did ya use?

I could wear it as an evening wrap. Or maybe a muffler to cover up those extra chins.

Buh Bye Braid!

Thanks DeLinda! Go Pokes!!  :-)

This makes me really, really happy!!

What are you thankful for today?