Home for the Holidays

Man oh man would I love to be home for Thanksgiving. Instead, we are still here in Florida. Yes, the weather is beautiful, but having lived here for 40 some years, been there-seen that. I would love to be putting on my coat- complaining about being cold! But, alas and alack, I will slip into my sandals and take my bare toes to Ft. Meade for turkey day.

It will be nice to see the Olivio side of the family. My poor husband has been forced into Frankdom over the years. My son knows his Frank relatives completely, but struggles to remember the names of his Olivio aunts and uncles. For his first 8 years of life, we lived a mile from my parents and they took care of him while I worked. Since moving to NC in 2004, we've returned many times, such as now, and stay right here in the home I grew up in. Communal family living. Oh the joys! I will forever be 16 and unable to do anything right.

Well, it's not all that bad. I do love being able to see my mother and sister and brothers. My mom has some heart problems, and it's hard to say how long she'll be around. Seems like she will live forever, but you just never know. I lost my dad in 2005, 6 weeks after his cancer diagnosis. Life really is short, and moments should be treasured. So, I put up with the stuff I don't like, so that I can have some time that counts. Nothing dramatic, just trips to the thrift store to find cheap clothes, or learning to make a time honored recipe that I know my mom will never write down.

Back to Thanksgiving. We will go to my husband's sister Barbara's house. He has 8 brothers and sisters, and all the family that goes along with that. So different from my little family, now just Mom, my sister and 2 brothers and me - the only married one - bringing my husband and two sons, and now one daughter in law. Oh, and I must include my older son's sister, who is living with them and now a part of our family too. She is 16, and still sweet enough for all of us to love her. She's also the little blond granddaughter my mom always wanted! But I digress. Ft. Meade - Thanksgiving. There will be lots of relatives, lots of food, including the homemade gnocchi made by our immediate family. This recipe was passed down by my hubby's sweet mother. She taught us to make this pasta, and we have carried on the tradition. An Italian Thanksgiving it will again be!

So, as they say, home is where the heart is, so I guess we will be home, but part of us will be in NC- as our hearts are missing our familyfriends there. You know who you are! ;)

As I ponder this holiday, I am thankful for my husband, my sons, my daughter in law, my almost daughter, my mom, my sister and brothers, my heart familyfriends in NC, my health, my laid back life, my dog and cat. Most of all, I am thankful that I know my Savior, my Redeemer, my Father God - and that my life is hidden in Christ.

Be Thankful. Happy Thanksgiving.