2011 Thanksgiving Recap

I had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year!  I only took photos of my family’s Thanksgiving, but we did get to spend time with Mr. Converse Sneakers’ family as well, which was wonderful.  Since Mr. CS had to work Thanksgiving, he got Friday through Monday off!  He never gets that many days off, so it was much appreciated and much utilized.  We got to spend a long weekend back in our hometown which we hadn’t been back to since our wedding in August.

My family holidays involve lots of game-playing with my dad and brother.





This year, I brought down Catchphrase, which was a wedding present.  I’m pretty sure I’m the only one who likes that game, but we spend a couple hours guessing the words after much pleading on my part.



When we weren’t playing games, we were taking advantage of our time visiting Mr. Stewart Wallace, the world’s hardest-to-photograph dog.



My mom set a beautiful and simple harvest table.  It was perfect!



But, the food, oh the food, was beyond amazing.



Brocolli casserole, mashed potatoes, turkey, cranberry apple stuffing, homemade potato rolls, squash and apple bake, pumpkin pie, and apple dumplings!  We even had an appetizer supper with little smokies, meatball, and bacon-wrapped chicken bites.  Let’s just say I came home heavier than I was when I arrived, and that’s more than okay with me!



I have so much to be thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Technically Thanksgiving is tomorrow, but I’m cutting this week short and wishing you all a happy Thanksgiving today since the next couple days will be full or relaxing, eating a lot, and getting ready for my first Christmas with the love of my life.  I can’t wait!

A couple weeks ago I wrote about ten reasons why I’m thankful for winter even though I normally curse at the sight of snow because it’s a good happen to think about what you are grateful for.

Here are the ten things I’m insanely thankful for right now:



1. My husband.  I have dreamed of being married to my knight since I was a little girl, but honestly, the dreams I had for marriage were nowhere near as fulfilling and beautiful as our marriage actually is.  I never could have imagined I would be this happy.  I sometimes cry just thinking about how lucky I am to have found such a sweet, kind husband who loves me just as much as I love him




2. My family.  My family grew very large this year by marrying my husband and now I have all of these extra wonderful people to love as aunts, uncles, parents, etc.  It’s an amazing feeling to know we are supported by those related to us and to know we can turn to them at any time.  We both feel very lucky to have married into each other’s families.



3. My friends.  The sad part about getting married and graduating from my undergrad studies is that I don’t get to see my friends very much.  I don’t get to travel to my hometown often (haven’t since our wedding) and my friends from college don’t live very close, so it’s hard to get together.  I’m still incredibly thankful to have them in my life and won’t let the distance tear us apart.

4. The Lord’s guidance.  I have been working a lot on listening more to God to see what he wants from me.  I’m finding that it’s not the easiest thing to do, but so far, I think it’s working.  I’m thankful to have Him guiding me down His path.



5. My creativity.  I love all things creative, even thought I may not be good at all of them.  Nothing is more thrilling to me than a stack of scrapbook paper just waiting to be cut up and made into something.  This year I am thankful to have a large creative streak inside of myself that I am able to use to find enjoyment in my life.



6. Financial stability.  I’m learning we probably will never be able to afford everything we think we need (but actually only really want).  We are blessed to both be working, especially with me in grad school, and are incredibly grateful we never have to scramble to make our payments or cut major things out of our life.




7. My photography business.  Although I started it at the opposite of a prime time with winter becoming the stalemate for natural light photography, I have received tons of interest from people I know.  Next year is going to be a big year for both my teaching and photography careers.  I’m so nervous, but so grateful to refine my passion and make some money at it in the process!

Circa 2007 in his culinary school days.

8. My husband’s career.  Honestly, I would much rather slave away my whole life doing something I don’t like than to have my husband do the same.  Hopefully, neither of us will have to do that, but I will take the fall if it came down to it.  He absolutely loves his job, which warms my heart.  He followed his dreams and they are coming true right before my eyes.  It’s amazing to watch.

9. A LONG fall.  Not until this past Saturday did we see even a flake of snow.  It’s been amazing having such a long stretch of warm weather.  I may even admit that seeing the snow was an almost-joyous experience when I looked out the window Saturday morning.  Almost.

10. Forgiveness.  Although Easter is the ultimate holiday for reflecting on salvation and forgiveness, I find Thanksgiving is a great time to reflect on the year and all the things I wish I would have done differently.  Following the Lord’s path is never easy, but growth is what it’s all about!  I’m so thankful to have a Creator who loves us so much that He allows us to fall and forgives us for our wrongdoings.  I try not to have many wrongdoings, but I find that it’s pretty impossible.

So many things to be thankful for!  This list could go on into the thousands, I’m sure.  I think it could for anyone – it’s just about looking at the positive and blocking out the negative.

What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Favorite Thanksgiving Tables

I don’t know about you, buy boy am I excited for Thanksgiving this year!  I think I have been highly anticipating every holiday because each of them marks a first in our marriage.  First Labor Day, first Halloween, first Thanksgiving – don’t even get me started on first Christmas (just wait until next week when this blog becomes almost entirely devoted to all things Christmas- first birthdays, etc.  We are celebrating with my family on Friday, since Mr. Converse Sneakers works Thanksgiving Day (one drawback to his profession).  We hope to meet up with his family at some point as well, but we aren’t sure when.

Since we won’t be hosting a Thanksgiving dinner this year, I have been collecting inspiration photos for whenever the time comes for us to prepare the meal and decorate for the occasion.

Here are some of my newest additions (click on any photo to be taken to the source on Pinterest):





















Ahhhh- so pretty!  I think I will help my mom decorate the table if she doesn’t have plans for it already.  What will your Thanksgiving table look like?  Any photos from year’s past – I’d love to see them!