I'm Thankful for Family

It's the holiday season in full swing. From here to the beginning of the new year is a whole ton of craziness. Each year we are blessed with new family members, two this year.

In January it will be
my happy bloggiversary. 
(Perhaps I'll write some poetry.)

I will celebrate ten years of blogging. A whole lot has happened in that time. Lots of hellos and a few goodbyes along the way. Time is constantly changing our circles, expanding and contracting them as it races along.

2006- Two of our children were married. We had no grandchildren.
2007- We welcomed our first grandson in October 2007, Joshua Adam.
2008- At the year's end Lucas arrived, just in time for Christmas.
2009- We bid my dad farewell in September 2009.
2010- James' dad passed on in early February.
          Simon was welcomed into the family in April.
2011- In July of 2011 Aubrey Rose came to stay, our first granddaughter.
2012- Sabrina joined our family when she and Nate were married in June of 2012, and
          Beth and Adam were bless with a second son when Jacob arrived in September.
2013- Jim and Michele were married in April, and
          Austin made his debut the very last day of July 2013.
2014- Mom flew away to join Dad that February.
           Spencer James joined Nate and Sabrina in October.
This year we added two more family members...
2015- Little Jilly was born September 3 of this year (Josh and Jake were blessed with a sister), and
          we added Sergio when he and Hannah were married two weeks later on September 18.

I was blessed this morning by my Kitchen Helper who stuffed the turkey, peeled the potatoes, and helped me clean the kitchen. It was a busy several hours. Dinner was delicious and I ate too much, of course...

We had sixteen for Thanksgiving dinner, if you count the baby who didn't eat any turkey. I didn't do any fancy decorating, but I did clean the house. We used paper plates again. I've had plenty of holiday dinners where it felt like the clean up would never end. We don't own a dishwasher, so I am grateful for both paper plates and those who always lend a hand when it's time to do the dishes. Maybe one day I'll get out Grandma's china. She used to put on a fancy dinner on special occasions, but I'll probably save that for a time when there aren't quite so many little boys running through the house.

Dessert was just yummy. The pumpkin pie was perfect! I think there's even a piece left for tomorrow's breakfast. I can hardly wait.
:0)