Thanksgiving In East Texas

     In our family Thanksgiving is a holiday where the focus is on family, food, and of course, giving thanks. But then, we're from the South, where hospitality is tantamount to existing. More directly, my husband, and his family are from Texas, the friendly state. Our Thanksgiving platter is full of comfort food and warm fuzzy feelings, wrapped in autumn chill one afternoon, while throwing off the covers with a blazing 72 degrees the next.
     This year, we spent Thanksgiving day at my husband's grandmother's house. The turkey was perfect, the dressing moist, and the pumpkin pie superb, along with a smorgasbord of other tasty desserts, such as my sister-in-law's delicious loaf of pumpkin bread. All of the food was wonderful but nothing beats the cheese ball appetizer. I would be willing to give up dinner and dessert for extra helpings of cheese ball.
     The dinner was all lovingly prepared by my mother-in-law, sister-in-laws, my husband's aunts, and his grandmother. Most years, I pitch in by making pumpkin pies, but since we were traveling this year to get there, I simply got to enjoy the splendid spread they prepared. The food, especially the pies, are planned, prepped, and sometimes prepared and stored, days in advance, except for the turkey, which always fills the house with aromatic smells all morning long.
     The children spent the morning out playing on the swing, and running around the backyard, while the guys sat around at the picnic table and on lawn chairs talking and laughing, passing the time watching the children and grandchildren's antics. I used this opportunity to take out my camera and catch some natural poses of my seldom seen nieces and nephews who were also there for the holidays. I even got to see my newest little nephew who is only three months old. I am reminded of just how much we have to be thankful for this year as I snap pictures of their adorable faces, and energetic spirit.
     The feasting was followed by the desserts mentioned earlier, as well as the homemade butter pecan ice cream made by my brother-in-law. Eaten along with the pumpkin pie, I imagined it tasted like something off one of those gourmet cooking shows. It was in my own words, "Yummy!" indeed. The food was yummy, the family time was yummy, the beautiful autumn day was yummy.
     As the day was winding down, I continued to take photos, even managing to talk my husband into getting into the picture while my sister-in-law used my camera. Grandma, my mother-in-law, and several of the aunts went out to decorate Grandpa's grave for the holidays. This was the family's first major holiday since he'd gone home. We missed him this year at Thanksgiving. My mother-in-law reminded me that it was one of his favorite holidays.
     It was getting dark when I headed out for an hour long ride with my mother-in-law, and sister-in-law, to the hospital to visit another sister-in-law and bring her a Thanksgiving dinner on a foam plate wrapped in foil. In about six weeks it will be worth all the wait when we have yet another reason to be thankful, a new niece. And so, that is how a southerner spends a Thanksgiving Day in East Texas, with many warm thoughts of the past, many cherished moments of today, and hope for an abundant future, missing those who are here only in our hearts, while welcoming new family members just arrived, and almost arrived, with open arms, and a truly thankful heart.