November 23, 2011 by Sarah
Travis and I just finished the clean-up for the pre-Thanksgiving preparing. For us, it is always super late by the time we get things done– no matter how organized we are, or how early in the day we start on the final preps. It is 1:20 a.m. my time and I am sitting in a clean house, that contains only 2 unopened boxes out of the more than 300 we had just 3 weeks ago.
The furniture is all in place. The pictures are all on the wall. The floors and bathrooms are clean. Even the dusting and windows were done today, by little helping hands.
The cranberry relish is made and this year if it tastes good at all I will consider it a huge success because I thought to bring my russian-english dictionary with me to the grocery store and I figured out which of the cranberry-looking packages was actually cranberries, and I retained a positive attitude the whole walk home. If it tastes bad, then we have a can in the pantry of the american kind.
The turkey is brining in the fridge. First year to do that. I really hope it turns out well.
Grandma’s dressing is cooling on the stovetop; I will be shuffling everything in the fridge in a few minutes to make room for it, too.
Friends both american and russian will be joining us for our meal tomorrow and we are so happy to be able to provide a comfortable place to get to know each other better and count our blessings over a good meal.
But the best part of all the preparations taking place today? Being together. The kids and I walking to get the last few things we needed. Thomas and Sadie working together to clean the bathrooms. Thomas happily running the last few boxes out to the recycling dumpster. Travis cooking cornbread and dinner rolls and pies with Thomas and Sadie while I was at choir rehearsal. Travis and I laughing and having fun together while making relish and dressing even though our backs are achy and we are suffering from late nights and early mornings.
Life is good. Blessings are many and fill every corner of my vision.
Happy Thanksgiving to you.