Thanksgiving Dinner

Every year, the conversation starts about now. Who is having Thanksgiving dinner? My mom enjoys having dinner at my parent's home. My husband's one sister has dinner at her home every other year. If that's not enough, there are the conversations about whom to invite and with whom my children will be spending the day. After all of this gets figured out, the conversations start to move towards who is bringing what. I prefer to bring pies since I love to make apple pie from scratch. My sister-in-law prefers to get her pies from an old family friend, which I respect. The trouble is vegetable casserole is not in my repertoire. My mother worries that there wouldn't be Polish food for my mother-in-law.

After a while, it gets to be all too much.

Which is why I am thinking of a different approach this year. I have asked everyone to our home this year for Thanksgiving. I realize that I am asking for something close to 15 people to come to our hose and that will require I get a different table to fit them all. I am not sure what all will be brought to the table. I am not even sure if there will be enough plates for us.

But I don't care. I am not going to allow myself to stress over the logistics of so many people. I am going to enjoy the fact that I am blessed with so many wonderful people in my life. I am not going to worry about how many vegetable casseroles are on the table or the caloric count of the dishes. I am going to revel in the blessings of food on my table. I am not even going to worry about the dust in my house. I plan on lowering the lights, lighting a few candles and simmering some pot pourri.

Of course, as the holiday approaches, I will fail at my resolve sometimes. As others stress over the plans, I am sure to get caught up in their stress. It is inevitable. But I have a plan for that. I will remember that the day is called Thanksgiving, not Stressgiving. And when I feel myself starting to worry about the plans to entertain more family than I'm used to, I am going to remember that I am blessed in so many ways, I have no right to get stressed. I will also repeat to myself, frequently, that everyone is getting together to enjoy each other's company, not judge me on my hosting skills.

I wish you a blessed Thanksgiving. I hope you find joy in everything about the day.