My memories of Thanksgiving go back to when I was a teenager I wish I could say when I was a child but I can't remember Halloween or Thanksgiving events prior to the pasting of my Mother. I have many memories of Easter, July 4th events, and Christmas...as well as birthdays, and family trips...why I cannot remember Halloween and Thanksgiving puzzles me. My memories start around sixteen...I think some years before her death and after her death we must have spent our Thanksgiving at other relatives...I had very little to do with the preparations of the big Turkey.
When my Father remarried for the fourth time...(we went through a few housekeepers, and a few step moms) this is when my memories start. Mildred would cook for days it seem, we had a Turkey and a Ham, black eye peas, corn bread, stuffing, sweet potatoes, potatoes and gravy, green beans and pies, pies and pies...every few years a few other fun dishes were tired.
This Turkey Day tradition was continued on into my marriage and as my children got older I started having more dinners in my home...I loved everything about planning and preparing the best feast. My Father and Mildred, along with many other family members were always invited, dinner for 20- 25 became a yearly thing.
Things have changed since my divorce in 2003, dinners were smaller. Then in 2006 I met Brent and the first meal my children and I were invited to was a Thanksgiving Dinner at Brent's parents. Margaret Elliott Brent's mother hosted a Thanksgiving dinner for all of my family including my formal in laws! What a great way to mingle, to get to know the Elliott's, I loved it, a huge gathering. Their meal was great, corn on mashed potatoes, sweet dinner rolls were a family favorite. Since being in this family we have added my rasberry pears and deviled eggs to the menu...along with fresh pumpkin pies as we grow the pumpkins.
Today as pasted Thanksgiving days we have been fed yet another day. The idea of feeding one another is a vein that runs all through the scriptures. When Jesus Christ said, “Feed my sheep,” I don’t think he just meant spiritually. He too recognized the power of feeding his own flock with baskets of fish and bread.
This afternoon I took some time to read, relax, and reflect on my blessings after a very large meal...while reading a article about Thanksgiving this is what a author wrote...My feelings exactly!!!
"Each time we stand in the kitchen with a hot oven and steaming dishes, each time we gather around the table with a home-cooked meal on our plates or pass it off to someone in need, we offer our own type of sacrament. It is a sacrifice of self to feed our own wily flock of sheep, but it doesn’t go unnoticed, and it should never go unappreciated.
With every bite, we should remember that the Lord would do the same if he were here."
2006 Thanksgiving spent with Max and Margaret Elliott
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| This picture was taken at our reception in 2007 it is a picture of Max and Margaret and one of the few I have of her before her passing in 2008... I am most Thankful for her. |
2007 Thanksgiving at the Cabin in Duck Creek
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The kids gathering
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| This was our first married Thanksgiving..we went to a Cabin in Duck Creek. Look how small Trevor was. |
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| Rasberry pears |
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| A pine cone cheese ball... |
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| Playing games |
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| Madelynn Harper |
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| Jaxson Porter |
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Me, Hayden and Avery Mae
What I remember about this Thanksgiving, I went earlier to cook..get things ready, clean ect. Everyone else arrived later. Brent got new licenced plates on the car. Kyle was on his Mission. Ryan was the only one who would not join us. It snowed. Trevor and Brent took a long walk to the market place for some soda pop. Brent got sick and missed most of the Thanksgiving meal. I brought up a small pool filled with balls for the little ones to play in. |
2008 Thanksgiving here in Farmington
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| Eating in our very small dining area |
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| All the food and not enough room to put it out |
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| We set up extra seating in the living rooom |
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| We were crowded, but we decorated a cute Thankgiving table... |
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Our cute cheese penquins
What I remember about this Thanksgiving....I realized we don't all fit, time to think about a bigger kitchen and more dining area. My kids came up, Kyle was still on his Mission. Brents kids...Brandy and Eric, Brooke and Trevor, Rigby were there. |
2009 Thanksgiving in Branson Illinois
We went to Nauvoo, Branson on the way home during Thanksgiving...
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| We went ona river boat dinner cruise |
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| The polar bear display on the way to get tickets for the riverboat |
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This was a cute little village area for shopping ect.
See all the wreaths... |
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| I love going places and seeing Christmas decorations |
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| The Riverboat |
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| It was decked out for Christmas |
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| The entertainment was great and funny |
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| Hot chocolate |
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| A paddle wheel river boat just like the old days |
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| On the top deck of the riverboat |
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| After Thanksgiving we went to another fun place!!! |
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| Silverdollar City!!! |
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| And they had lots of shows, singing and decked out for Christmas. |
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| This is a Christmas tree!!! |
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I want to do something like this in our trees for Christmas...What I remember about this Thanksgiving...not cooking, we ate out and it was a terrible Thanksgiving dinner that we still laugh about. The night before we went on a river boat cruise lovey meal, but Thanksgiving Day we were going to stay in our hotel room and eat stuff I brought on the trip. Brent decided we should go out and so we did. Funny now looking back on it.
I loved Branson and I want to take my Grandkids and kids there!!!
This trip was one of the first long trips we took together...we had a awesome time... |
2010 Thanksgiving at Max Elliott's...
What I remember about this season, my Father being sick...heart surgery
2011 Thanksgiving in Cedar City
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| Lots of testosterone in the basement |
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| Waiting for the pool to open after being shut down |
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| Lila and Ty on the 4 wheelers |
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| Salways |
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| Maddy and Me |
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| Hot tub time |
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| Travis and the girls |
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| Pumpkin seeds Grandma toasted from our pumpkins |
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| More games |
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| Fun swimming place to go to in Cedar City |
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| The guys having fun |
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| Brandy and Eric |
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| Little kids table |
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| More games |
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| Funny watching these guys |
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| I like the 4 wheelers I alway have |
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| Travis and Eric always up for competition |
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| The pool was never opened back up... they sent us home |
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| Brent carving the bird |
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| My grandkids |
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Avery hiding from the camera
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| Eric, Crew, Maya |
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| I chuckle at Tys walk it is just like his Dad's.. |
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| Table for the grandkids...they set it... |
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| Trevor, Brandi and Eric |
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| Papa Brent getting Crew warm |
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Waiting for the pool to open which it never did, what I remember about this trip
Just before my hysterectomy, not having much energy.
Having fun watching the kids play together, the jump house and going out with the girls Brandi,Lila, Brooke, Megan and Shelley to the little red house for lunch.
Taking a 4-wheeler ride with Brent
Ryan was on his Mission, every one but the Porter's came
Little Osmond was about five weeks old
Thankful that Shelley and David let us use this house....
And.....so happy to have a new kitchen and dining room just finished before Thanksgiving but we already planned an out of town Thanksgiving!!!
Our many pumpkins this year
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2012 Thanksgiving at Max Elliott's
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| Cooking down the many pumpkins for lots of pies and other pumpkin treats! |
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| Webb always has a smile |
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| Evening games |
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| Jaxson doing his game playing |
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| Jennifer in for a evening Thanksgiving snack |
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| Fun to see Max enjoying himself |
WE HAD AT LEAST 14 PIES!!!
We missed the Salway's, Ryan and Brooke...Good news Brooke has her Mission call to San Antonio, Texas...
I miss my Grandkids and Kids....
I enjoyed a skpe phone call from my sister and her family
Got another text from my son...
And a text from my sister Sara...
Decorations this Thanksgiving Season...
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