Thanksgiving

I forgot to take my camara to our Thanksgiving parties, so unfortunately I have no pictures to share. We were extra blessed this year because we got to have 2 Thanksgiving dinners.

We started out celebrating with the Esplin family at Mel and Jesse's home. Paula cooked up a storm, and everyone brought their own contributions. I think we had enough food to feed 3 times as many people as we had. I think the hightlight of our party was having Will and Kellie and their 5 kids come down from Idaho. We are so happy to have them closer so they can visit more often. Sam had so much fun running around with Hunter, Tanner and Spencer. Luke kept Andrew and Addie company. They can't quite keep up with his rolling yet, but pretty soon they will all really be on the move I am sure. We missed having Aunt Dixie's family and Uncle Ken, but we still had quite a houseful.

We had to leave before the post-Thanksgiving craft to eat once again with the Frampton Family. We had all of the Frampton kids there plus cousin Richard and cousin Janet. I was in charge of the appetizers, and I think Grandma Frampton would have been proud. We have Roger to thank for our killer spinach artichoke dip recipe that has become a real favorite. Mary was in charge of the pies, and she made Grandma Grover proud. I think those are the best parts of Thanksgiving, the turkey dinner is just the filler in between. Before we ate, Grandpa Robert read this declaration from Abraham Lincoln officially making Thanksgiving a holiday. I had just heard this statement earlier this year for the first time. I was really touched to think that President Lincoln stopped to be thankful at a time when he was surrounded by war and devastation. I think we have so much more to be thankful for today, and yet I know we all take so much for granted. I want to post this quote here to help me remember that no matter how tough things may seem, there is always much to be thankful for.



"The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God . . . Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, (sic) have not arrested the plough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe had enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. . . the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility (sic) and Union.”
-Abraham Lincoln.