The Next Day...

Even when you only have two of your four daughters home for Thanksgiving and there's the sweetest little baby, the end of the day is rather bittersweet. I find myself thinking of the two (4 actually as their sweet boys are part of the family as well) who are MIA from the table.

Luckily, this sweet face and her parents were not missing from the Thanksgiving table.

The holidays that come around this time of year, my favorite time of year, take me on the memory trail and I find so many things lacking but I think that's just because I'm comparing what I do with what my grandmother did and that's not fair to anyone because she was the holiday queen!

Baby M and Auntie Breezy.

None of the lovelies seems to find anything lacking about our holiday celebrations. I hope that Baby M will feel the same way as she grows up. But it's still a tad sad that they don't know the excitement of having my grandparents put on a holiday celebration. Or do they?

These goobers adorned one side of the table. SILExtrordinare, Friend of Breezy, Breezy.

I tried, over the years, to replicate some of the traditions that made the holiday season so meaningful to me that the memories have lasted a lifetime.

By the time I realized I hadn't taken pictures of the food, only one person still had food on their plate Turkey, potatoes, cornbread dressing, collards, broccoli casserole, sweet potato casserole, holiday punch (a first time try and let me just say, it packed a punch!) We hadn't gotten to the pumpkin pie or pumpkin cake yet.

To hear the lovelies talk, they truly enjoyed every holiday season and found nothing lacking. Which tells me, it's just me. Missing the people I loved who made living life so amazing whether it was the holiday season or just Monday.

I love that these two often held the same expressions. BTW, that's my mother with Baby M.

The quality of the next picture is horrible, but it shows Mimi and Baby M watching football.

We know how to raise girls right around here. Football on Thanksgiving! Seriously, this kid loves to watch football! 

I try to hold onto my youthful joy and having the memories of those who made the holidays so special still makes all the difference. I hope that the traditions the lovelies and I have established will always spin their future holidays in a joyful way, too.

There are only a few people left from my childhood. All too soon, I'll be the one leaving the memories of the holidays. The bar has been set high, y'all.

My grandparents, aka The Bar Setters. This was in the late 60s I think. 

Mother and Aunt Betty aka, Bar Setter Helpers. Same year. 

Me and my parents. I think this was the mid-60s???? The downside to digital photos, you can't turn the thing around and check. 

They didn't realize they were setting the bar. They were simply enjoying the holidays. And that's what we're doing now. Simply enjoying the holidays. Except I am reliving the holiday memories, missing those who are now here only in spirit. Ever thankful for every single second I spent with them and for every single memory they left here with me and remembering to appreciate and enjoy my time with the ones still blessing us each and every day.

Have a wonderful weekend, y'all! And, if you're out shopping, be careful.

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