Thanksgiving might be my second favorite holiday (next to Easter) because I love to cook and I love to plan and I love to hostess.  This year we wanted to eat Thanksgiving dinner at GG’s house (my dad’s mom) because she has the most space.  My only request was that I get to help cook and hostess.  GG came one step further and said I could cook it all if I wanted to, so I did.  Two weeks before Thanksgiving I started making a menu, a grocery list and a timeline.

Mom, Diana, Adrianne and I went to GG’s house on Wednesday night to prep and have some family time.   Dad couldn’t stay away so he joined us too.  It was a fun night of laughing and cooking.  Then on Thursday I went to work and cooked the whole dinner except the mashed potatoes.  It was a busy day but a wonderful one.

I won’t speak for Randy, but this has been the best year of my life.  Its also been one of the hardest between caring for a newborn and saying goodbye to Alison and Shiloh.  On Thanksgiving I couldn’t help but think about Alison and Shelly and be sad that neither of them had children in their short lives.  Reed has changed us forever and I can’t wait to watch him grow up.  His smiling face makes me smile from the inside out.  (I wish he would let me squeeze him more because I can’t seem to get enough!!)

To all of my friends and family, thank you for being a part of my life.  I am happier and more fulfilled than I ever dreamed I could be.

Julie