Happy Thanksgiving!

Another Thanksgiving has come and gone. It is officially the Holiday season and I am a Holiday Girl! I am looking forward to Kaedyn's Christmas this year-I think she is getting to a fun age for Santa and all of the magic of Christmas. The holidays always make me a bit nostalgic. Growing up, Thanksgiving and Christmas were always the two "biggies". At the Rouse Thanksgiving, we would gather and eat amazing food that was lovingly prepared and you could almost feel the excitement in the air as we discussed our Christmas lists for the upcoming holiday. Then Christmas would come and we would gather again and, of course, EAT and open our wonderful gifts. I was quite a lucky girl-I can't really remember a year when I didn't get everything on my list!
As grateful as I was for those treasures, the memories are what I treasure the most. Grammie's beautifully decorated house. Sitting by Jamie and opening the packages that were shaped the same because we quickly figured out we were getting the same thing... immediately opening boxes and packages and playing with new toys and later, modeling all of our beautiful clothes together. Grandaddy picking up the discarded paper. Uncle James and Uncle Bill taking pictures or video taping. Something I don't ever remember is quiet-there was always laughter and talking! Grammie would laugh so hard she would cry. This is a family trait-we all do it...Aunt Marilyn, Jamie, and myself!
At the Lillard Family Christmas, I remember Papa sitting at the piano playing and singing for us. I remember The light-up Santa that seemed so big then but only stands a couple of feet tall in actuality. There were several more cousins on that side, so it was never quiet there, either! I remember Grandma's peanut brittle. I remember all of us sitting patiently chomping at the bit as presents were slowly passed out!
These memories are so precious to me. We still gather as family and it is still magical. Times change and families change and grow but it is so important to me to gather with my family and celebrate. Now I have my own children and my cousins have children and I am so thrilled to still share the holidays with them. I want my children to understand the importance of having a bond with their extended family. I am excited for them to experience the magic of being together with that family. I am excited for them to create life-long memories of Family Holidays. Just thinking back to those times of my childhood brings a smile to my face. I want the same for them.