Thanksgiving ~ 2011

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You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you,

as you are to them. ~ Unknown

 Aaron Jr and Me

having our traditional pie making day.

We cut back on the amount of pies that we made this year.

Last year there were a few pies left over,

so this year we only made 9 pumpkin and 1 cherry / blackberry pie.

 In family life, LOVE is the oil that eases friction, the cement that binds us closer together, and the music that brings harmony.

~ Unknown

Sue or Steve or both carved these pumpkins.

They were on their front porch that night when we showed up.

I love these.

We all ate together the night before Thanksgiving because April and Dave's family was flying out on Thanksgiving morning. It was so good to see them.

 In every conceivable manner,

the family is the link to our past,

and the bridge to our future.

~ Alex Haley

 
Sue had the kids put together a puzzle of family photos and quotes about family.

The quotes she had on the poster are typed out throughout this posting.

Family is so wonderful!

 
Ta Da!

 Families are like fudge...

mostly sweet with a few nuts.

~ Unknown

A treat turkey that the kids put together.

 The only rock I know that stays steady,

the only institution I know that works is the family.

~ Lee Iacocca

~ Aubrey Joy ~

and Aaron Jr.

We got to meet our newest niece the night before Thanksgiving.

This is April and Dave's newest addition.

She is precious.

 The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family.

~ Thomas Jefferson

Me with Aubrey... Lillie Pearl with Aubrey

I have to share a sweet experience with Lillie Pearl.

After the photo puzzle was put together, I hung it up on the mantle to take a photo, then I stood there staring at it for a while. Thanksgiving is a tough one for me since Aaron passed away. I started to cry, then composed myself and stepped back.

As I stood there by the couch, Lillie Pearl walked over without saying anything and hugged me around my waist. So I sat down on the couch and gave her a real hug and said to her "I was feeling so sad and now I am feeling so happy. Thank you. That was sweet."

It really was sweet. She was so aware that I was having a sad moment. I am grateful for people who are aware of other's feelings and act on promptings to share their burden. This sweet little 6 year old girl did just that.

Thank you again, Lillie Pearl.

Family means putting your arms around each other and being there.

~ Barbara Bush

Thanksgiving Day was spent with my side of the family.

My camera battery died just after we got to the church to gather, but it charged up a bit so that I could take this photo of some of the kids eating their pie after dinner.

 Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a family: whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.

~ Unknown

 Aaron Jr and I with a couple of our pies. Mmm...

For some reason, this Thanksgiving was one of the more difficult ones for me. It was the last holiday that we got to share with Aaron, and he passed away a week later. So, it is bitter sweet for me. I usually end up feeling very alone at some point over the few days of the Thanksgiving weekend, but all in all... family helps me to feel loved and feel like I belong somewhere. What a blessing family is in my life and in Aaron Jr's life. We are so blessed. I am truly thankful for family.

May we . . . demonstrate kindness and love within our own families. Our homes are to be more than sanctuaries; they should also be places where God’s Spirit can dwell, where the storm stops at the door, where love reigns and peace dwells.

~ President Thomas S Monson

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