Thanksgiving is a special time for family and memories. I can go back into my childhood and remember
turkey dinners annually until I turned seventeen and continued the tradition. There was one year though that didn’t go
quite as planned.
We were in Japan and my father was out to sea. My mother wanted to do something different
and planned with a friend to take the trains to Tokyo and eat a fancy meal at
one of their fancier restaurants. So,
with all the kids in tow, we went to the train station, boarded the trains, and
headed out on our new adventure. The
train ride was approximately 45 minutes and as the stops progressed, so did our
appetites. We were hungry to try the
new restaurant. As a kid, I only cared
about the food, not where we were going.
After a lengthy trip we arrived and found our way to the restaurant. The smells coming from the room was
intoxicating. We were starving by that
point. My mom approached the hostess at
the front desk. The hostess asked if she
had a reservation. That is when things
took a turn.
I love my mom. However,
she was not a big planner. She never
thought they would need reservations for this dinner. The restaurant was booked. There was no room for us. So sadly, we turned around and walked out together,
still hungry. The two women gathered the
grumpy kids and made their way back to the train station. They wanted the perfect Thanksgiving meal. They were trying to find a way to make it
happen. It was not in the cards. The kids finally got their moms to give
in. Everyone was hungry. There was no fixing this. So, on the way back, we found a McDonalds. I was so excited because I was so
hungry! All the kids ran into McDonalds
and eagerly ordered their food.
It was the BEST Thanksgiving burger I EVER had! I was so thankful for the burger and fries. My mom was not happy but reluctantly realized
everyone needed to eat. Later in life we
laughed about our Thanksgiving burgers.
They were the best burgers that night.
We were together and we were all thankful for any food. That’s all that counted.
Everything doesn’t need to be the way it has always been. I am bringing this up because once again I am
faced with feeling frustrated about keeping the tradition or stepping outside
of the box. This year has been a very
difficult one for our family. There have
been many things out of my husbands and my control. So, we decided to change the tradition.
My husband and I are going out of town together for
Thanksgiving. We booked a hotel out of the country. We will be eating a beautiful
meal with an amazing couple who will be joining us for dinner. They are leaving New York and driving to Canada just to join us for dinner. Yes, I made reservations. We have the hotel booked for the weekend. Nothing planned except meals and
massages. This is our new Thanksgiving
tradition for 2022. I am thankful for my
husband and my Savior!
Change is hard. No
family is perfect. No holiday is
perfect. Sometimes you just need to not
just think outside the box – but think like there is no box. Create new memories with what you have. You don’t need to do the same thing if the
same thing is not working. You only need
to find something to be thankful for and do it.
Change it up.
Join me in stepping outside of the box!
See you on the other side!
Happy Thanksgiving! I am Thankful for you!
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)
give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for
you in Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 12:28 (NIV)
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be
shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and
awe,
Colossians 4:2 (NIV)
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
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