My Thanksgiving memories consist of loud family gatherings, lots of delicious food, kids running around in my grandparents’ backyard, and hearts overflowing with gratitude. We may not have necessarily always gone around the table specifically naming the things we were all thankful for, but deep down in our hearts we knew – we were thankful to be together, sharing food, and creating memories.
Now that we no longer live near family, it’s not always possible to make it to those big gatherings each year. Instead, we’re creating new memories with friends who have become family with an open-table policy for all to join who have no other place to go.
It’s hard not to miss our relatives when they’re so far away, but I have to say, I have become one thankful little turkey over the years to have made so many lasting and meaningful friendships here in this beautiful city of Dayton.
The dinners are still loud, the food is just as delicious, there are still plenty of kids running around (only this time, in my own backyard), and you better believe our hearts are overflowing with gratitude! If you find yourself far from family during this holiday season, I implore you to look around and see who else in your life just might be missing their family, too. Invite them over for dinner, begin new traditions, and continue to cultivate thankful hearts within your life!
And… if you happen to find that your new traditions include a lot of kids and you need to find a way to keep them busy, print a few of these Thankful Turkeys and put the kids to work writing what they’re thankful for on the feathers to assemble and hang in gratitude!
