The main lesson that I learned over my Thanksgiving is that I am thankful for my family…immediate and extended.

For better or worse, they are all a piece of who I am, and I am a piece of who they are.  When I was a kid, my father always used to look me in the eye and say, “Girl, no matter what, you’ll always have your family.  Family is the most important thing in the world.”  When Denette and I were fighting, I’d think, “Yeah, right.”  But as I age like a fine wine, I can now clearly see that what my father has said all along is true.

In the hustle and bustle of 18 people at Thanksgiving, I found myself missing my father and our culinary experiments that make my Grandmom and mom cringe.  I found myself missing the sound of my niece and nephews voices and the constant sound of those stupid cartoons that are always on the television.  I found myself missing home.

I am thankful for my family.  We are a motley crew, to say the least.  We all frustrate the snot out of one another.  But we are family…and family is the most important thing in the world. 

I am also learning that familial ties are not merely biological.  There are so many people who are a part of my family, who mean the world to me…some who know it and some who don’t. 

Oohhh…I think that I just got bitten by the Christmas spirit 🙂