This should actually be entitled the night of Thanksgiving.
My husband and I enjoyed starting some of our own traditions after our first
baby was born. We decided to secretly set up our Christmas tree the night of
Thanksgiving – even when we began hosting, we stripped the house of oranges,
browns and fall pumpkin décor as soon as the last guest left.
Last night, we stayed up until two in the morning to
transform our home – well, at least to set the mood – with our tree, a nativity
and some splashes of red and green.
This year, in addition to hosting Thanksgiving, we also were
able to host a brunch at our home with some of our dear friends who traveled to
be with family and ended up being able to spend some time with us!
While we didn’t finish the mantel or put up the train, we did
share a meal, listen to the children play (and create a matrix-like web of
yarn in our basement) and get caught up on what has happened in our lives over
the course of several years – well, that is, all that hasn’t been revealed on Facebook!
After they left, we grabbed a quick dinner and headed off to
our town square for the annual tree-lighting ceremony. This is one of the
things I most look forward to during the winter – it is as close as I actually
will get to appearing in a Hallmark movie. Everyone in the town appears to be
there – all singing carols with the choir, holding coffees and hot chocolate,
hugging and talking – just waiting for that moment when the lights will be
turned out with the flip of a switch.
And, just like that, the trees, the opera house and the
gazebo are lit up (this year there even were fireworks!) and the singing continues.
I know the season is beginning and I am so thankful to live in a town that
resembles the joyous communities you see in those movies. Yep. I can hardly
believe that I live here!
With everything going on in this world, being here helps to remind me of the people who strive every day to be good people, to do the
right thing, to help a neighbor and to make the world a better place – they
live in my house and they live in my community.
Happy Day-After Thanksgiving!
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