One of the difficult things about being a military family is that we’re often away from family for the holidays. It’s always nice when you can find a little ways to stay connected across the miles. Shortly before Thanksgiving, I was contacted by Shari’s Berries to see if I would like to share one of their cheesecake collections with someone as a way to show that I’m thankful for them. There was no obligation to write a review or blog post. I picked the fall collection of chocolate covered strawberries and cheesecake bites for both my family and my sister’s family. It was cool thinking that even though we were on opposite sides of the country we were still sharing the same yummy Thanksgiving treat.
Growing up, Thanksgiving was all about family. My sister and I would climb into the backseat of whatever vehicle we had at the time, and the trip to Grandma’s house would begin. Dad was behind the wheel on our journey through the states and over the mountains to gather at Grandma’s house with the rest of the uncles, aunts, and cousins. We never knew what the weather would be like on the mountain pass as that time of year could hold anything from clear skies to rain to sleet to snow. We looked forward to the mountain tunnel as it was one more sign that we were getting closer to our final destination.
Trips to visit Grandma and Grandpa always meant spending time with family, playing outdoors, exploring the mountain, lots of food, football, and games around the table. I have so many wonderful memories of our Thanksgivings at Grandma’s house. I’m grateful that our family was so close and that we enjoyed these times together. I know not everyone has that with their families. It was always a special time even if it did get a little crazy at times with all of the people.
When I was younger, I’m pretty sure I took a lot of that time together for granted. These days, I treasure those times and those memories. While we don’t make it back to Grandma’s house for Thanksgiving anymore, many of my family members still get together to celebrate. The faces have changed over the years as some people have moved away, others have gotten married, and lots of kids have joined the celebration. We may not be there, but I still enjoy seeing the family continue the tradition.
As we enter this holiday season, I look forward to making more memories and treasuring those memories from the past. I’m thankful for social media, cell phones, and text messaging as it allows us all to stay connected even when we’re separated by many miles. I’m grateful that I have such a good relationship with my sister and her family. I miss her dearly, but I know that she’s always there for me when I need her. I don’t take for granted my family or the special times that we have had over the years. When we are able to get together, we treasure every moment.
