Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year. Everyone knows I love to eat…check. Most people know I love football…double check. And I’d like to think that you all know how important my family is to me…triple check!
My childhood thanksgiving memories are a big reason why I love TG so much. Family trips to the mountains for snowball fights with my cousins, big turkeys, Doug Flutie KILLING the U, and The Twilight Zone Marathon still linger in my heart and mind.
But this year was a little bit different for us. We celebrated a very quiet Thanksgiving, just the four of us. Although it was different, it was still very special. The morning started out with us showing up late for the Turkey Stuffer 5K run. The original plan was for me to actually race it (and set a 5K PR in the process) and then double back for the rest of the family. Megan (6) was going to attempt the distance for the first time accompanied by Pam and Liam (4, in and out of the stroller as he pleased). But since we arrived late, Pam got her place in line with the kids in the starting field and I ran up ahead to try and pick up our bibs.
Family Fun at the Turkey Stuffer 5K!
After the run, we spent the rest of the morning at the indoor water park that was the beneficiary of the proceeds from the race. Free admission to all race participants was a huge perk and the kids (and the adults) had a blast.
The rest of the day we lounged around the house, ate a very modest (by most people’s standards) Thanksgiving meal, played lots of Yachtzee (Megan’s favorite game) and watched some football. It was a very nice day of family togetherness.
Being with my immediate family this holiday was different for me. And no disrespect intended to the rest of my family, it was quite needed. You see, Pam and I know of 7 different relationships that are ending in divorce this holiday season. Yeah, you read that right…7 was not a typo! Some of these relationships have kids, some don’t. Some are very close to us, some are not. But that doesn’t matter. What matters is that 7 “families” that we know are going to be celebrating their holidays differently this year for one reason or another.
This year, more than any other, I’m thankful for the relationships that I have. I know that sometimes I don’t work hard enough to nurture them they way that they deserve to be nurtured. It’s time to put in more effort on that front and I urge you all to do the same. Take stock in the status of your relationships. Be thankful for the ones you are happy with and work to correct the problems in the ones that need some work.
Thanks for reading.
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7 is a whole lot…I am glad you trotted with a family. I ate a bunch with my in-laws family and set even more on a chair…:)
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Yikes! 7 is a lot. Sometimes a quiet day with the immediate family is exactly the right way to celebrate.
Sounds like the turkey trot was fun – good for your kids for being out there and having fun with you. I wish I could get my teenager to participate! (Although he will take pictures for us.)
In the end, it is the people we care about most who matter, after all.
Kris recently posted..Friend Makin’ Mondays – Holiday Shopping
The family looks great!
My kids are about the same ages. We haven’t really started the running yet. What a great way to do fitness as a family though! I think next year, my son will have to run a 5k.
That’s the whole reason for thanksgiving – being grateful for what your lot is> Admittedly at the moment, a lot of people haven’t got a lot, but if those who have, helped – then the world would be a better place.
Hi. I really enjoyed reading your blog. I know what you mean about the need to nurture relationships. Sometimes I feel like I could do a lot more to keep mine running smoothly. My marriage mostly.
I recently started documenting my own weight loss through healthy diet and exercise. I’m 30 years old and have two young children (6 and 3) and I intend to be around for a long time. My goal is to lose 50 pounds over the next five months, just before my 31st birthday to reach my goal weight of an even 200. I have started running, well jogging/walking. I also bicycle and climb stairs.