Thanksgiving Traditions

As much as I hate the word "tradition" when it comes to church (and then its only when we use tradition for tradition sake, without knowing why its "tradition". But I digress, and that's another story for another time). Some traditions are good. I think I start thinking about traditions especially around the holidays. I love celebrating the holidays (although many years ago I dreaded the holidays, and even went into a depression the closer we got to Thanksgiving and Christmas). A lot of my friends have already started putting up their Christmas decorations, but Thanksgiving holds great memories for me so I tend to hold onto it just a bit longer.

I still remember Thanksgivings spent with my maternal grandparents, my first year spending Thanksgiving with Marc at his parents home, our first couple of Thanksgivings in Germany, and now the crazy Thanksgiving meals at my mom's place.

My fondest memory of Thanksgiving was over twenty years ago while living in Germany. Marc always invited a fellow soldier over to have dinner with us. Most of them were young and single and were far from home. I miss being able to do that (we spend Thanksgiving with my mom who lives several hours away). I learned back then how to cook my first Turkey (thank goodness Marc was standing near by in case I messed up). He tells people to this day that he had to teach me to cook because otherwise I would have killed him!

To this day I make the same meal I made twenty some years ago (even when we go home, I make a Thanksgiving meal for us because nothing taste better then leftovers from Thanksgiving). Its become my "tradition". Not because I think I have to but because those memories remind me of all that I have to be grateful for. Thank you Lord for bestowing in Marc and I even back then the importance of family, friends, and the need to give back to others. So what's your Thanksgiving tradition? And what's a "must" at your Thanksgiving table (ours is Roasted or Fried Turkey, Sweet Potato Souffle, French String Beans with walnuts, Cornbread Stuffing, Cranberry Sauce and Macaroni with cheese)?