SHE: Thankful, Blessed, Grateful (& Stressed)

Hey Y'all,

Happy Thanksgiving week!!  What are your plans?  Our day should be pretty low key ~ we are celebrating with my Hubby's side of the family and are looking forward to spending the day together.

I know the holidays can get a little crazy for families when you are stretched between multiple holiday dinners in a short amount of time.  If this is you, try to make the best of it by being prepared. You may find that as your family grows you establish new traditions. That doesn't have to be a negative!  It may require some planning... SHE loves to plan.  And good communication is the best way to mitigate conflict and confusion.  Don't just assume things have to stay the same. As families grow, the opportunity for new traditions is given. The key is flexibility, communication and a great sense of humor never hurts!

Some quick ideas and suggestions if you have many sides to your family:

• Rotate each year- Thanksgiving Day with one side & Leftover Day with another side
• Suggest one side of the family host the weekend before Thanksgiving
• If you have a smaller extended family, invite everyone and each year a different family hosts
• Lunch with one set of family members, dessert with another
• Sunday Brunch with out of town family members before they head home
• Offer to host everyone at your house if possible, this is good for families with little ones
• Remember your little ones will not be impressed with long dinners, so don't expect them to remain interested ~ make sure there are activities for them other than listening to the adults talk politics and weather....puzzles, coloring, crafts that are quick that need entertainment

I hope these were suggestions you might fine useful.  Good, bad or crazy ~ if you have family and the opportunity to share the day with them, you have so much to celebrate.  So whether your plans are to have one big dinner with all your friends and family or 4 different dinners on Thursday ... I hope it is enjoyable and that your blessings are abundant. 

Happiest of Thanksgivings to you and yours,

Amy