If your family is anything like mine, then you’re probably planning to spend the day hanging out with family, cooking, eating, watching football (or listening to it in the background), playing family games, maybe decorating for Christmas, and did I mention eating??
To me, Thanksgiving is the beginning of the holiday season. It’s when things really start to feel like the holidays. Something changes in the air. It gets more crisp and chill and I begin to smell the fireplaces burning when I step outside. Which is crazy because you’d think we wouldn’t care to have our fireplace going here in California, but actually we do! It gets pretty chilly! For me it gets COLD! Because yet another thing my family laughs at me about is I get cold so easily! I never used to be this way. I guess it comes with age! I’m so unlike my kids who could wear shorts or a t-shirt while I’m sitting there with sweats, super warm fuzzy socks, and sometimes my yummy, cozy arm warmers! (I’ll fill you in on those in a few days😉) And what’s funny is even with all of that on…my hands will remain FREEZING! Like ice-cubes! My kids run from me anytime I try to prove to them how seriously cold my hands are by putting my cold hands on their neck while they’re just sauntering around in shorts.😂 Seriously it must be age. I don’t remember being like this. Can anyone else relate??
So, Thanksgiving for me this year feels a little different. I guess as we age, we start to think about things in ways we never did. If you’ve read things I’ve written or listened to my podcast, you already know that I’m a thinker. I think all the time. And I’m not bragging when I say that. I don’t mean it like I am a studious, smart, brainy-type of thinker. I mean…I’m a thinker as in my mind never stops thinking and re-thinking and overthinking about all the things. It never stops. And usually I tend to get real quiet when my mind consumes me and then people around me start to ask what’s wrong. Lol. That’s usually how it goes. Exactly. Anyway…it feels different this year because I’ve recently been thinking about gratitude and trying to incorporate the feeling of gratefulness every single day. Remember that gratitude video I have mentioned several times that I love watching daily? Well…it’s the real deal. It has helped me to really look at life differently and pay attention to the beauty of each day and be grateful for every little thing. I wish Thanksgiving could be celebrated more than one day a year. We definitely don’t need a holiday to show our gratefulness and let people know we’re thankful for them. But unfortunately, it does seem like people need more reminders to just slow down, think of what’s truly important in life, and just plain be thankful.
While I was in my car driving the other day, I began to think about this very thing. I thought of this past year and all the good things in my life. Of all the things I am thankful for, there was one thing really stood out to me this year. I am most thankful that my kids are healthy, happy, and are just real good, kind people. As a parent, I don’t think anything makes me prouder than to know that Josh and I have raised and are raising our children to be good and kind to all others. The kindness they each have in their hearts is everything. And of course, Josh. I can’t talk about things I’m thankful for and not mention my sweet husband. I am so so so grateful and thankful for him, too. After 21 years, I can honestly say that I still really like him! haha! Seriously though, Josh is my partner, my best friend, my everything.❤️Couldn’t do this without him, that’s for sure. 🙂
Anyway…in all honesty…I’m thankful for a lot. That’s what makes this Thanksgiving a struggle for me. See…this year is the FIRST year that our family will not be complete for Thanksgiving. Zach is on tour and will be in Australia and I’m just not sure how I feel about that. Actually, I do know, duh. I. Am. Sad. We are sad. 🙁 You know how traditions are super important to a family’s identity? You know how every year you and your family can expect to have certain days run a certain way? Well…this year is different. And I don’t like it. Nope. But will we get through it? Of course. We struggled with how we should celebrate Thanksgiving this year. Was it worth cooking our huge meal and decorating the house without Zach around? Of course, we knew the answer. We have two other kids here that deserve our traditional celebration. We will do what we normally do, we just may have to FaceTime Zach in to participate from afar! We got this. We’re actually super proud of him and happy he’s getting to do what he loves every day, so that’s a big plus and makes our hearts happy. We’ve decided that we will recreate our meal for Christmas when he indeed will be home! It’s funny how the kids all have their favorite foods they look forward to. For Reese it’s the rolls (yep…she’s a bread lover like me, oh no). For Ryan it’s the sweet potatoes with marshmallows. For Zach it’s the deviled eggs. And so those are all staples during the holidays!
So, the tradition will continue. We will wake up early and get food cooking, watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, cook some more, watch football, eat, decorate the tree, eat some more, play games, maybe some online shopping, and probably watch a Christmas movie together (while eating pecan pie and white vanilla ice cream (inside joke).😉 Some of you will get that reference to the vanilla ice cream! 😂
I will end this by saying that even though my whole family will not be together for Thanksgiving, we’re together in spirit. And that’s all that matters! ❤️ Thanksgiving isn’t just about eating turkey and all the foods, it’s about spending time in the present with family and just being thankful for the things that matter most. So put your phones down, go eat, have a game night, and go eat again!😂 And if you do get on your phone or computer again later…let me know how your Thanksgiving goes! Would love to hear from you. 🙂 I wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving Day! And if you don’t celebrate Thanksgiving…then I still wish you a happy day!
xo,
myta
Happy Thanksgiving Myta!
My heart reaches out to you from mom to mom! 💔
It’s only been in recent years that our family seems to have someone missing during Thanksgiving & Easter. This year it looked like we would not see any of our children. 😭Then Janel PJ & little Lucas came in Wednesday and stayed for breakfast Thanksgiving Morning! With their visit, Michael Kristin & Little Brody & Scarlett came over Wednesday night and we celebrated with Homemade Pizza & Cookies & White Vanilla Ice-cream…ya I get it!!🤣 In the meantime, Cheri Scott little Karlie & Kaden FaceTimed In!!! 🤗 Yae!! We couldn’t believe how sweet they all were! We were all just chatting away as if we were all together!! ❤️
So although, some were with us via FaceTime, all our Children & Grandchildren shared part of the Holiday with us! The most important thing is that we saw all their loving faces & enjoyed hearing their laughter that was filled with love for each other, making our Thanksgiving perfect! We couldn’t be more grateful for our amazing family! ❤️
Zach may not have been with you physically but whether it was a phone call or a FaceTime or just in your hearts, he was & always will be with you! ❤️
Give Zach & all your sweet babies a hug when he gets home from all of us! 😘
Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
I promise you Zach and the boys had an amazing time in Australia but they are very tired. They will be home soon with you to celebrate Christmas holidays! Give Zach an extra big hug and tell him Australia misses him!
Be super proud! You have done an awesome job!
hi myta, what an interesting entry! thanks for sharing these… where I’m from, we don’t celebrate thanksgiving, however I do make an effort to be grateful for everything around me, to appreciate, celebrate and treasure all the little things that happens around me. This year, what I am most thankful for is my family, and an extension to that, my church.
My family and I are very involved in church activities, leading youth groups and being worship leaders. I am very thankful for the family I have grown with, and we are not only the closest friend group I have and will ever have, but we also grow together in spirit. We stay accountable to one another, and we love each other more than anything… So happy to hear that your family has the same kind of strong bonds that we have. Even though we all had our ups and downs, I am very thankful for the special bonds we have:-)
I have always wanted to eat and play and enjoy the cold weather on thanksgiving leading up to Christmas, but again, where I’m from we don’t have the weather or tradition… It is my hope though, that my country people will appreciate and be grateful for the little things, and not only on thanksgiving.
Thank you❤️
Happy Thanksgiving to you, Reese, Ryan, Zach, and Mr. Herron too! I never knew what it might feel like for some of your traditions to be slightly bended or changed, but after reading this, it has opened my eyes!!! Hope you have an amazing thanksgiving and good luck!
hi Myta! first of all, i’m just amazed of how you and your family things are enough to make my eyes a little wet, they just want to tear up a bit everytime i see something about this family i guess. the fact that this beautiful family won’t be able to gather on this Thanksgiving makes me sad too, but like you said, you will handle this with your other pretty kids and husband. let’s hope that Zach will be with you on the next Thanksgiving though! i hope he enjoys his Thanksgiving with the other boys on tour too, he’ll be even happier on his facetime with his family ♡
another thing i want to say is maybe you should take a blood test about the getting cold easily thing, i have the same thing and they told me it’s about my blood values being a bit lower than the average so make sure you check them soon and take care of you please! i don’t think it’s something that comes with the age though cause you are still a young and a beautiful woman 🙂
i am so thankful for many things in my life. i’m so thankful for my family, we have those family things like playing games or watching tv all together too and i just love those moments. i am so thankful for having people to make me smile in any situation, like you and your family. i hope you share a lot of photos of your family on this Thanksgiving cause like i said, seeing you all happy makes me happy too ♡
i’m sorry it always takes long for me to finish my comment but it’s just that i like talking to people i love i guess, i just like to share my opinions with you cause i kind of feel like we’re alike, like getting cold easily, overthinking too much, putting your family first and i’m sure many things like that 🙂
anyway i think i probably should end this here. i hope it’s a good day for you and your family, for everyone. don’t forget to smile more on Thanksgiving and everyday of course, oh and kiss those cute cheeks of your kids for me please :’) i love you so much, Happy Thanksgiving! ♥️
OH MY GOD. Have you tried typing a long comment and your browser suddenly refresh and EVERYTHING’s gone?? I hate when that happens.
Happy thanksgiving Myta (I like Mama Herron too).
Take 2:
Hello there Mama Herron!! Happy thanksgiving. I hope you, Josh, Ryan, and Reese will have a greeaaaaaat day! I know Zach is in Australia, but hey don’t be sad Myta. Zach and the guys will surely find a way to have a fun Thanksgiving in Australia. HOW? We will find out soon! lol. They’d probably buy who-knows-what-things in… wait do they have Walmart in Australia? IDK. I think they’re over the stage of wanting a pingpong table, so I hope they get a big turkey this time 😂😂😂😂. I still remember Tyler’s story with you guys on the podcast.
I agree with the activity cycle for today. I did not drive home for Thanksgiving because I have lotsss of accounting homework plus finals week is just around the corner. SO, I am here trying NOT to burn the kitchen in my dorm. The keyword is TRYING. You know what I mean?? 😅😂😂 I just made caramel corn, chocolate chips cookies, brownies, lava cake, and my turkey is still in the oven. Don’t tell my mom, but I am sooooo ready for this holiday. Why? Because I just got a Spring and Summer internship in Deloitte & Touche!! Remember when I said my friend and I bought the Radiant Defense Perfecting Liquid for our internship interview?? I swear that was my lucky charm!!
Oh- NOW I CAN FINALLY SAY I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH COLD HANDS. I can wear all the layers but still have dead cold hands!! Idk what’s wrong with my hands, but I love touching my friends’ neck and laugh at them when they feel the coldness of my hands.
Have a great thanksgiving Mama Herron!!!
I swear I need to check the turkey in the oven before it explodes or whatever. lol. Right now, I am just so excited to have a sugar rush from all my desserts. And of course, the turkey sandwich tomorrow!!!!! I was listening to the new episode of I mean why not and think about the sandwich that you guys were talkings about.
Happy thanksgiving to you and your beautiful family, Myta.