Today’s Five on Friday is about Thanksgiving and as I was answering the questions this post became pretty special to me.

1. What are you doing for Thanksgiving this year?
   For the past four years we spend Thanksgiving day with Ben’s family. Then the Friday after we go to my Aunt Karen & Uncle Spanky’s for “Christmas.” Since my mom’s side of the family is all spread out we do “Thanksmas” every year: Thanksgiving on Thursday and Christmas on Friday.
2. Do you have any traditions on Thanksgiving? The parade? Football? Long naps?
   I have to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade and then I love to watch The National Dog Show after : ) My nieces and I like to choose our favorite dogs.
3. What is your favorite dish?
   Easily my Grr’s stuffing. I have tried lots of other stuffing and I don’t like any of it. My mom always makes a little of my Grr’s recipe for me to eat on that Friday since we’re not with my Grr.
4. What is your favorite Thanksgiving memory?
   It would be way back when I was in elementary school. My family would watch the parade and dog show. My dad would make one of the first fires of the year in the fireplace and then my mom would make breakfast. Whenever my dad had a day off he would usually go work in the yard or around the house, but it was one of the few days of the year where he would relax with us inside and watch tv. Then we’d go over my Grr and Pappap’s for dinner and eat some of the best food of the year in their formal dining room which always felt special. We’d all relax and my dad and Pappap would complain how full they were. Then my Grr would pull out dessert, the turkey and bread for us to make sandwiches and eat all over again.
5. What are you most thankful for this year?
   There are so many things that I’m thankful for this year that I don’t know what I’m most thankful for. I’d say maybe what I’m most thankful for this stage in life. My senior year in college I would dream about what my life would one day look like and I would ache to be at that stage because there were so many unknowns with graduation. Fast forward 7 years and I have everything I pictured: Ben is my amazing loving husband that supports my crazy ideas and dreams, I have my own photography business that I still can’t believe is real, we have an amazing loving family, we’re part of a close-knit growing church, we have a cute new apartment that’s cozy and has an office for me, and while I would love to have a little puppy running around I know that she’s at least on her way in the spring : ) Everything isn’t perfect, but I’m just so happy with where I am right now.