The Third Thursday in November

Woke up this morning to a wonderful note from my husband. Heart happy start to the morning.

He is enjoying Thanksgiving with all the allergens it traditionally entails at his sister's home today.

My family is doing their Thanksgiving dinner up there.

And I am here with the dogs.

Now - before you think this is a bad thing...

It is the perfect Thanksgiving for us! He and Samara get to enjoy their traditional foods. My family gets to do their thing. My son has no pressure about which family people to spend the day with. I get to have a day of doing whatever I want, however I want (a true gift for me!!).

I just cooked two beautiful sirloin steaks with sauteed mushrooms and onions (8 oz mushrooms, 1 medium onion, basil, garlic, salt, butter, oil, sirloin steaks). I have a steaming pot of coffee which just brewed. My dogs are skittering around the living room playing and enjoying the day. They have all been treated to some new chew toys. I have 3 loads of laundry done and another load in the wash - so ALL the laundry will be caught up. I am trying to decide if I want to play music today or set up some DVDs and listen to a movie marathon while I putter around.

A little later I will make some tapioca pudding, some grain-free bread, and maybe a cheese sauce. I can cook or play or simply watch the dogs. I have a day of my choice. And I am luxuriating in this!

My son will swing by on Saturday, when he is off work. I will make him some grain-free chicken and dumplings.

My parents, my sister and her kids are getting together down here for a allergen safe Thanksgiving on Sunday. My husband's daughter, mom and maybe his sisters will be here with their families. We will all enjoy allergen free versions of food and will continue our emergent tradition of safe-for-me holidays. We will have broccoli, mashed potatoes (three sets to accommodate all allergies), turkey, grain-free stuffing, cranberry sauce, maybe a cheese sauce, peas, and pumpkin pie. We will celebrate family and we will feast.

I posted this to help people see that there are all sorts of Happy Thanksgivings. If the one that works best for you is not the one you see in TV commercials or that fits the societal "should be", THAT IS OKAY. Do what works best for you and yours. Thanksgiving is a Mindset, a way of being. The third Thursday of November is just a day on the calendar!