Thursday, November 27, 2008

Thanksgiving Eve at Home...

We live in a small tri-'city' area when we are home in America. Actually 'tri-city area' in itself makes it sound big, but it is more like 3 small fishing towns, or 'villages' for lack of a better word, on the bayous. You will see just how small as I share this blog - it will be painfully obvious how small our area is... lol...

Every Thanksgiving evening, after we have stuffed ourselves to the gill, we load up the vehicles and go to one of the lighting ceremonies in one of the nearby 'cities' - less than 5 miles away. We listen to our favorite local vocalist, Abbie, as she sings Christmas carols - surrounded by town's people and loved ones. I have seen Abbie grow from a very young child to a full grown adult seeking a career in country music. She has an incredible voice. We have been blessed to be able to be a part of her life and to still be able to listen to the voice that brings chills to your entire body. She sounds like an angel singing. I think she might put us on the map someday!






Most of us know each other - looking around, we see the chief of police, the mayor, teachers, all the priests and preachers in the area, and of course friends and family. It is the one time of year we actually all stand in one area and have a 'reunion' of sorts, visiting with those we often only see in passing during the year.





pR gets to play with the wooden elves that someone special painted; he has long since passed, but the children of today still enjoy what he has left behind:




And finally, a familiar Santa arrives, on a familiar fire truck, with a familiar fire fighter driver and his family:


You don't realize how special things are to you until you are away from them. Steph called this morning saying they had just gotten back from the tree lighting ceremony. She said all the familiar people were there and they enjoyed it. I didn't realize I had missed it since we were not doing the 'traditional' Thanksgiving. We had a wonderful day, but now I remember what I could not put my finger on.


We were missing Abbie and the beginning of the 'official' Christmas season.

Happy shopping!

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