Empty Chairs

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.....

Well, next to MY birthday which I think should be a national holiday! :)  Thanksgiving has always been special to me.  Mostly because there is no expectation.  There is no stress of if someone would like the gift I had chosen for them or if I forgot anyone.  It always was just a great time to hang with my family.  Though my family is far from perfect, my sisters are amazing people and I absolutely love visiting with them, and my brother keeps us laughing.

My earliest Thanksgiving memories were those at my grandmother's house.  She would let me sit on a stool by the stove or on the cabinet and watch her cook.  She rarely had a recipe and was one of the most amazing cooks ever!  There were 2 tables in her kitchen and a buffet (which is now at my house).  The tables were full of food and the buffet filled with desserts; more desserts than we could ever eat at one meal.  Once my grandfather passed away and my grandmother moved in with my parents, Thanksgiving was celebrated at my parent's house.  My grandmother was aging and sat a lot and did much of the prep work because she had to be involved in making the meal.  My mom took over and was an equally a fantastic cook.  Looking across the tables, it was evident the chairs that were empty.  My grandfather's chair, my uncle's chair who had died years earlier in a car accident and my dad's parents were not there.  We learned to make new memories.  At that time I never realized how those empty chairs effected my parents and how heavy their hearts must have been missing parents.  Then, 3 years ago my dad passed away.  My sister hosted Thanksgiving and Christmas the next two years.  Through forced smiles and making the day special for my nieces and nephews, the realization that we were growing up and our parents growing older and passing on was hit in our faces.  My dad's empty chair continues to be the most difficult to see.  Someone very close and special wrote me an email that year that my dad passed away and told me he was praying for my family and me.  He said that he knew that holiday season would be different but that God could work in the differences too.  Everything was different that year.  Along with the empty chairs of those who had passed on, my middle sister's family was in Germany and couldn't come home.  We Skyped them, but it wasn't the same.... more empty chairs.  We made it through and continued to make new memories.  Last year, I met the most wonderful man who offered to have my whole clan over for the holiday.  It was my first Thanksgiving to host and cook.  I have to say I was more than a little nervous.  I had a lot to live up to with the feasts that had been prepared in the past.  This helped my oldest sister out too so she only hosted 1 dinner (Christmas) and not 2.  It was successful and I think it's a new tradition now.

I will never forget those that I love whose chairs now sit empty at our table.  Yet, I am so thankful for the added chairs that have come to our table.  This year Steve's parents live close by and were able to join us and Steve's step-dad's parents joined us as well.  

The holidays bring such mixed emotions for people.  There was a time when I absolutely wanted to pull the covers over my head the months of November/December.  I am thankful for every person that fills a chair around the family feast.  I am grateful for the unconditional love they have for me.  I am overjoyed that I have an awesome man who loves me and helps make my holidays merry and bright.  Everyone has empty chairs at their tables.  We could all focus on that and forever be heartbroken.  For me, it's the added chairs that teach that life continues on.  This year, may you fondly remember those whose chairs are now empty but moreover, celebrate those added chairs to your holiday table.