Hours to prepare.
No, days to prepare if you count the meal planning, the sweeping and mopping and dusting, and the turkey choosing and purchasing. Even so, I was up early yesterday still in my pajamas frying bacon for grumbling tummies. I stayed in the kitchen while they watched the Rockettes in the Parade, wrestling a twenty-pound bird into a roaster, chopping the chocolate for the pecan pie, and the dicing the ginger and apples for my cranberry galette that would leak all over the oven later that afternoon.
Hours.
Families arrive bringing hugs with arms full of casserole dishes and cheek-kisses while setting down bags of sweet rolls. And then together we set out stemmed glasses, heirloom china and my mother’s silver (that I secretly hope I get someday). We light the candles, play games of UNO and wait for the turkey to finish in the oven. More hours.
And then we eat. For 30 minutes. Hours of preparation for only a tiny sliver of the day spent around a table.
One of us clears, one of us washes one of us dries. Another of us puts the leftovers into the bulging refrigerator shelves and someone starts the coffee. It takes two more hours before my kitchen is back to where it began two evenings ago, with cleaned counters and put-away dishes. We women talk over the steaming sink while the men fall asleep in front of the television, and even as old-fashioned as that may seem, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Hours to prepare, hours to put away, for a few minutes of chewing and sipping. But the pleasure isn’t in the eating. The pleasure is in the sipping of vanilla coffee as the sun goes down with dish-soapy hands. The pleasure is pretending I don’t see my three-year-old steal her 5th chocolate pretzel from the dish by the pies and sneak off into the other room where she won’t be scolded. Its in the elaborate dance we instinctively do in the kitchen as we jockey around each other for knives, cutting boards and spoons to stir gravy.
The pleasure is in the hours before and after the meal standing and laughing with my favorite people in the world.
What did you find pleasure in yesterday?
Tags: pleasure, thanksgiving
The same things. Two days worth of preparation for a few hours of fellowship with those closest to us. Missing those who went home to be with the Lord. Loving those that are still here, but may not be next year.
Thanks for this post.
I found pleasure in just being in the moment..enjoying the smells of the kitchen, the laughter of family, and the rest for the weary (yes, my little nap was nice after hours of preparation).
Oddly enough my pleasure wasn’t in food. My pleasure wasn’t in preparation. Heck, chasing my 19 month old all over God’s creation at my In-law’s house wasn’t truly my ‘pleasure’ yesterday. My pleasure was in waking up next to my husband, holding my two baby girls (Irelyn & Mckinley), packing them up and feeding the ducks! My pleasure was walking around the lake watching my girl (Irelyn) explore “nature” and feed the “quack quack’s”. Thanksgiving wasn’t a HUGE deal for us this year…however when I laid them both down last night (exhausted from running around all day w/o solid naps)…my heart was truly THANKFUL for having them. And last night…when my husband kissed me goodnight and I finally got to sleep…I was thankful for him…
My pleasure was in my “people” yesterday.
My pleasure was also in the food, sort of. We didn’t go anywhere and no one came to our house. It was the first holiday I know if where it was just our little family. I still have bittersweet feelings on that…
However, I stole an opportunity to escape to the bathroom yesterday to offer up my own prayer of thanksgiving. I roasted my first turkey by myself and it tasted good. I cooked and cleaned everything by myself and my kitchen’s not too bad. My most celebrated accomplishment though was the pumpkin pie I made from a pumpkin that I grew from a tiny little seed. Who knew I could do all that? Well, it certainly wasn’t me a few months ago. But the reason I stole away to the bathroom was because, in reality, I didn’t do this by myself. God blessed us with the desire to plant our first garden and then with a boutiful harvest. God blessed us with the means to purchase our feast through DH’s second job. God blessed me with the desire and ability (who knew?) to prepare a feast that would have everyone raving (so they’re my family and they’re biased, it’s still good to hear). And it was God that gave me the strength to face my kitchen and conquer it. God is good – All the time. All the time – God is good.
I found pleasure watching my husband carve the turkey, listening to the prayers of thanks he offered, and looking through the boxes of pictures with my oldest daughter as we begin to ready the mounds for scrapbooking…
I just started reading your blog a few months ago, it is a devotional for me. I read it first thing each morning you post. Thank you so much for your words of inspiration and encouragement. I find pleasure in reading your words.
Thank you
I found pleasure in making memories for my daughters and now I find pleasure in being reminded to BE thankful for all the pleasures He gives me.
I found pleasure in the mismatched plates and the friends and the general imperfection that is life. In that there was perfection. It was so beautiful and listening to my husband offer our thanksgiving to God nearly burst my heart. I love Thanksgiving.
Well I am from Canada so we had Thanksgiving last month but yesterday I was thankful for the time i got to spend with my sister. It wasn’t the most fun evening i have ever had (we cleaned her apartment) but we got to spend that time together.
Growing up, we fought every time it came to cleaning the hosue but last night we got to just talk and spend that time. It is a time i will never forget!
I found pleasure in wearing pearls & feeling pretty, despite the extra pounds. I found pleasure in helping a lot in the kitchen, now that my girls are old enough that I’m not nursing & changing diapers.
I laughed as a I read this post…..my family is the same way minus all the kids!
I love the visiting and laughing while preparing the food and working as a team to clean up!! God has blessed me this year in ways I would have never imagined!! Like finding your blog for example….it’s my daily morning ritual as I drink my coffee before I leave for work! Sometimes I am 5 mins late to work b/c I am like “Oh I HAVE to read Sarah’s blog…shhh…don’t tell my boss!!
Keep sharing with us and inspriring us!!
Sheena
Iam thankful for your -honest- to -God -tell- it- like -it- is blog in a gracious and not boring at all way..I,like the other friends linking up have been trully blessed..
I stumbled onto your site when I was checking for daysprings cards at a vey troubled time in my life this year..late September the time I bade my grandfather goodbye, felt cheated that I didnot know his heart until the day he died..but by blind faith I responded to the call for help from family that he needed care two months before he was muted by strokes, Iam a nurse so the days were gruelling and I was spent.. exhausted and I cried to sleep…and your blogsite were the most cherished and hopeful reads of my days..I could escape and be soothed by God’s balm in your sharing and Iam so ever thankful..
Time has healed and in 3 weeks my family will gather to rememeber him after 100nites we get to cut our hair symbolic of our respect and love for him..and yes Sarah, God has blessed me with the family I knew but have never really met and shared with till last Sept..so let us continue to celebrate God’s passion for family and remain faithful because who has called is ever faithful, aye?
I too found pleasure in the *people* yesterday. A smallish, casual gathering for a nontraditional feast. No hurrying here and there. No worrying about having all the food hot at the same time. Not even real dishes to wash. There was, however, laughter, board games, football, full bellies, and much, much gratitude.
Thank you, as always, Sarah, for your beautiful words.
Nicki
Yes, Thanksgiving is a lot of work! I honestly don’t relish this holiday unless I’m at someone else’s house.
But I did find pleasure in NOT making a big deal this year as my family voted on an alternate meal. I found pleasure in the fact that they were pleased in an easier manner. 
Having been in the hospital to monitor my 36 week old baby due to low amniotic fluid. . .I was SO thankful; for the 30 minutes they unhooked me so I could be wheeled outside to see my other two kids (who aren’t allowed in the hospital due to the swine flu scare).I appreciated the wind through the leaves, the sunlight, the outside surrounding and the sheer joy on my kid’s plates…a plate of food from mom and a husband so willing to do what needed to be done. Best 30 minutes I’ve truly appreciated in a long time!
I totally agree… I spend hours upon hours planning,decorating and cooking for a meal that lasts 30 minutes tops, and I love every second of it .
I found pleasure in making cornbread stuffing and spice cookies.
And I found pleasure in hearing my sister’s laugh ring out, over and over again. She has this loud, boisterous, *alive* laugh.