happy thanksgiving!!!

as i sit here awake at 3:00 a.m., i am reflecting on the goings-on of our family activities over the past 24 hours and i am grateful for my family, my doctors, my health, and all of the blessings in my life.

i had a trip to the dermatologist, which revealed a possible problem spot on my foot...so it was biopsied. that concerns me a little, but whatever comes of it i am sure it will be fine. i am trusting that if it is malignant, it's an early detection and we'll take care of things. following that, i went to my chiropractor. it was a trip that was well over due, but was accelerated due to a couple of recent "happenings" regarding my back being jarred. it was a great session and i really need to do some follow-up, which i don't love financially, but need to do so that i can function at my best. i want to be able to start working out and things, so i think it will be necessary to bite the bullet and just fork over the co-pays. i have to say, i definitely felt much better afterward! thankfully the things that led up to it weren't as bad as they could've been and this is just a little side effect of being jarred around a few times.

when i got home, we sat down as a family and planned out the schedule and assignments of getting things ready for turkey day. my kids just jumped in and did everything they signed up for, which was absolutely amazing! things accomplished for thanksgiving dinner by my kids: chocolate meringue pie, fresh (not canned) pumpkin pie, 5 lbs of potatoes peeled, and side dishes put together and ready to bake include: sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, arkansas green beans, cream cheese corn bake. it was amazing how much we accomplished, they were amazing!

i woke up around 2:00 a.m. to check on the turkey, which was thawing in the kitchen sink, to find it was done early. what to do? the fridge was full and i wasn't sure everything would fit with the bird back in there too...but it did! the rub and dressing were amazing, if i do say so myself! i mixed sage, rosemary, dill weed, thyme, salt, pepper, onion powder, worcestershire sauce and crushed garlic together, squeezed in some fresh orange and lemon juice, and rubbed it under the breast skin and all over the skin of the turkey. it smells so good! i then put cut-up orange, lemon, apple, celery, onion and carrots inside the bird and around it in the pan and poured in a can of chicken broth. now it's sitting in the fridge, soaking in all of that savory goodness, ready to be popped into the oven first thing in the morning.

all that's left now is to cook and mash the potatoes, make the gravy and dressing, and make homemade rolls...we are ready for a feast!!!

...and my hubby just woke up and is wandering around the house looking for change so he can buy me a paper with all of the black friday ads...love him!!!