Giving Thanks

I am very thankful for Thanksgiving.

I’m thankful I got to see my parents and go to my hometown in Michigan (it’s been almost a year and a half). I am thankful for old friends, new clothes, time doing nothing, good food, new experiences, and family.

Mr. Jones and I had six lovely days of vacation. The travelling was easy (which is rare for us), the weather wasn’t quite bone-chillingly cold, and we had the perfect balance of fun stuff and lazy days.

Also, my cat (at 19 years old) is as sweet as ever. No pictures were taken of her, sadly, because I was too busy petting her every time she was nearby.

We spent Thanksgiving day with my aunt and uncle (my dad’s brother) at their always-ginormous Thanksgiving gathering. This year, there were over 70 people there! Most of my dad’s relatives, lots of my aunt’s side of the family, as well as friends who don’t have anyone to spend Thanksgiving with. There were three turkeys, an amazing array of sides, and the best desserts ever.

One of the most important Southern (my maiden name) family traditions is the annual Young Team vs Old Team football game. The winning team’s name is inscribed on “The Golden Gobbler,” a classic trophy that was created nearly 15 years ago.

It was a close game, but for the second year in a row, the Old Team pulled it out! I cheered Mr. Jones on from the sidelines, and tried to stay warm with a nice cup of coffee.

After the game, traditions continue with the Feats of Strength. Yes, we really do this–it changes from year to year, but always involves something random. This year the main event involved competing with a pedometer-type device that was clipped on a rope. The challenge was to nod your head (or jump up and down) the most times in a minute. I’m proud to say I got third place!

Finally, we closed out the day with some music. My dad plays a variety of instruments (he used to work in a music store), but lately he’s been jamming with a double upright bass.

We packed in a lot over the next few days, including a trip to Slow’s with my best friend and her boyfriend. Their mac ‘n cheese is incredible, and of course the BBQ was incredible.

We also hit up the Henry Ford Museum with my parents. It’s been years and years since I’ve been there, and Caleb has never been, so we really enjoyed taking our time at all of the exhibits.

I was drooling over all of the original Eames designs and molds. Such beautiful furniture–if I could take anything from the museum, one of these chairs would have made the flight home with us.

We saw some pretty historic cars, including this 1965 Mustang (Serial Number One).

This was part of the power exhibit, which showed the inner workings of various industrial setups–and also allowed Caleb to pretend he was commanding something villainous.

Later in the week, I finally had the chance to try Pho at Thuy Trang, a tiny Vietnamese restaurant in Madison Heights. It was incredibly delicious, and now I’m definitely a Pho Fan.

Just before we left, my dad, Caleb and I stopped by the Telway for some sliders. It’s a classic, tiny diner that has been around for ages, and made me miss the Texas Inn (in Lynchburg). Not quite the same as a Cheesy Western, but still the perfect late night snack.

I would have loved a few more days up north, but we were glad to head home to sunny Florida and get into the swing of the holidays. I’m so glad we had the chance to rest and spend time with family. My biggest goal this holiday season is to truly appreciate every moment, and to share the joy of celebration with everyone I can.

*Note: Most of these photos are from Instagram, so I apologize if you’ve already seen them. But hey, “the best camera is the one that’s with you,” and my iPhone is always with me.