Dear Maw-Maw,

Kyle got the train working that Mom bought you the last Christmas you spent with us.

It is beautiful - I was smiling as big as the kids when it lit up. You wouldn't believe how exciting it is for them to man the controls.

We wish you were here.

Dear Aunt Beth,

I know in my heart that Kyle was unemployed this time last year, and circumstances were hard for us all. But I wish we could have all been together for Christmas. I am going to miss you very much while making cornbread dressing tomorrow. If you were here I am sure I would yell at you for not chopping the celery tiny enough. I don't like the celery, but I couldn't bring myself to take it off the grocery list the other day because it reminded me of you.

Dear Tommy,

I am making a new pie tomorrow. Its going to be chocolate. I know if you were going to be here you'd tell me how good it is no matter what it actually tastes like. I will miss your cakes. And the kids miss you. I bet you'd love the train too.

Dear Me-Maw,

I remember that red double boiler you had. I think of it often when cooking. I was fascinated with that as a child. Two pots. Two pots I tell you. One in the other. Ah-maz-ing.

And you could put your hands in almost boiling water. How did you do that?

Remember the time we baked potatoes in Aunt Beth's fireplace? I thought that was so cool. I need to do it with my kids - but I'd probably cry the whole time thinking of you. And who would be there to gram them with their bare hands?

Dear Gram,

Did you know all those cookies you and Alice made, helped make Kyle and I friends. You see he always had the best cookies in his dorm room- so I stopped by often to talk and have a cookie.

I still chuckle that you always started planning dinner right after breakfast. Sometimes by 10 you'd ask us what vegetable we'd like with dinner. - Sometimes I don't know what I am making for dinner at 6 at 5:59, and I always think Gram would be so much more on top of this than me.

Dear Dad,

Kyle and Benjamin loved this A capella song:

I remembered how much you liked a capella stuff. You'd get to talking about it and then sooner or later have us try something, which no matter what it started as, "it" always ended in us singing Row, Row, Row your boat in rounds. I am pretty sure we sound like complete crap. wait, no - I am positive we sounded like crap. But it was fun. And even though I was rolling my eyes the whole time I'd give anything to go back once and sing it again with you.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving and relish the people next to you. One year they will annoy you, make you laugh, cut the celery too big, and then one Thanksgiving you will struggle with many memories and wish you could trade them for more time.

Faith and Family,

Its what its all about.

and its what I am thankful for.