As the US Thanksgiving nears I am taking time to reflect on all I have to be grateful about. I won’t post my list here, but suffice it to say, though life isn’t perfect, I have plenty to be grateful for.
Historically, Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. In recent years it’s become a bit of a stress since for whatever reason I can no longer cook a decent turkey to save my life. This year I found a workaround. I’m buying slices of turkey from a restaurant and serving that.
Does your family have a traditional Thanksgiving meal?
One of the things I’m most grateful for, besides my family, is that I get to write Christian romance novels. I simply love romance! In A Love that Lasts I wove a romance that takes place during the holidays, mostly Thanksgiving.
The story behind this story is that it was supposed to be a Christmas book but somehow the focus ended up on Thanksgiving. My editor at the publishing house I was writing for asked me to add Christmas to it, so I added a Christmasy epilogue. It was packaged as a Christmas book because that’s what my publisher wanted.
Although holidays can set off a lot of drama and stress, I generally really enjoy Thanksgiving, and I have a very difficult time not including it in a Christmas story, which is probably why this “Christmas” story ended up being more of a Thanksgiving story. If you’ve been following this blog for more than a couple of years you’ve probably seen me talk about this book before.
Here’s the back cover description.
Some things just weren’t meant to be—or were they?
Recent nursing school graduate Holly Miller knows from personal experience a slip up can cost a life. A mistake she made years ago still haunts her. She is determined to stay focused and not allow any distractions in her life—including an old high school classmate she ran into at the hospital who is as handsome as the pastries he bakes are tasty and sweet.
Matthew Cook had a crush on Holly back in high school and is surprised to find she’s working at the local hospital. She’d rejected him when they were teens, but he seems to have her attention now. Can he convince her that she can have it all—including a love that lasts, without sacrificing her career?
A Love that Lasts is now available in a four book set for only 99 cents on Amazon.
Do you celebrate Thanksgiving? If so, what is one of your favorite traditions?
Award winning author Kimberly Rose Johnson married her college sweetheart and lives in the Pacific Northwest. From a young child Kimberly has been an avid reader. That love of reading fostered a creative mind and led to her passion for writing. She especially loves romance and writes contemporary romance, romantic mystery, and romantic suspense that warms the heart and feeds the soul. Kimberly holds a degree in Behavioral Science from Northwest University in Kirkland, Washington, and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers.
We don’t celebrate Thanksgiving here, but I certainly have a lot to be thankful for.
Thanksgiving used to be a huge holiday for me, but the family is spread out all over the country now, so for hubs and me it’s just another day….but at least we get a break from work and I do plan a nice meal for the two of us.
In Canada, we celebrate Thanksgiving the second Monday in October, so it doesn’t kick off the Christmas season as it does in the USA. But true thanksgiving? Should live in our hearts every day of the year. Those who follow Jesus have SO MUCH to be thankful for, and keeping that in mind helps keep us from becoming jaded.
So, while next Thursday is just another Thursday in Canada, I will be counting my blessings as I do today and every day!
This year will be the year in a very long time that I will have a “traditional” thanksgiving at home instead of going to Golden Corral for a meal. I’m looking forward to celebrating with my parents, brother, and sister-in-law.
That’s the nice thing about Thanksgiving, we can all be thankful for something even if we don’t have a special day to remind us.
That sounds very pleasant, Paula. My husband and I dream of one day going to a cabin in the woods and having a quiet holiday.
So true, Val!
I hope you have a blessed time with your family!
I love Thanksgiving! It’s not as hectic as Christmas!! This year, we’ll only have 13 to 16 of us, so it’s going to be a bit smaller than we usually have. We haven’t any “little” ones with us, as the youngest that might come is about 12. My sister will do the turkey and dressing, since we’re going to her house, and mac n cheese, Mom and I do the sweet potato casserole, another sister is doing broccoli salad, another sister is bring something, one of my nephews and his wife will be bringing something, and others will be bringing something, too. We usually have way more food than we can eat!!
You’re meal sounds delicious, Trudy!
Being an aussie we don’t have thanksgiving but Turkey is one of the main meats at Christmas. Mum use to by turkey breast roll partly due to a turkey being way to much for us to eat and the fact one member (she who won’t be named even if she is typing this) didn’t like it and with my brother and family leaving Christmas day we would have way to much in leftovers for mum to eat on her own.
I’m not familiar with a turkey roll. I learned this year after 29 years of marriage that my husband doesn’t
Like turkey lol. Then my older son admitted he doesn’t like it either.
I think you’re in good company.
Hopefully they will like what I’m buying since I’m not cooking it.
Thanksgiving is a Tradition in Our Home having all 5 of my children and their families for the dinner that day is amazing We do Ham, Turkey, homemade dressing and all the fixin’s plus pies and cake! I am Thankful for My Health, My Family and Friends and All The Authors Hope You All have A Happy Thanksgiving !
That’s wonderful, Sarah. Happy Thanksgiving!
We always travel to my sister-in-laws house for Thanksgiving and usually go to the buffet near her. But this year, she bought a house, so we’ll do the traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings! I’m so excited for her to finally be able to get a house and to celebrate the first holiday there :-)
I also bring my homemade pumpkin pies and Martinelli’s sparkling apple cider to sip after dinner while we all watch whatever NFL game happens to be on. It’s always a great family time since we don’t get to see her often during the year (she lives four hours from us). I’m definitely looking forward to getting away and spending quality family time together.
It sounds like you and your sister are going to have a very special Thanksgiving this year. How exciting for her to have a house now!