Hey Dolls !
For most of us, the holidays mean spending time with the whole family. Having Thanksgiving dinner together, opening gifts on Christmas…the whole nine right? For military families, that is not always so easy. Some families are stationed overseas and cannot make it back to the states for the holidays. Some families have spouses that are deployed and cannot be home with their family. And some are just stationed too far away to be able to make the trip home. Luckily we have not had to deal with a deployment yet. I cannot imagine what the holidays would be like if John weren’t here.
Last year was the first year I’ve ever spent away from my family during the holidays. Being in my third trimester I was not about to make the drive or plane ride back to St. Louis. I know other women have done it but it just was not for me. My family was waiting to come down to Alabama until Charlotte was born. So it was just John, Bella and I last year. For Thanksgiving, John and I cooked the traditional dinner for a few of his friends. Thank god for the internet, because I had never made a Thanksgiving dinner before. Campbells Kitchen saved me! I do have a some of my families recipes but I needed a few more. Having his friends over was totally worth it. It kept me from feeling lonely, and it was great to be with other people away from their families as well. Christmas was spent just us, our puppy, and our sad little Charlie Brown Christmas tree. At this time last year I never imagined I would look back and miss that! In hindsight, it was wonderful to just be him and I! We do not get to spend time alone together very often anymore.
This thanksgiving we were fortunate enough so have my family come to us! My mother Donna, step father Jack, my niece Eva, and almost 88 year old Grandpa Harvey made the journey down to Alabama! It felt so good to spend quality time with them in our home. My mother and I got to make biscuits and gravy together, one of our traditions. Eva and Charlotte got to play together. My step dad, Grandpa, and John got to have male bonding time and talk about guys things. This year felt like the holidays I am used to.
The night before Thanksgiving John had to work 24 hour duty, so my mom and niece stayed the night with me. It was wonderful to have someone here with me while John was at work. I hate being home alone. The three of us stayed up all night making Pumpkin and Pecan Pies and drinking wine. Eva of course had juice! I have missed hanging out with my mom like that. We talk, text or FaceTime everyday but it’s just not the same.
The next morning the house was filled with the smell of the pies we had baked the night before. After a quick breakfast, everyone was ready to get cooking except for John who was ready to sleep since he had been up for over 24 hours! So, while John took a cat nap the rest of us got down to business. My step dad Jack cooked the Turkey. Grandpa with the help of Eva made his famous stuffing. Eva and my mom made the green bean casserole, sweet potatoes and cranberry relish. My grandma Charlotte’s spicy cheese spinach casserole was made by me. Oh, and John put the rolls in the oven. You can’t have Thanksgiving dinner without the rolls!
Dinner was amazing but… I have to say the best part of their trip was seeing Charlotte walk for the first time! I first walked to my Grandpa Harvey at nine months old and he was able to see Charlotte do the same! She has been practicing trying to walk for a while now. Walking along furniture since she was six months old and using her push toy walker. Charlotte took her first steps just a few days before my family was to arrive in Alabama. I think she was waiting to show off her new skill! It is so amazing to watch your children grow and learn. Seems like only yesterday we brought her home from the hospital and now she is walking… soon to be running to us!
Having the family here made it feel like the holidays I am used to having. But, I am beginning to get use to life as an army wife now. I am learning that John, Charlotte and I have our own family and will make our own traditions and memories. This year we will celebrate Charlotte’s first Christmas with just the three of us. Well, five of us including Bella and Fogel, our crazy silly dogs! I wish we could be back home for Christmas but I am sure it will be just as special here. We all have to remember to be thankful for what we DO have instead of focusing on what’s missing, especially during the holiday season.