Thanksgiving 2016: Funky and fragmented, but focused on gratitude anyway

It wasn't exactly as we'd hoped. Ideally, all of us who live nearby would be together to celebrate Thanksgiving. Instead, the holiday was a bit fragmented. But instead of whining, let's focus on the gratitude, because if you're willing to look hard enough, the blessings are always there.

1. Seth had to work at Macaroni Grill on Thanksgiving Day. Even so, we are grateful he has such a good job, one that allowed him to take a full three weeks off in order to perform in his high school's musical.

2. Eli's wife, Amanda, had to remain on the property at The Ridge apartments in Rexburg, where she works as a manager. Even so, we are grateful she has this job, which provides free housing and several other perks while Eli finishes his degree.

3. Isaiah had to work Friday and then fly out early Saturday morning for an event in Las Vegas. Even so, we are grateful he got to be home with us Thursday and that he gets to travel to so many amazing places in his job.

4. Gerald had to work Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Even so, we are grateful he has a job to support our family and provide good insurance.

So how did we handle Thanksgiving?

In shifts.

Thursday morning, we made a big family breakfast for those who were home: Isaiah, Seth, Monson-Websters, Gerald, and me. That afternoon, Gerald, Isaiah, and I had Italian dinner at Macaroni Grill, so we could be with Seth, even though he was working. My mamma heart could not send my baby off to Macaroni Grill and then come home and eat Thanksgiving dinner without him.

Nor could it leave Eli and Amanda in Rexburg all by themselves all weekend. So Friday morning, Shulamith and I drove to Rexburg, and Saturday, we cooked a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings. It was just the four of us, plus Shulamith's kids, and it was super yummy.

I am the only one who got to participate in every one of the "sections" of our fragmented Thanksgiving celebration, so I am personally grateful.

And I'm even more grateful that In less than a month, all the people mentioned in this post will be home for Christmas; schedules are working out a bit better this time. It should be epic!