100th Post and Being Thankful for the Important Things in Life

This is my 100th post (when you count all six pages that are together here at emtnester) and it couldn't come at a more appropriate day for an empty nest Mom!

This is the Thanksgiving break from school and we are lucky enough to have both of my college kids home for the holidays as well as Andy has the day off from his job at Ernest and Young. And I cannot get the smile off my face.

It all started last evening. To get home, my daughter took the City Bus to Harrisburg, the train to downtown Philley, another train to the Philadelphia airport, a plane to Chicago, a second plane to Phoenix and I picked her up in the car at 12:30 am! Talk about really wanting to get home. Usually I am in bed by 10 pm, but the adrenaline kept me up until it was time to drive to the airport. She was full of energy and stories.

Jonathan arrived an hour ago and his big brother picked him up from the airport. I am busy cooking and waiting to see him. The clocks in my house are apparently not working correctly as each minute is lasting about five minutes. No telling what they are up to. Laura is off to visit with her high school friends for a few hours, as well.

As is the case with many divorced/blended families, we hold our big Thanksgiving dinner tonight and then the kids go to celebrate with their Dad and his family on Thursday. Several times through the years, we tried to do both family dinners on the same day, but one of the kids almost exploded once, so we longer handle the holiday this way. I would not recommend that to anyone.

So as I write this post, I am experiencing the 'Quiet before The Storm'. It's so quiet you could here a pin drop. The dog is pacing the kitchen floor as the delicious smells are already beginning to fill the space. It's driving him crazy already.

I keep myself occupied as I anticipate the following:

Jonathan's loud, happy voice singing in the shower;

The boys hearing about Laura's first semester at college (laughing at her, being protective of her, admiring how she's really growing up)

Andy being interested in what I'm cooking and offering to help, then turn around and watch sports on TV instead;

Everyone playing fetch with Wrigley in the backyard;

Laura taking a million pictures of every detail of the day;

Chaos before the meal, trying not to make lumpy gravy again this year because no one's paying attention;

And finally, sitting at the dinner table, thanking the Lord for this food, our circumstances and mostly, this wonderful, wonderful family.

Time is standing still....I really need to fix that clock.......