Since none of our extended family will be able to make it to Manteo for Thanksgiving, we have decided to once again host the men who live at Dare Challenge, a nearby residential substance abuse program.
If you weren’t hanging out around Smithellaneous last year at this time, you can go here to read my account of Thanksgiving a year ago when nine men came to our house for dinner. I am including an excerpt of that post below because it sums up so well how my heart feels about the privilege of hosting special men on a special day.
While I can’t speak for Steve, the meal was important for me because it gave me a chance to do something at Thanksgiving for someone else’s son.
I knew that most of those men at our table had a mother somewhere in this country who had set a Thanksgiving table, even as a part of her heart had mourned the fact that the son she loved wasn’t able to be there, that he wasn’t going to get to be in a real home for a real family Thanksgiving.
And so, since I didn’t have my own son to cook for this Thanksgiving, this was my year to pay it forward, to pay it back, to pay it in whatever direction I could find. In short, this was my Thanksgiving to cook for another mother’s Nathan, in the hopes that when she heard the story of where her son had spent Thanksgiving, she would feel her load lighten a little and she could breathe a prayer of thanks that the son she loved so much had received the love she wasn’t able to give in person.
There all sorts of reasons that mothers sat at Thanksgiving tables this year without the presence of the children they loved. Some kids have faraway jobs, some have insufficient finances to travel, some have no time off work, some are away in the military, and some might even possibly be in a drug and alcohol rehab center. And since I’m a long time member of the cancer community, I also know that some of the seats at Thanksgiving tables were empty this year because of the saddest reason of all–a son or daughter didn’t survive their battle with cancer.
All of those reasons people go missing from our holiday tables give us so many more reasons to show acceptance and love to the people we have nearby. Because somewhere, they are being missed. Somewhere, another mother’s Nathan is wishing that her child could be home.
And so now you know what the next few days will be like around the Smith house–we’re getting ready for a big, big day!
I mentioned in the title that I had a helpful Thanksgiving tip to pass along to you, but let me give you a little background first.
Last year at Thanksgiving Steve’s parents were with us and the two of them are a formidable force when it comes to planning, decorating, table setting, cooking, etc. Since I will be cooking a meal for 12 people as the only (adult) woman in the house, I figured that I had better get things as organized as possible and not leave too much for Sarah, Steve and I to do on Thursday.
So I sat down last night with my trusty computer and laid out a little chart to help me visualize the tasks of the next few days. When I got done I thought that maybe a chart would be helpful to you as well so I have included two of them below. The first one has some of my tasks filled in and the second chart is blank so that you can print it off or use it as inspiration to design a chart of your own.
Hope it’s helpful!
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Thanksgiving Plan 2012 |
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| Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday |
| Bake corn bread/cube/set out to dry | Make dressing | Bake ham |
| Dice onion and celery for dressing | Bake and slice turkey | Make pineapple casserole |
| Work on centerpiece | Make gravy | Make topping for sweet potato casserole |
| Cube French bread–set it out to dry | Make potatoes | Reheat turkey |
| Make up dry mix for ramen coleslaw | Make pies | Put mashed potatoes in crock pot on low |
| Make rolls | Set table | Prepare relish try |
| Make sweet potato casserole | Thaw pie | |
| Go to grocery for last minute items | Set out serving platters, bowls, spoons | |
| Make marinade part of ramen cole slaw | Make cake | |
| Make sure tablecloth is clean and ironed | Make pumpkin bars | |
| Clean out fridge | Make green bean casserole | |
| Cut veggies for relish tray | ||
Miscellaneous Things. (Don’t Have To Be Done A Certain Day.)
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Thanksgiving Plan 2012 |
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| Tuesday | Wednesdsay | Thursday |
Miscellaneous Things That Don’t Have To Be Done A Certain Day:
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Becky, I love how organized you are. Even though Canadian Thanksgiving was last month, this gives me ideas for organizing other upcoming holidays such as Sinterklaas and Christmas!
Honestly organization does not come naturally to me, and I would LOVE furtherposts with any organization tips you have. We just moved to a 100 year old house this past weekend and as I drown amongst a sea of boxes and chaos I am hoping to turn over a new leaf.
Jenna, how exciting to live in a 100-year old house! I am so jealous. You are in a perfect place to “turn over a new leaf” since you are basically starting from scratch as you unpack. You just have to be really, really, REALLY ruthless concerning what things you are going to keep (instead of donating or discarding) and also, what things you are going to be put into your prime real estate spots. Enjoy the adventure!!
Mary, I’m so glad you’ll be with your family at Thanksgiving; it will be especially lovely to have all the “help” of your grandson! 🙂
Sharyn, I will DEFINITELY check my microwave!! 🙂
Mrs. Pam, I LOVE your chart! Would you like to trade with me??? 🙂
i love that you share thanksgiving with the dare challenge folks.
here’s my chart:
Tuesday..check car for gas
Wednesday..check wallet for money
Thursday… drive to a restaurant for a Thanksgving buffet, planning to check out the dessert table first.
Lord bless you Becky, Steve and Sara, for having these men over. I’m sure it will be a Thanksgiving they will remember for always. When I have Thanksgiving, I do the same thing, write down a couple days before things that have to be done on certain days, that way I know what has been done and what still needs to be done. Oh, just a suggestion, please check your microwave and if you have another refrigerator, check that too for food. Don’t know how many times I have sent people on their way, going to sit down, relax, get another cup of coffee to put in the microwave to heat up, and there is something I forgot. Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
I remember that story from last year and I loved it and what you did and why you did it. A real Thanksgiving feast. I am going to need your list as my daughter won’t be arriving until late Thanksgiving night and we will be cooking on Friday but she was my sous chef for the past several years. She will help on Friday and so will by grandson – he loves to help cook – so I guess he is my sous chef, jr. Have a happy day, all you Smithes and that includes pretty Summer.
Becky I have always made my mash potato casserole on Wednesday. Never tried to make Sweet Potato up the day before? Does you Sweet Potato Casserole have a topping?
Thank
PS: My Tables have been set since Monday!
CeCe, The sweet potatoes do have a topping but I don’t add that till right before baking. Good for you having your table already set! We’re heading in that direction. (With the help of our trusty chart.) 🙂
Becky the Sweet Potatoes worked out perfectly, put the topping on just before I pop them in the oven…two heads are better than one!
Cece, so glad to hear it worked out for you. Every single thing that can possibly be done ahead of time helps out so much with that last minute rush!