Tag: Family Gatherings

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Twas the Day Before Christmas: Chores, Desserts, and Holiday Cheer

Written 12/24/2024

Hello Dear Readers,

Twas the day before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was resting—not even my spouse. My wife and I have a long list of chores because…drumroll…it’s Christmas party season. Not a party with just ourselves —our family gathering and our own shindig.

Originally, we thought the family get-together was off the table this year since my mom and sister had planned to visit my other sister out of town. But lo and behold, plans changed, and everyone’s staying in Nashville. So, the holiday train is back on track, complete with roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, and—my specialty—dessert.

This year, I’m whipping up tiramisu for the grand finale. Since my mom steers clear of gluten (not allergic, just not a fan of the post-gluten belly blues), we stocked up on gluten-free ladyfingers. As for me, I’ve got my own list of dietary no-nos, thanks to high blood pressure and kidney issues. But honestly? Party feasts don’t scare me—I’m all about savoring small bites and skipping the food coma.

Meanwhile, my wife has been on a mission today. She took the 24th off to tackle house chores and some of her personal projects. Unfortunately, she’s battling a cold she picked up at work, so she’s been sleeping a bit longer these days. Even so, she was up and about before me (as usual). Talk about dedication!

Despite the extra hustle and bustle, I love this time of year. Sure, the holidays can be a bit chaotic and stressful, but there’s something about the season that feels cozy or makes me warm —kind of like a warm hug wrapped in twinkling lights. It’s a lot like Halloween but with fewer pumpkins and gifts.

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I had a Great Thanksgiving

Written November 28, 2024

Hello Dear Readers,

I’ve always loved Thanksgiving Day. It’s a holiday that stirs nostalgia, bringing back memories of family gatherings from my childhood. Over the years, the table has grown fuller as we’ve added spouses, nieces, and nephews to the mix, making the celebration even more special. My wife and I will visit my sister’s house this year to enjoy the holiday together.

We usually bring food for the party so we do not have to host everyone. I typically bake two pies for Thanksgiving: an apple pie and a pumpkin pie. For today, I baked two pies on Tuesday and Wednesday. It should be a lot of fun and delicious food. 

Our main dish will be a brined, smoked, and roasted turkey. My brother-in-law has undoubtedly been smoking the turkey since at least this morning if he didn’t start last night. During COVID-19, he could not watch sports events on TV or go out to meet people, so he picked up this new hobby: cooking. He’s become quite the chef over the last couple of years. He always does substantial research online to prepare for making anything. Over time, he’s learned to make the dish he imagines.  

My wife is incredibly excited to see our niece. She has been quite busy doing many projects and only had time for something else for several months. She said she wanted to see our niece. She is happy to live near her niece so she can see her for a big event like Thanksgiving, Christmas, or birthdays. Though we saw her just a couple of weeks ago at my wife’s citizenship ceremony, she’s growing up in the blink of an eye. 

We’ll get to eat a lot of good food around this time. Living in Portland, we had to celebrate most of our holidays with just the two of us. I remember that we ended up eating turkey the following week. So this is another good thing about family gatherings like this. We spread the leftovers so we don’t have to eat the leftovers for several days.

Family holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas remind me of the joy of coming together. It’s not just about the food, though that’s always amazing; it’s about the shared laughter, stories, and the warmth of being surrounded by the people who matter most. As we grow older, we have additions like our spouses, nieces, or nephews, so the family feast improves. I can’t wait to celebrate this feast with everyone and create new memories together.

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A Heartwarming Mother’s Day Gathering: Games and Family Joy

Written May 13, 2024

Hello Dear Readers,

Yesterday turned out to be a remarkably successful day, far surpassing the achievements of the day before. The credit goes largely to setting more realistic goals. The highlight was our visit to my mother’s house for a delightful Mother’s Day celebration with her and my sister. It’s a day that had been in the works for months, planned by my sister and my wife. In fact, she had selected her gift for my mother three months in advance, coordinating the details with my sister to ensure everything went well.

Mother’s Day is a special occasion in our family, not just for celebrating our mothers but also as a time for family bonding over games, a tradition we all cherish. Our family adores gaming together—it’s our way of connecting and creating memories. Whether it’s board games or card games like Bridge when the extended family joins, these playful competitions are a core part of our gatherings.

This time, we played “Shadows Over Camelot,” a board game that’s a favorite at many of our family events. My niece, who has recently begun to join in on the board game fun, chose me as her partner. She was adamant about playing King Arthur, embracing the role with enthusiastic determination. Peeking at my wife’s character choice, I saw she had picked Sir Percival. Despite her claim of never having played this board game before, her excitement was palpable. She has always been enamored with the Arthurian legends, and her eyes lit up as she spoke about the characters. “If I could, I’d choose to be Sir. Lancelot,” she confessed, her fascination with the knight’s tale evident in her voice. The cooperative game was filled with laughter and strategic collaboration, making it all the more enjoyable.

Gatherings like these remind me of the importance of family. Seeing my mother’s joyful expression as she spent time with us reminded me of the simple pleasures in life. The ease of laughter, the shared strategies over game boards, and the warmth of being surrounded by loved ones all came together to create a memorable day.

Such occasions are precious, not just for the fun we have but also for the opportunity they provide to reaffirm our bonds. As we delve into adventures on a game board, we also strengthen our connections with each other, making each game not just a play for victory but a celebration of our family’s unity and love.

Ultimately, what makes days like these genuinely remarkable isn’t just the games we play or the food we enjoy but the company we keep. The joy of being together, sharing stories, and supporting one another is what Mother’s Day—and indeed every family gathering—is all about. We cherish these moments, filled with laughter and companionship, long after the day is over, and they remind us of the enduring power of family ties.