Countings my Blessings this Thanksgiving

What does Thanksgiving mean to you and your family?  Is it a time of reflecting on all the things we are THANKFUL for?  Is it a time to give to others?  What does it mean?

I love Thanksgiving time and am THANKFUL for so many reasons:

10 years ago, I was able to return to El Salvador, where I was born, for the first time in 20 years.  I came here when I was 4 years old and had never been back.  It was October.  I met my dad, which of course I did not remember, and all of the other relatives.  I finally belong to something, to someone, and had family.  I had aunts, uncles, grandmas, brothers, and lots of sisters.  Here in the states, it was my mom, my 3 brothers, and my son.  No other family.  When people go home for the holidays, we went no-where.  When they had people visit, we had no-one.  But now I was a family member to more than the 5 people I lived with.  It was great, so great I had to return for Thansgiving break.  My son and I packed our bags and got ready to go home for the holidays for the first time!!  We arrive and everyone was so happy to see us again.  So Thanksgiving Thursday was coming around and I had not heard any plans.  I asked them what were we doing and then I was told Thanksgiving is a holiday celebrated in the states, duh!  I remember the pilgrims and the Indians story from school, and duh!  But I finally had family to celebrate with and I was so thankful this year for finally getting to meet them all.  So I decided to bring Thanksgiving to them.  I know there arre no Pilgrims and Indians to the story of El Salvador but more of the tradition of celebrating with family.  I planned a feast.  We had all our immediate family come to dinner.  It was so wonderful.  I will never forget that Thanksgiving.

6 years ago, My boyfriend and I decided to host his entire family and my whole (5) family members for Thanksgiving.  We had been dating for over a year now, and I loved the idea.  A full house of visitors.  I got to cook for the first time for more than the 5 people that we normally cook for.  My mom made the traditional Salvadorian dish -Pan con Chumpe.  It is a bolillo bread with mayo.  Then you get the pulled turkey that has been cooked in some juices-my mom makes it.  Then you top it with cured cabbage, radish, cucumbers, and a hint of lime.  It is so yummy.  And we also made the traditional menu.  Everything was perfect.  We had plenty of food.  We all sat down to feast.  As we finished our dinner, my boyfriend got everyone's attention.  He got on bended knee and ask me to marry him in front of everyone.  I, of course, said yes.  My family of 5 now grew.  Everyone in this house was soon to be my family.  I will never forget this Thanksgiving either.

This year, we will be celebrating Thanksgiving at our house again.  It is our turn.  Everyone will return to our house to feast.  We will all come together to give Thanks.  And I have alot to be thankful for.  I, not only was returned from the dead but am alive and kicking.  I have a beautiful baby girl-Lil Bit who is healthy as can be.  My brothers each have new baby boys-Icey, CJ, and Jules.  I also have a new nephew-Adrian from my husband side.  We are blessed with a roof over our heads, transportation to take us to and from, work to support us, food on our table to feed our families, and most of all-THANKFUL-for family. 

I use to be wishful for a bigger family and now am so THANKFUL that the family just keeps getting bigger. 

Wishing you a very Happy THANKSgiving from our family to yours! 


***Disclosure-This is a sponsored post as a Britax Latina Advisory Board Member and Blogger. As always, all opinions, ideas, and stories stated here are clearly my own.