We met with friends in the high desert this past Thanksgiving weekend.
A feast we had, but what we really savored was our time together.
My goal was to plan, organize and prepare before we arrived.
Whatever was left behind – we’d do without. Whatever dish didn’t turn out – we’d eat it anyway. I even decided to change our tradition and take a pre-cooked smoked turkey, instead of the usual task of brining, bagging, icing, and cooking a large turkey.
Simplicity was what I was aspiring to.
We brought a few things along to make our table festive, we sang our song of thanks, we lined up our dishes buffet style, and we all enjoyed a beautiful meal together.
Togetherness – enjoying precious quality time together.
Enjoying the simple things – like tossing the ball back and forth with sweet one-year-old Andie.
Relaxation. Good sleep. Movies. Games (of course many Scrabble games). Conversation. Fishing. Puzzles. Nighttime walks in 20-degree weather. Solitude.
Celebrating the simple things created meaning for our family, in balance and brightness.
Now, heading into a more furious holiday season, I pray that peace continues.
Stay tuned for my upcoming post, “Too Much Tradition?”
(Photos: God bless the cooks! Sweet baby Andie! Coughlin kids on the Fall River.)
Hi, I'm Sandy. Five years ago I stocked up on beautiful glasses from the Dollar Store. As I started writing about dinner parties, I realized that this “icon” portrays a great message. 
Sounds like a most relaxing and enjoyable weekend.
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Wow, Andie looks like a DOLL!! Seriously, at first glance, I thought she was a beautifully hand-painted doll! What a incredibly beautiful picture!
Sounds like a wonderful time. The holiday season definitely feels hectic sometimes, but I sure do enjoy spending time with good friends and also so many family members that we just don’t get to see on a regular basis.
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Great post. And I look forward to the next one. I’m still learning how to wisely prune the holiday season. I want to end up with a balance of festivity and peace. But balance is hard, especially in our culture.
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Gratitude and simplicity! I love it! I need to remember to keep that theme going in my own life this holiday season.
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Handsome-lookin’ bunch and Andie is soooo cute! Do they rent her out?!?!
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Simplicity…. I need to learn how to do that.
Sounds like a wonderful, special, memory-filled time spent with friends.
-Andrea
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Sounds like a picture perfect holiday, Sandy! What fun!
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“Too much Tradition” That is a hook for me, I will be back. Set me free Sandy, set me freeeeeeeeee
;>)
Andie is just beautiful!
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Sounds most relaxing and absolutely perfect! Thanks for dropping by and by all means come on down! I was reminded that I forgot a few dishes which I posted about today. So…what’s a few more people?? LOL!
Love,
Julie
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Sounds like you had a wonderful holiday!
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Sounds and looks like you had a fabulously wonderful time enjoying the things that matter most… friends and family!!
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I am definitely one for cultivating a thankful heart.
“Relaxation. Good sleep. Movies. Games (of course many Scrabble games). Conversation. Fishing. Puzzles. Nighttime walks in 20-degree weather. Solitude.”
Sounds absolutely perfect to me!
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Sounds lovely and peaceful.
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