The Olson Odyssey: Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration this year. As always, it was a PACKED weekend! I considered myself blessed because Dusty and I get to celebrate with both sides of our family. This is so important to us and we are so grateful for the flexibility of our families that allow us to celebrate the day after so we don't have to forfeit a family every year. This year, we hosted the Olson gang (all 23 of us) at our house. It was so much fun and the weather cooperated which allowed us to eat outside. My 25 pound bird provided enough food to feed the entire neighborhood:) Everyone pitched in and brought some yummy food and we had a DELICIOUS feast! The after meal activities were organized by Oly and Uncle Gregg and they did not disappoint. We had a fierce competition of signing children's song (my group had the ants go marching and of course we won:). Gregg then organized his infamous magazine trivia game which was super fun as well. It's never dull with the Olson family:) The next day we headed up to Pasadena to my mom and dad's for another yummy meal. This year we all pitched in and brought something to help my mom out and it all came together very nicely. My mom's table looked so beautiful and you could tell she put a lot of time into it. We had a really nice time of sharing what we are grateful for and the consensus around the table this year was HEALTH. With my mom and dad both having some health stuff this year, we definitely are counting our blessings! God is good and He is present in the good and the bad. Drew and Jordyn and Dust and I even got to sneak out after the kids went to bed for a little adult time at the wine bar! It was so fun to be together! We are so blessed by our family, both the Olson's and the Davis'. This year, I was especially thankful for the health of my kids. I am constantly reminded that I need to remember, even on days that are SO HARD, they could be gone in an instant, so to cherish EVERY SINGLE moment with them, tantrums included:) So even though my kids had bad colds and we were wiping noses all weekend, we had a blast being surrounded by family and enjoying these little ones that bring SO MUCH joy to our lives! Lastly, I am so grateful for the cross and the fact that Jesus chose to save me as a sinner. I don't have to earn His love. He loves me just the way I am (trust me when I tell what a gift this is:) I am so excited to enter this season of celebrating Him and all He means to my life.

My 25 pounder soaking in brine