Most people spend Thanksgiving with family. We did too. Only this family is not of flesh and blood or even law. They are friends. Some might even call them strangers.
I didn’t grow up in a home that had formal Thanksgivings. We’d cook as much food as we could manage and open our doors to whomever wanted to eat whenever they wanted to eat. It was a time for sharing, for being thankful for all the people in our lives, family and friends. So this year, when someone asked me where a good place to get Thanksgiving dinner was, I couldn’t help, but say “WITH US!”
Casey and I were standing in line to see an incredible Bluegrass band at the Station Inn, and quickly struck up conversation with the couple in front of us. It didn’t take us long to find out they were visiting from Massachusetts, one of their sons was coming in from Florida and they were pondering their Thanksgiving plans. We didn’t know it when we invited them to join us, but they are one awesome couple. We spent the next two hours getting to know each other and then enjoyed some ridiculously good music. We left with the hope that we’d see them in a few days over a delicious Thanksgiving meal.
Not even a week later, 14 people, friends, strangers and family, joined together to give thanks, enjoy abundant food, and share lots of laughter. From Hawaii and Florida to Massachusetts and Chicago, we gathered in Nashville to spend 8+ hours together as a family. It was truly a picture of Heaven on Earth, and a Thanksgiving I won’t soon forget.
Our new friends!
The whole family, less Amy
Our gracious hosts, the Fields
7 women worked together to prepare the meal
So this year, I’m thankful that Casey took me on that date to Station Inn. I’m thankful that God put us in line behind Lynnae and Denis. I’m thankful that Amy and Clint were generous enough to not only invite us to their home, but to welcome our new friends with open arms. And I’m especially thankful that family is not bound by blood or law.
Do you think if we all opened up our homes on Thanksgiving we’d have a whole lot more to be thankful for?
Oh and our new friends are avid travelers. They spent 1 month here and have since popped over to Florida for a few months. Check out their travel blog, Travels with Tucker.
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