Today is all about who you will be visiting this holiday weekend, or who you will be hosting as visitors. Wherever you'll be and whomever you'll be with, promise me you'll take lots of people shots. Especially look for opportunities to capture candidly loved ones interacting. These will be the pictures you look back on and cherish.
One of the smartest things I've ever done as a record keeper, is start a Thanksgiving Book. It is in its 18th year and is essentially a record of who we've spent the Thanksgiving holiday with.
It is an 81/2 x 11 album that looks more like a 3-ring binder inside.
Actually, now that I think about it. My original Thanksgiving book was a fabric covered 3-ring binder. It was covered in the fabric that is on this title page. I'm pretty sure I ordered the album I have now from Stampin' Up! (years ago.) I remember color copying the old fabric cover and feeling really clever.
Each year, everyone is invited to make an entry in the Thanksgiving book and each year, almost everyone complains, "Do I have to write in that thing, again?" The funny thing is everyone asks about the Thanksgiving book and whether or not I'm bringing it or will have it out. Everyone wants to see this book, flip through it, find their entries from previous years and enjoy looking back on past celebrations.
My first entry in 1991, records that I was thankful to be visiting with my husband in Seattle (we were living in Chicago.) We had come to be a part of my brother's wedding (he now has 3 children and lives in Utah.) I was especially thankful that my mother-in-law, Valerie was still with us (she passed six weeks later.)
While scrapbooking was clearly in my blood, I had no idea scrapbooking was my future!
There is some form of a scrapbook page that divides each year's entries from the next. In 1997 when Geoff was in residency in Salt Lake City, several of my family members got up early on Thanksgiving and ran the Cold Turkey race up City Creek Canyon. It snowed and we were freeeeeezing! I color copied the T-shirt to use as the divider page.
This divider page features a handful of my mother's Thanksgiving recipes. She is holding what we call Danish fruit salad. It's deep purple color comes from canned cherries. I'll be preparing this salad later today!
In 2000, I asked friends and family to write a list of 10 simple pleasures.
Here's my dad's list:
1. the U.S. Constitution (Dad noted that we did not yet know who our president would be)
2. artificial hips (he has one)
3. glasses (wears them)
4. medical insurance (cancer survivor)
5. five great kids and grandkids who live faithful lives (so far)
6. that I picked a trophy wife on the first try
7. the ability to hike, bike, hunt, etc..
8. peppermint tea
9.a wood burning stove
10. a fun interesting job (wildlife veterinarian)
Dad added a #11: Good luck -- when I was young I wanted to marry a beautiful girl, have five children, become a veterinarian and work on wildlife. So here I am, I've been blessed beyond my greatest expectations.
If this doesn't encourage you to grab an empty 81/2 x 11 album and start your own Thanksgiving Book, I don't know what will. I absolutely treasure these entries and the record they've become.
I'm *hopefully* making my 2009 divider page today. It will feature a turkey that Taft drew by tracing his hand. I'll post it when I get it done.
(edited 11.26.09) Here it is!
(check out the cute stacks of Crayola letter stickers. I found them at Target!)
Happy Thanksgiving!
Leave a comment and tell us where you'll be and who you'll be with -- and don't forget to take people photos!
