What I like to call 'the mess hall years' are one of the many things I am thankful for.
I am one of the privileged few who have dined in the mess hall for Thanksgiving dinner.
My dad was stationed in Germany for the second time, and this second time around he insisted on taking his family with him. For three whole years.
It was hard being away from my grandma - my mom, my brother, my grandma and I were freakishly close.
And Thanksgiving was my grandma's day to shine.
So when Thanksgiving came around, my mom didn't cook anything at all. We piled in the car, drove on base and went to the mess hall.
I thought she was mistaken. Where's my homemade dressing and gravy?
NO, none of that...We were eating at the mess hall - which would be where we had every Thanksgiving while we lived in Germany.
We were right there on base, with the soldiers dressed in their BDU`s - single guys who lived in the barracks, who didn't even have their families to eat with that day.
Thankful.
Thankful.
Thankful.
I'm so thankful for people who sacrifice, and believe in good things.
I'm so thankful for heroes, and courage.
I'm so thankful for love.
And, okay, I was really thankful when we came back home and I experienced a REAL (read: my grandma's) Thanksgiving dinner again.
I miss Thanksgiving at my grandparents'...
ReplyDeleteI miss Thanksgiving with my grandma...
DeleteI still remain so thankful I had my time with her.
Beautiful :)
ReplyDeleteXo
Thanks :) :)
DeleteSo the mess hall was true to its name and rather messy? haha No place like home after one is to roam
ReplyDeleteYou know, I never did find out why it was called that... I'll have to ask my mom, she would know. 'Mess' doesn't sound very appetizing!
DeleteHappy Thanksgiving, Michelle.
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving Susie!!
DeleteWe don't have Thanksgiving over here, but I love the idea of it. Anything that encourages us to take time out and think about giving thanks has got to be good.
ReplyDeleteThere's no reason why you couldn't adopt it!
DeleteThanksgiving's always been my favorite holiday. The last couple of years, my enthusiasm for it has waned...I've been grieving. I'm hoping this year will be better for all of us. :)
Wow. That's another thing that gets me. I think of all those serving in the military and I start to tear up. The sacrifice on the soldiers behalves, on their families behalves... Greater love hath no man, eh?
ReplyDeleteIt's so true...I've seen so many young men from our church grow up and go over to Iraq an Afghanistan and they're so brave, and their moms, OMG!
DeleteFor me, it was by far the hardest holiday to spend abroad. So many do it every year in the line of duty. Great post!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteYes, I agree. I'm in awe of them every day.