It’s that time of year; time for turkey, tradition, and trotting. Thanksgiving is my absolute favorite holiday and even the mere act of writing about it stirs excitement within me. With my brother living on the west coast and my sister in school in Pennsylvania, thanksgiving is the perfect excuse for everyone to temporarily abandon their stresses and responsibilities in the name of food and family- what could be better! My extended family gathers at my parent’s house for some good old fashioned home made cooking (courtesy of my incredible self-taught chef mom!)

My sister and I arise early on thanksgiving morning for our neighborhood’s five-mile turkey trot. The bitter cold of a late November morning surely jolts us awake and prepares us for the marathon style eating to follow.

After a quick shower and coffee, we head home and attempt to help my mom prepare thanksgiving dinner. I am typically declared a hopeless case when it comes to complex kitchen cooking, but I am a great taste tester, and that counts for something, right?!

The rest of my family joins us at our house and we enjoy a relaxed, laid-back style meal with the promise of delicious dessert to follow. While the food is great, the company is better.

With finals looming, it is easy to overlook all that we have to be thankful for, but while school can get crazy, I’m thankful to be at such an incredible, community-oriented nursing school. I am thankful for the friends I have met a Shady Grove, and for the incredible unyielding support of my family. The list could go on and on…

What are your Thanksgiving plans? I would love to hear about your traditions in the comments below!