Part of the tree

The past few days I have been doing a lot of cooking, as I'm sure you have too! Getting ready for Thanksgiving has been a big job, one my mom used to do when we lived in CA. Now that we live here in WA, the job falls to me to make a nice Thanksgiving for my family.
Wednesday was "baking day" for the girls and I. We made the cornbread for stuffing, tried our hand at a new recipe for whole wheat rolls, and the most impressive thing for me was that I actually attempted and successfully baked an apple pie! I have never done that before!
This morning was consumed by getting the turkey ready, and making the homemade cornbread stuffing. The stuffing was my grandmother's recipe and I have been enjoying it for 40 plus years! Usually, as I said, my mom does the stuffing, and pies, but this year (and last) I have tackled these items. As I was baking the cornbread, cutting the apples for the pie and stuffing the turkey, I couldn't help reflecting on the many years past that I have seen my own mom do these same things. In fact, as I saw my own hands mashing, rolling, kneading, it seemed as if my hands had suddenly become my mom's. How many times have I seen her doing these same tasks? The mundane actions took on a special meaning this year as I remembered my mom's love and care over my life, and saw it being passed down to my girls. I couldn't help but wonder how many women in my family tree did these same things for the holidays? How long had our family been making apple pies and cornbread stuffing? The exact food items aren't really important, I guess, but it is the continuity that binds our family together over many generations. I am glad to be a part of this heritage and sense of tradition. I love including my girls in these things too, knowing that someday they will look back on these tasks with fondness.
I am so thankful that my mom took the time each year to make our Thanksgiving special, and to spend time with me passing down this heritage.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!