Thanksgiving at the Outer Banks, NC - Part 1

So we did something a little different this year for Thanksgiving. My sister, brother and I, along with our families rented a house in the Outer Banks, NC for the holiday! We even bought Titus along! I took SO many pictures, so I'm going to break our trip up into a few posts.

Lets' get started!

Fonzy had to work Wednesday and Elijah had basketball practice so Ezekiel, Titus and I left early. They would drive up later. Ezekiel and I packed up the truck and off we went! I LOVE the beach. I don't care what time of year it is, I'm willing to go anytime. The 3 hour trip was OK, until that last hour! The last hour was on a two lane highway, and you could only go 55mph! It took FOREVER! I was so excited when we finally pulled up to the house. This was Titus first time on the beach, so as soon as we unpacked, we headed to the beach. He was a little hesitant at first, but then he loved it. He wouldn't go into the water, but got close to it. By 9pm everyone had arrived at the house.

Thanksgiving morning my sister Karen, her husband James and I were up at 5:30am. Everyone else was still snoozing. Normally I would be too, but I wanted to see the sunrise, and once Titus heard them rustling in the kitchen he wanted to be up and out! In the kitchen, James was making his famous potato salad and took on making the mac and cheese from me. I'm so glad he did. His mac and cheese was so good! A lot better than mine would have been. While Karen and James were busy with cooking, Vicky(SIL), Titus and I headed to the beach for a bit. It was a gorgeous morning. And we saw dolphins!! About 4 or 5 of them. Such a great way to start Thanksgiving morning.
      After our beach walk, lots of coffee was consumed! Everyone was up and the cooking continued, along with some serious foosball playing throughout the day. Titus also received lots of loving. When James kids first meet Titus, I think they were a little afraid of him, but now Jaylan is his best bud!

Finally dinner was done and it was time to eat! Jay carved all the meat and Vicky set the table all nice and pretty for us. We normally just use paper plates, but we decided to be fancy this Thanksgiving and use real plates. We fancy ya'll! Everything was so good, and we all got good and stuffed!

In the evening it was spade time! Lots of trash talking and butt whipping! Karen and I kicked Fonzy and Jay's butts several times! They can't beat us! We are Spade Queens. I just realized I didn't take any pictures of our spade playing. No bueno.

I also finished my chunky cable blanket on Thanksgiving. I LOVE it. Karen tried to steal it, but that wasn't happening. I love her and all, but this blanket is all mine!

And that's the end of Thanksgiving day! Phew, that's a lot of pictures! And I still have tons from the other two days we were there. Part 2 and maybe 3 will be posted soon! There was fishing on Jeanette's Pier where we froze, but 2 fish were caught, more beach walks, lighthouse visits and a famous house from the movie Nights in Rodanthe.

Home

I went into work yesterday, and by 10:30am I knew I couldn't stay any longer. I just couldn't deal anymore. Not that anyone was being ugly or anything, I just wanted to be home. So home I went.

I've said it plenty times before, I have a love/hate relationship with cooking, but yesterday all I wanted to do was make a big pot of soup, bake cookies and knit. And that's just what I did! I got in my comfy pj's as soon as I walked in the door and got to work.

Chopping...mixing...it took my mind off the craziness of the day. Just Titus and I, and delicious smells wafting through the house. When everything was simmering and baking, I knit.

I so needed the day secluded at home. No TV, no news, very little social media. By the time Fonzy and Elijah got home the knot I had in my stomach earlier in the day had gone. We had full bellies, a roof over our head, warm beds, and each other! We are going to be OK!

BE IT!

I didn't stay up to watch the election results last night. I dreamt all night about the election, I can't remember specifics, but the elections were on my mind. The alarm went off at 5:40am. I nudged Fonzy awake, he called out to the boys to get up, we dozed back off, until the snooze went off. I nudged Fonzy again, he picked up his phone and announced Trump won. I instantly got a knot in my stomach.

I'm not one to post about politics, I avoid conflict. I want love, happiness, light. On my social media accounts, if you spew negativity and hate, I unfriend...hide, whatever it is, to take that out of my life. This world can be an ugly place, and I refuse to invite it in. Even if it is just social media. The stuff you read and watch seeps into your soul.

We are in uncertain times right now. People are scared. I'm scared. For my husband, my boys, all my family. I just want to lock us all away at home, safe and sound. But of course, that's not possible. So I will continue to pray over them, and try my hardest to spread love, kindness and beauty. Because even though it seems ugly right now, there is beauty and love all around us. We just have to search for it. And if you can't find it, then BE IT.