Written by PR Workshop
Lydia Carlson – Family
My favorite part of Thanksgiving is spending time with my family. Between the two sides of my family, I have eighteen cousins, fourteen aunts and uncles, and four grandparents. That doesn’t even include my second cousins, great aunts and uncles, and other relatives I don’t even know how to describe. My dad’s side is all in Minnesota, so I get to see my nine cousins from that side (ages 10-18) for nearly every holiday. I took this for granted as a younger kid, but now that most of us are in high school and upperclassmen in college this time gets even more precious. The inside jokes, catching up on life plans, getting passed up by the boy cousin you never thought would make it past five-five…it’s all a huge blessing. I’m so thankful for the ritual of the holidays in bringing us back together under one roof.
Brynn Kolbrek – Thanksgiving Break
Thanksgiving break means a break, right!? My favorite part of Thanksgiving is that I get a break from school!… Kind of. Whether or not I have homework, I will kick my feet up, eat food, spend time with my family, play games, and most importantly, begin the Christmas festivities.
Olivia Anselment – Gratitude and Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a time of showing gratitude over our lives. The Charlie Brown Thanksgiving reminds me every year of the journey the Pilgrims had all the way across the Atlantic, then struggling to survive their first few months, facing an early winter and many deaths, then finally surviving to the spring and come autumn, a bountiful harvest.
While a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving takes a more lighthearted approach to the story, it holds true to the reason they all got together for a grand feast. The tradition has been passed down to today, where we rejoice and express our gratitude and remember the things and the life the Lord has blessed us with, all while cuddling up to watch a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving in the warmth of our own homes. What a gift.
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Diane Cruz Mejia – Arroz con Gandules
My favorite part of Thanksgiving comes from my dad, who brings the celebration to life with his signature arroz con gandules, which translates to “rice with beans.” Every year, he sets the start of the holiday the moment he pulls out the giant pot that covers the whole stove. As the kitchen fills with smoky, warm aromas, our entire family fills with excitement. I never catch him during the prep, but I always know the exact moment the cooking begins. After the holiday, we dive into a week’s worth of leftovers, and no one ever complains. We wait all year for this rice, and it always delivers.
Reese Gorney – Pink Fluff
Pink Fluff has been a tradition in my family ever since I was a toddler. My darling grandmother makes it every year, no matter who hosts! The dish comes from a Lutheran cookbook and it actually started as “Orange Delight,” a dessert made from orange Jello, mandarin oranges, and whipped cream. When that wasn’t a hit its first year, my grandmother changed the fruit to peaches—and with a bunch of picky grandkids, that went over even more poorly! She decided to consult the public and asked us our preferred flavor of Jello—which was, of course, strawberry. The next year, my grandmother proudly presented her new creation. Our response: “This is pretty good, but it would be even better without the fruit!” The next year, Pink Fluff was born: part strawberry Jello, part whipped cream, part ice cream, not a bit healthy, and 100% delicious. The rest, as they say, is history.
Pink Fluff Recipe
6 oz. Box jello
1 pint vanilla ice cream
1 pint whipping cream
Prep jello according to directions on box. Mix in ice cream til melted. Refrigerate til starting to thicken. Stir in whipped cream and spread in 9×13 pan. Chill. Will cut into squares easily or serve with large spoon.
Mrs. Marshall – The Turkey
Well, my favorite part of Thanksgiving is the turkey stuffing!
Happy Thanksgiving from PR Workshop!
