Thanksgiving at the Grand Canyon

So I wrote this whole long post about how having Thanksgiving with friends and your loved one is so amazing. It waxed poetic about the giving of thanks, about being grateful for all that we are blessed with, and about the joys and wonders of being able to spend a whole day in the kitchen chopping, baking and basting. It was lost though so I'll just list the all the epicurian creations that my dear friend Kate and I made this Thanksgiving.

-Turkey with parsley, garlic, lemon, and pepper
-Cornbread stuffing with sage, carmelized onions, and sausage (one veg as well)
-Garlic Mashed Potatoes
-Turkey Gravy
-Squash with honey and cinnamon
-Baked sweet potatoes topped with marshmellows
-Fresh green bean caserole
-Crescent Rolls
-Cranberries
-Pumpkin AND Blueberry Pie

We spent the whole day in the kitchen dancing, cooking, and drinking. It was lovely. The day culminating in our big feast complete with friends, candles, and inappropriate dinner converation. I couldn't have asked for more. I felt so blessed to have spent this holiday with good friends. While it was hard to be so far away from our families, it was so good to be in the company of our chosen family.

The day before Thanksgiving we drove up to the Grand Canyon. I love the Grand Canyon. It is a sacred place that I have treasured since the first day I stepped foot on the rim. It's very hard to describe the vast depths, the intense and definied layers of color, and far reaching opposite rim. It was Zack and Kate's first time at the canyon and I was thrilled to see their experssions and their wonder at what could create such a vast and beautiful natural wonder. Next time we go, we will definitely plan to spend a few days hiking and/or rafting. It's not a place you can experience fully from the rim. Below are a few pictures from our little adventure.