Talking Turkey

When I was a kid, if an adult said it was time to "talk turkey" they meant the conversation was about to get serious.  That's not what I mean by the title of this post.  Not At All.

Please zoom in to see Nathan's expression and Spencer's reaction

This post is my opportunity to share some of my favorite pictures from our resplendent Thanksgiving Day celebration.  Please note I didn't say it was perfect because we were missing the McGhee portion of our family.  And let's be honest, has there ever really been a perfect family gathering?  But all those present had a wonderful time.

There were the Noni and the Papa.  Along with the middle daughter and son, our own Schrecks.  As well as the youngest daughter and son, our part of the Smith clan.  Eight of our nine perfect grandchildren completed the lunch/dinner party.

Usually, we try to eat early in order to accommodate nap time for babies.  That means everyone enjoys themselves as much as possible before the magical hour of 2PM at which point all small people are rushed to the front door, loaded in carseats and whisked home before they can turn into little monsters.  This year, they were given the opportunity to stay as long as everyone remained pleasant. There were no meltdowns so they all stayed until after 6PM  It was marvelous.

There was a lot of porch-sitting and baby holding.  Some rolling down a hill and even some tree climbing.

Papa and Zach

Andrew, Ava and Madi

Andrew graciously put up with the most squeezing because at three months what can you do but scream a complaint?  And if you do, then everyone clamors to be the first to rock you back to a peaceful state.  Looking at it from his perspective, it's a no win situation.

Noni and Abby

Auntie Joy and Andrew

 (I have a terrific picture of four guys in an oak tree but I have spent fifteen frustrating minutes trying to make them stay in this spot.  The photo has taken a mind of its own and keeps jumping to various places all over the post.  I was forced to exercise an editorial decision and remove it.  Hopefully, you'll see our climbers in a future post.)

 Then there was the problem of the lost shoe.  The big boys played a lot of football and frisbee in our backyard.  At one point, Noah was going to kick the ball and his tennis shoe came right off, spun in the air and came to rest in our crepe myrtle tree.  Do you see it?  Fortunately, Grayson was coming on the scene to help retrieve the shoe if needed.
(If you zoom in you can find the red tennis shoe sitting proudly in the tree top.)

Meagan - Always the Teacher

Of course, after everyone had eaten their fill of turkey and all the accompanying side dishes it was time for some football watching and even a bit of napping.  While the fellas and babies did that, Aunt Meagan held a craft session with the middle-aged babies.  Noni will soon be the owner of a train made of popsicle sticks and pipe cleaners.  It has written across the top "Grand Central Station" and will frame pictures of. . . you guessed it, grandchildren.

Sorry about the glare - you get the idea.

Parker Franklin BEFORE Traffic     

At the time of finishing this post, our McGhee family is caught in traffic on their way home from GA.  If you've ever been stuck in the gridlock known as I-4 through Orlando, you have empathy for them.  (Even post gridlock you empathize.  I-4 is a never to be forgotten experience.)

I do hope your Thanksgiving Day was also a picture of "Perfect Imperfection."  That's what all family experiences are, right?  Not at all what the Hallmark movies would portray.  Real family gatherings more often involve lots of loudly opinionated, extremely intense, differently minded, overly sensitive individuals.  They all love one another enough to come together anyway.  And that's the richness of family.

Frank and I used to love reminding people of this truth when doing family conferences.  He would share in a humorous way, "Be aware that at the end of every large family gathering each individual family gets into their car and drives away saying, 'We are the only normal ones in the entire clan!' "

If you're blessed with real family that Talks Turkey, I'll bet you laughed out loud!


We'd love to hear about your holiday experiences.  Please stop by the comment box below.  It's our favorite part of any blog.   

Joyful Morphing

If you are visiting Embrace the Grace from your comfortable living room in the United States, I wish you Happy Thanksgiving!  (If you're visiting from another country, I wish you Happy Day!)  Here's a little something to give you a smile wherever you find yourself today.

My post is about this average-looking basket of laundry.  Sitting on an average dining room table.

Those who have read this blog for many years know our family started with just Frank, Sheri and three precious daughters.  Those daughters grew up (as children will do) and they went off to college and ended up marrying three wonderful men.  That took our family of five to a family of eight.

Fast forward another few years and those precious young couples decided to add children of their own.  (Oh, Happy Day!)  Our family of eight has at this point added nine grandchildren taking us to a family of (wait, let me take off my shoes to help count) . . . SEVENTEEN!

Yep, seventeen.  We have morphed from an average-sized family into a full-blown Tribe.

When we first moved to Florida, it was agreed we would all meet for dinner once a week.  Monday night was the time set aside and we all held it as a rather sacred time.  Through the adding of two new sons and five grandchildren, this schedule continued to work.

When our third son came on the scene, he already had a similar arrangement with his family who live locally. . . time to morph a bit.  We went to every other Monday night.  This gave them the opportunity to alternate with us and everyone adapted.

We used that arrangement for almost five years.  Even while adding more grandchildren, we all kept meeting twice a month for family dinner.

Then came 2019 and one daughter went back to school with classes on Monday-Thursday.

HMMMM, what to do?  The original five Hawleys met for breakfast and discussed many options.  Finally, we decided to morph again.  Family Dinner has now become Family Breakfast one Saturday per month.

Now some will wonder, "Don't you miss having the time together every Monday night?"  Well, of course we do.  But all of life is about compromise and change.  I can embrace that or fight it.  Believe me, embracing is the better choice.

The bonus has been our impromptu dinners.  Like last Sunday.

The Schrecks had planned to have left-overs for lunch after church.  They invited the Smiths because they had so much food.  The McGhees overheard their plans, so they invited them, too.  That's when I got a phone call.

"Mom, everyone is coming to our house for lunch.  It's just left-overs but would you and dad like to come, too?"

Let's think about this.  All nine of our grandchildren in one location?  All six of our adult children there as well?  I don't have to cook?  "ABSOLUTELY!  What can we bring?"

We stopped at the grocery store and picked up a couple items to add to the party.  Then headed to the joy of an impromptu family dinner.  Our weather has finally started cooling off a bit so we can be outside.

The big kids were playing basketball.  The littles were playing on the pirate ship.  Someone was on the trampoline.  Kitty (the great dane puppy) was doing laps in her pen. And the adults all sat around talking while the oven heated the food which had suddenly become secondary.  The connecting was the priority.

When you see the next two pictures, try and guess what we enjoyed for a main dish . . .

Parker Franklin McGhee (18 months)

Ava Quinn Schreck  (2 1/2)

 If you guessed SPAGHETTI, you win!  (No prizes available today, simply bragging rights.)  We also had grilled chicken, veggies, rolls and corn on our eclectic menu.  But no one was complaining.

We all knew this was a brilliant moment to be savored.  Yes, there was some loud arguing.  There were a couple of mishaps with solo cups.  Even a plate ended up flipping and needed to be refilled.

Still we chose to enjoy the morphing instead of resisting it.   What does all this have to do with a basket of laundry?  Perhaps a couple of additional pictures will help explain.  (As you know, I'm still learning how to post pictures.  I added these but couldn't figure out how to put in a closing paragraph.  Feel free to finish the post in the comment section.)

Can you see the Joy?  Look a little closer . . .




Our very own newest member of the tribe - Andrew Ryder Smith (3 months)

A TRUE Fairytale

I have for you today a delightful fairytale that happens to be completely true.

It begins (as most fairytales) with a journey.  A journey involving these three little girls and these three little boys.

There was a lovely mommy who needed a full morning to complete an assignment for school.  The daddy was not available to care for the precious children because he was completing a work assignment.  Enter the grandmother and aunt who fully believe in the childcare mantra "Divide and Conquer!"

It was decided that the three little girls would take their giggles and wiggles for a visit to Grandma's house.  The boys with their rough and tumble ways would go home with Aunt Memeh and Uncle Nathan for slaying dragons and such.

Arrangements were settled.  Seat belts were buckled.  Radios were set to play music the little pilgrims could sing along with.  And off they all went.

The three amigos had a splendid time being outdoors with Uncle Nathan.  Their time involved moat jumping (trampoline time) and rock hurling (basketball) and even some crusading (baseball at a park.)  Kudos to Sir Nathan!

But the little girls were in for quite a different experience.

You see, Grandmother had recently stumbled upon three frilly frocks at a yard sale.  She gladly spent the $9 required to purchase princess dresses replete with satin and tulle and sparkles and all manner of princess-y material.  She had then tucked them away for just such a moment of adventure.

Once the little girl travelers arrived, Grandmother announced her plans for their morning.  The house echoed with squealing and giggling and cheering.  The lovely gowns were donned post haste by the trio of lasses.

(In case you're concerned, the grandfather was safely hidden away in his office at church finishing his sermon.)

Here we see the result of ordinary little girls being transformed into extraordinary, lovely princesses.

You're right, that's a LOT of pink.  But they were each delighted with the dress that best fit them.  And have you ever seen such genuine smiles?

Fortunately the eldest, Princess Abigail, had remembered to bring her travel kit containing some blush, a bit of clear lipstick and nail polish.  Every lady knows these to be key elements for dressing well.

Grandmother felt it best to move the poofing and pampering activities outdoors.  Fresh air is SO vital for the formation of healthy lungs, rosy cheeks and for the safe painting of tiny nails.  Please notice the intensity with which these sojourners worked.  Nothing could be left to chance.  

Noni - uh, I mean Grandmother - did eventually come on the scene to aid in the final application of nail polish.  That way only nails would be pink, not entire fingers.

As the day was cool, the damsels requested moving their party to the tower (aka playground.)  The motion was seconded and they quickly took over the "tower, carriage and moat swings."

Princess Madison Riley directing the tower.

Princess Abigail Grace joining her for a carriage ride.

Princess Ava Quinn conquered the moat swing.

Naturally, the refreshments for this day of travel included hot tea and biscuits.  These damsels are well acquainted with fairytale fare.  We carried on with pretending and even some photographing as such journeys are so rare these days.  

All too soon, the time allotted for travel had come to an end and it was time for the Grandmother to release the lovely ladies to the dads who love them best.  That's when an idea hit the Grandmother and she begged them to tarry one minute longer.

She wanted to capture the modern equivalent of a picture from long ago.  You see, these little princess girls are the daughters of an original trio.

The Original Trio

 The Trio of Today

Do you recognize the matching eyes of sweetness?  (Please bear in mind that all nine of our grandchildren look just like their fathers.  Any sign of our daughters' features is a moment of celebration I assure you.)

Needless to say, the Grandmother kissed each precious head tenderly before sending them off on the second leg of their day-long journey.  While doing so, she remembered kissing her original trio only yesterday it seemed.  

The transporting dad rolled down the windows of the departing carriage (aka Dodge Ram) and Grandmother echoed the Princesses as they called out their customary farewells.  "See you later alligator."  "After while crocodile."  This went on until the carriage exhaust drowned out the echoes.

The tired Grandmother walked slowly back into the castle.  She swiped at a stray tear then plopped on her couch . . . contentedly. 

The End

Fake Flannel and Flipflops

Ah, the joys of living in Florida!  Our famous tropical climate and tourist attractions draw people from all over the world.  But this is the time of year when every full time FL resident envies the rest of our country.

We see your pictures of colorful leaves, brilliant reds and yellows.  We follow as you drive along country roads taking in the gorgeous fall scenery.  We imagine the crisp air that startles your lungs causing you to begin wearing cute jackets and boots.  We drool over your lovely scarves and perky hats.  We long to enjoy the laughter and camaraderie that accompany warming your cold hands over a toasty fire.  Sipping hot chocolate and roasting marshmallows with friends.  Fall as it should be.

Back in Florida?  It was 92 degrees here last week!  92!!  Factor in the humidity and you'd think it was still summer, not fall.  Please remember, I lived in North Carolina for over 25 years.  I know what the change of seasons feels like.  This ain't it!

So, how do we Floridians compensate for our lack of cool weather?  We fake it.  Yep, faking is totally allowed in certain situations and this is one of them.  For instance, this picture . . .

This was taken Saturday at a local fall festival.  Colorful leaves . . . Fake.  Hay bales . . . bought them.  Scarecrow . . . on a stick.

Frank and I are both in shirts that look just like ones we would be wearing in NC, only they aren't.  Mine is fake flannel.  It looks like flannel but it's really cotton, so is Frank's.  You'll notice he's wearing shorts.  You can't see my flip flops but I'm wearing them.  And if you look closely, we're both sweating! Not just perspiring, Sweating.

We rendezvous'd with Kristin and Meagan to enjoy some festival time with the babies.  (Unfortunately, the Schrecks were sick and couldn't attend.)

Riding the Train with Smiths

Grayson needed a close up

Why yes, that IS a narrow train

Many of the people we saw were making an effort to wear fall colors.  However, stores don't typically sell shorts in the rich hues of autumn.  I was wearing jeans but we've already established how HOT I was in them. 

Cody's department planned this fun event

The festival was scheduled for 10-2  which is the best time for people to walk around without experiencing heat exhaustion.  We rode the train.  I dared the teacups.  (Only because Madi and Noah really wanted to ride.)  We watched the cloggers dancing.  We snapped pictures and listened to music.  We bought water - definitely not hot chocolate.

I especially loved this picture of Frank holding Grayson and Parker.  It looks like the three of them are sharing a secret.

Papa and his boys

As soon as I got home, I peeled off my fake flannel shirt and jeans opting for a lighter sleeveless number and shorts.  Whew!  Did I mention we're topping out with record heat indexes?

I can hear some of you now.  "Whine!  Whine!  Whine!  Sheri, you'll be thankful for those temperatures in January."

And you're right!  I will be grateful.  I have gotten spoiled with our ability to be outdoors during winter months.  I am grateful for the lower humidity that keeps the air from enveloping my face like clear plastic wrap every time we step outside.  I'm glad we can turn the air conditioning off for most of January and February.

Believe me, I do count my blessings.  But every so often, I miss cold weather.  And when I can't make a trip to NC or TN, I make the air conditioning colder, break out my fake flannel shirt and sip hot tea in front of my fake fireplace.  It's the next best thing to being there.

Hope you're enjoying a fabulous fall in your neck of the woods!



How about you?  Have you lived in multiple locations and had to adjust to different types of weather?  What signals "fall" at your house?  Are you enjoying snow already?  We'd love to hear about your experience in the comment section.