Early Turkey Dinner

I've had a turkey from last year that Kroger gave to their employees (don't worry, the sell by date was in 2011) that we finally decided to make. Eric and I both didn't have to work and had the entire day to figure out how to make a turkey and make all the other dishes to go with it.

I'm not going to lie...I think the turkey turned out pretty well for it being our first time to make a turkey.

It was slightly dry and I don't know why really, but I am going to blame the ancient oven in our apartment! Ha!

To go with the turkey I made my mom's sweet potato casserole, baked corn and dressing. Allison made the mashed potatoes and gingerbread cake. Delicious!

Here's my handsome hubs with the turkey.

And the two of us.

4 years later...

Next Friday, the 19th, will be 4 years after my precious mom passed. Sometimes it doesn't even seem possible that it's been four years, but other times it seems like eternity since I've talked to her or hugged her. What hurts me most is all of the things she has missed or will miss. She and Dad always stressed the importance of college; she wasn't here to see me walk across that stage. I watched she and Dad have the most loving marriage, and she wasn't able to "give me away" with my dad. I've always seen weddings as a special time between the bride and her mother. Unfortunately I wasn't able to share all of those special moments with Mom. I wish she were able to see her grandkids - to love them and spoil them rotten.

I'm not bitter. At times I still am not able to give one good reason why things turned out the way they did, but I do not blame anyone - not her, myself or God. All I know and can live by is her life and example. She was a special mother, wife, sister and friend. I pray that I can make her proud and love others the way she did.