It's been a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend

Andrew left about 45 minutes ago to drive east and return his mother to the neighbor who will take her the rest of the way.  We are so very grateful for the neighbors who were willing to help out with this trip, and we are so very grateful that my mother-in-law was willing to come for the week.  I know that she was fairly emotional about things, but I also know that being here was good medicine for her soul.

While the day of Thanksgiving itself was not my most favorite, I'm grateful the weekend overall was one of my most favorites.  The house is decorated and picked up...fingers crossed it stays that way!  We decorated the trees first to make certain we could get them done while everyone was around.  Andrew's mother thoroughly enjoyed watching us unwrap all of the memories that we hang on the tree each year, as well as the memories that we place throughout our home.  We have many decorations that were made by my mother-in-law or even her mother, we have many that were made by my grandmother, and we even have one that was hand-carved by my great-uncle.  We have decorations that were gifts to my grandmothers and now we get to enjoy them as well.  And we have decorations that are just fun.

The OSU/*ichigan game (you understand if you're from here) did not at all go the way we wanted, and my mother-in-law laughed at the exuberance with which we watch the game.  I wasn't too happy about the outcome of the Iron Bowl either, but I think our Irish still have a shot at making the playoffs this year!

More than anything, we made sure Andrew's mom laughed.  We began watching some of our favorite episodes of our favorite shows, and she would just laugh and laugh.  She even said her sides hurt from laughing so hard.  I know she especially enjoyed all of the laughter.

We are hoping to get up to see my grandmother today since she didn't feel well when we hoped to see her the other day, and real life begins again tomorrow.  It's a little hard not to wish it was a week ago when all of the fun was beginning, but I'm just going to take the full and peaceful feeling in my heart, and remember to enjoy even the crazy busy days!