Happy Thanksgiving and warm wishes of gratitude from all of us at PFP! Enjoy these favorite traditions from our team.
Steve Martin
Our Thanksgiving traditions involve family, food, and good conversations (and football). Each year, we gather as many of us as we can (hopefully 20 this year) around one big table and enjoy a traditional turkey dinner. I am a fan of mashed potatoes, stuffing, and pumpkin pie.
We celebrate our family. We talk about the blessings we received during the past year, our victories, memories, and the lessons we learned - both big and small – usually enveloped in quite a bit of laughter.
Then, we talk about possibilities – and share our excitement, hopes, and dreams for the year ahead. Whether it's big or small changes, travel plans, or simple hopes for more days just like this one.
Dallas Scoffield
Pie Night is a beloved family tradition that takes place every year on the night before Thanksgiving. The extended family gathers together to celebrate with an array of homemade pies, from classic pumpkin and apple to more adventurous flavors like salted caramel pecan and chocolate cream. We always felt sad that we couldn't really enjoy the pies because we were all too full from Thanksgiving dinner; thus, Pie Night the night before Thanksgiving was born.
Laughter fills the air as everyone shares stories, enjoys a slice (or two), and makes memories in anticipation of the big holiday feast. It's a warm, cozy evening that sets the tone for a season of gratitude and togetherness.
Jessica Robinson
Feast and Football - need I say more?!
While each of these items is one of my favorite things independently, put them together and I have a mighty fun day! I grew up watching football every Sunday and on Thanksgiving, so the combination of the two is now ingrained in my DNA. Even if I cannot watch the games in full due to cooking and socializing, I need to at least hear the commentary and play-by-play action in the background, or it feels like something is missing. I wait to go for "seconds" from my Thanksgiving meal until the last annual Madden Thanksgiving Turkey legs are handed out to the star football players from each game, which then completes my day. 🙂
P.S. If you are wondering, I always root for the Detroit Lions to win their game and the Dallas Cowboys to lose theirs. I like a good underdog, so Detroit seems to always be in that position, and well, I just cannot root for Dallas since I was a Steelers fan as a kid. Sorry, Dallas fans!
Jendra Tillman .
One of my favorite Thanksgiving traditions for my daughter and me begins on Thanksgiving eve. Right before bedtime we end the evening making popcorn together and watching a classic that has been enjoyed by families for generations - "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving." What a heartwarming reminder of the simple joys of Thanksgiving, like sharing food and gratitude with loved ones with a dash of Charlie Brown's lovable antics.
Lydia Staggers
One of my favorite Thanksgiving traditions involves a gratitude-focused craft that has grown with our family. When my children were young, we created a construction paper turkey on the wall, inviting family and guests to write what they're thankful for on colorful feathers. As they grew older, we transitioned to an autumn "thankful" tree.
During our Thanksgiving meal, we read these reflections aloud, sharing not just the good things, but also unexpected blessings that came through difficulties or trials. Then the children attach the feathers or leaves to the main craft. This simple activity has helped us engage with our children, learn more about each other, and deepen our family's sense of gratitude.
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