We planned for the family to gather and enjoy a great meal. We reminisced through old memories and created new ones. We officially started the Christmas season by crowding into our living room to watch “White Christmas” together.
Now what?
Well, before we leave Thanksgiving behind it’s important to complete the last step of the planning process: reflection. The three steps to this process are:
1 – Create a plan complete with details like timelines, recipes, guest lists, task lists.
2 – Execute the plan
3 – Reflect on the execution of the plan: what you want to do again next time,what you don’t want to do again, and what you would like to add next time.
This step is often neglected or disregarded in the planning process. However, reflection is needed so we don’t have to start from scratch the next time we plan the same or a similar event. The key is record your reflections in a journal, planning notebook, or as added notes to a computer document that is saved for the next year. The last one is my preferred option.
I take my printed plan that I have scribbled notes on and sit down with a cup of coffee or tea and my laptop. I transfer my scribbles to my computer file along with my reflections and save it to my “Planning’ file where I can easily access it when it is time to plan the next time. A few of this year’s reflections include:
I loved my tablescape. It was simple and (I thought) beautiful.
Don’t plan much for lunch even though we eat dinner late. Have sandwich making supplies on hand and some fruit so everyone can help themselves. That will keep everyone’s blood sugar from dropping to grumpy levels but doesn’t add additional cooking to the task list.
This was first year that we brined our turkey and I don’t think we will ever not brine our turkey again! It was the moistest more flavorful turkey we have ever had!
The new twists to the stuffing recipe (learned from an episode of Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives) is definitely a keeper too!
The world does not end and nobody cares if the rolls are “Brown ‘n’ Serve” instead of homemade. There are enough “from scratch” dishes and no need to make myself crazy.
We will keep the “butter making” tradition in to the new generation. Uncle Justin helped Nora this year since she was the only child at our celebration. (Pint of heavy whipping cream and 1/8 teaspoon salt in a major jar with a tight lid. Shake until butter forms. Drain off buttermilk and shape butter. Place in bowl or on saucer to serve.) This was always a favorite of our boys when growing up.
Continue extending invitations to family, friends, and acquaintances so that no one is alone on the holiday unless they choose it.
Now it’s time for the last few Thanksgiving tasks before moving on to Christmas decorating: ironing the new thankfulness notes on the tablecloth to set them before laundering and hanging it in the closet until next year. Pack away the autumn and Thanksgiving themed dishes to make room for the winter and Christmas items, and file away the Thanksgiving plan.
I hope your Thanksgiving was as blessed as mine! I am most thankful for the gift of my Savior and God’s gift of forgiveness, and now will begin to focus on the celebration of His coming to earth as a babe so that I can be blessed with forgiveness.
Sharing my heart for home and family,
