The teenage season of parenthood has been upon us for several years now. This is our first fall to have a child leave home to attend college. We have not seen her often, as she has become involved in campus organizations and college ministry. We are proud of her work in school and are very much looking forward to having all our children at home for Thanksgiving.
It just so happens, three of our children have birthdays that fall in a two-week period in November and December. We have dubbed this time of year, the Harris birthday marathon. This year’s birthday marathon will be known as the outdoorsman year.
Our oldest son kicks off with the first birthday – his 15th. This year he requested a family dinner at a local hibachi grill restaurant. We enjoyed gathering to celebrate with him and had a lot of leftovers for lunch when it was finished. This past weekend, two of his best friends came out and spent a couple of days getting a fishing boat ready. They took the boat out fishing for the first annual birthday fishing tournament. It was very windy so I think they did more boating than fishing, but the boys enjoyed being on the White River. They ate their weight in chicken wings and cheeseburgers and I successfully baked my first cookie cake.
Our oldest daughter’s 19th birthday falls on Thanksgiving Day this year. We have plans to host dinner with our Missouri family that day. Our local high school football team is still in the playoffs so it will be nice to be able to stay home and have everyone join us for the Friday night game. She opted to invite her high school friends over the Saturday following Thanksgiving for a bonfire. We have not seen many of her friends since August as they all scattered for their first semester of college. It will be a fun night of catching up, laughter and s’mores. Who can say no to a bonfire in the country?
Our youngest daughter will turn 17 in December, I am not sure what kind of plans she will make to celebrate. It will likely involve friends and some type of Mexican food. She’s our Pearl Harbor Day baby so we can always expect something of a surprise.
As our children have gotten older, we have watched them grow up with great friends who are growing up too. Part of the joy of gathering for any kind of celebration is catching up with all their buddies.
Over the years, my husband has maintained his friendships with his high school and college buddies. Over the last few years, they have comforted one another in the passing of parents and siblings. We have celebrated graduations, weddings and even the birth of a few grandchildren! Since many of them have reached their 50th birthday, we have all become more intentional with getting together to catch up and let our children hang out together. Life is short but our relationships are so important to us.
This holiday season, I am thankful for many things but the sweetest of these things is friendship. I hope as your family gathers for Thanksgiving and Christmas that you will have wonderful fellowship, neighbor.
Jody Harris is a freelance communications specialist, gardener, ranch wife and mother of four. She and her family raise Angus beef cattle and other critters on their northwest Arkansas ranch. She is a graduate of Missouri State University. To contact Jody, go to ozarksfn.com and click on ‘Contact Us.’
