"Hands! Hands, everyone! Hands, please!" exclaimed Grandma Jan.
Everyone around the table reduced their chatter as they looked to one another and started joining their hands together. While all the children sat on the kid table, Lizzy and Caleb were the only ones sitting with the adults, both of them nestled in between their respective parents.
"Eyes closed!" said the grandmother.
All the adults, including the two teenagers, closed their eyes while the little kids, as usual, kept theirs open.
Jan took a deep breath. "I'm thankful for all my beautiful grandchildren, especially the ones who have joined us this year, and the ones who will officially become a part of our family in a couple of weeks."
"Yeah I'm really thankful for that, too," joined in Russ. "I'm thankful to have new nieces and a nephew who changed my outlook on adoption, and I'm especially thankful to Pete and Ellie. I mean, I know I gave you a lot of shit about it last year," the little kids giggled at the swear word, "but I just want to say I'm sorry, and I'm thankful for you guys, because without you I wouldn't have two awesome kids calling me Dad."
"And I wouldn't have two amazing kids calling me Mom, either," chipped in Kim. "So I'm thankful for you, too."
"Aw you guys," said Ellie.
"Thanks guys," muttered Pete.
"Well," started Ellie. "I'm thankful for this wonderful family who, despite everything, has had my back for this past year, and has done such great job at welcoming my three wonderful kids into the family."
"Yeah, I'm thankful for that as well," added Pete.
"I'm thankful that Kimmy finally has the kids she's always wanted," continued Ellie. Her comment made everyone around the table chuckle, "and I'm thankful for my own children, who have already given me so much in such short space of time."
"The same goes for me," said Pete.
"Well I'm also thankful for my kids, my husband, and all the new nieces and nephews joining our family this year," said Linda.
"I second that," said her husband.
"Jerry, is there anything you want to say?" asked Jan.
"Just… what everyone else said," said the quiet grandfather.
"Amen," uttered everyone.
The adults opened their eyes and were about to dig into the food when a voice interrupted them.
"I want to say something," said Lizzy. Everybody stopped in their tracks and looked at her in surprise. "Is that okay?" she turned to her mom.
"Sure honey, go ahead," said Ellie.
"So, uhm…" Lizzy put a strand of hair behind her ear. "This is my first Thanksgiving and I don't really know how this works…but I just wanted to say thank you to all of you for welcoming me and my siblings into this family… I never really thought I would have something like this, so thank you. And uhm… I also want to say thank you to my Mom and Dad for being there for me, Juan and Lita. I know I didn't make it easy on you guys… but… thank you for not giving up on me. I'm really lucky to have you."
"Aw, honey."
"Sweetheart…"
Both Ellie and Pete reached over to Lizzy and took her in their arms. Lizzy closed her eyes and smiled, taking in all the love from her parents.
"Same here," said Caleb, timidly. He looked at his mom and dad and gave them a smile.
Kimmy brought a hand to her mouth as she fought back tears, then reached over to him and pulled him into a massive hug, prompting Russ to do the same and take both of them in his arms.
"Me too," said Juan from the little kids table.
"Me three!" exclaimed Lita, joining her big brother.
"And me!"
"Me four!"
And then all the little kids joined in the action, exclaiming how thankful they were to have such loving parents and such amazing family, prompting the adults to laugh at the whole scene, and to appreciate how lucky they were to have all that love going around in a single room.
