Thanksgiving is the annual celebration where families gather to give thanks, eat lots of food, play games, socialize and watch football. The traditional Thanksgiving meal revolves around turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and vegetables. Sometimes yams (or sweet potatoes) are served and the meal is traditionally rounded off with a pumpkin or apple pie.

 

How do some people enjoy the holiday? What do they typically serve? What are some childhood memories and what are they  thankful for? Here are our subjects.

 

Karleen has fond memories of her childhood’s Thanksgiving where she spent time with her siblings and cousins playing games.

 

“We spent time playing the ‘black magic’ game, ping pong and trying to find ‘Bigfoot’ in the forest scenery wallpaper in my cousin’s family room,” she said.

 

As an adult, she and her family always serve turkey on Thanksgiving and ham at Christmas.

 

“It’s just always been that way,” she says.

 

Karleen, a deeply spiritual woman, says she is thankful for her relationship with her Lord.

 

“(I am thankful) that God loves us ALL enough to have sent Jesus Christ to die on the cross to save us from our sins and death,” she said. “That by looking to Him and trusting in Him, He will meet each and every one of our needs and bless us always!”

 

Rep. Jim Newberger says his family always serves the big bird on Thanksgiving, but they have different traditions for other holidays through the year.

 

“Turkey on Thanksgiving has been our family tradition since my earliest memories,” he said.  “Ham is an Easter menu item for us.  However, Christmas means BBQ at my house and  I smoke brisket for 16 hours.  You can cut it with a plastic spoon.  Yum.”

 

Jim’s favorite childhood memory of Thanksgiving comes from when he was around 10 years old.

 

“ It was cold with lots of snow,” he said.  “My mom made all the kids go outside to play so she could get dinner ready.”  

 

That was a usual thing moms do to clear the kitchen and their heads. 

 

“We came inside when dinner was ready,” Jim says. “The warm house and the smell of my mom’s amazing cooking was beyond words.  We were so hungry.  We ate like a pack of wolves!  My mom was the best!”

 

Newberger is also a devout Christian and his faith and family are some things he is most thankful for at this time of year.

 

“I am most thankful for my relationship with Jesus Christ,” Newberger said.  “The older I get, the more important that is.  I am also very grateful for my wife, daughters and son-in-law.”

 

Brenda and her husband, Jeff are empty-nesters, so they are anxious and excited to spend the holidays with their grown kids as best they can. Typically, the Hauses serve turkey and Brenda’s homemade turkey gravy.

 

“One of my favorite memories of Thanksgiving growing up was getting to use the potato ricer to make riced potatoes,” said Brenda.

 

Brenda and Jeff says they have lots to be thankful for this time of year.

 

“This year I'm truly thankful that God has blessed me with two amazing adult children (Tyler and Alyssa), whom I am so proud of,” she says. “I'm also thankful for my incredibly hard-working husband.”

 

Jeff is part of a family-owned construction business. Both their kids are off at college with one not too far from home (Duluth) and the other way across the country (Texas).

 

“This will the first-ever holiday where one of my children (Alyssa) will not be with us physically though we do plan on including her via Facetime,” Brenda says. “So I'm thankful for technology as well.”

 

John and his wife, Kris, and their kids like to enjoy Thanksgiving with turkey and the fixings as the main course. A traditional family meal for a traditional family.

 

“The smell fills the house and it gets you all excited for all the fixings that come with turkey dinner,” John says. “You just don’t get that big a meal except for on Thanksgiving!”

 

Two of John’s favorite memories of Thanksgivings gone past revolve around football and the Minnesota Vikings.

 

“Watching football with family is always great on Thanksgiving and it’s even better when the Vikings are playing that day,” John said. “The other thing I fondly remember is Randy Moss’ coming out party against Dallas. That is one of the best.”

 

The Reichles have lots to be thankful for this year. Two of their kids (Brett and Lexi)  are off to college and one is a junior at Becker High School (Justin).

 

“I am most thankful for my family,” John says. “As I get older, I realize my time her is limited and being part of my family’s lives is precious.”

 

Amy and her family typically host Thanksgiving at their house and she says she truly enjoys every aspect of it.

 

“When celebrating Thanksgiving, I prefer to serve the turkey to the rest of the family and then to relax and enjoy my own turkey dinner,” Amy says.  “We have hosted Thanksgiving in the past and I have truly enjoyed it.  However,  it’s more relaxing to enjoy it at one of our relatives’ homes,” she says kiddingly.

 

Amy has many memories of Thanksgiving when she was a child but one of her favorites was knowing they would be going to her Grandparent’s house in Foley. 

 

“They had a very small house, but we all fit,” she says.  “We played ‘house’, ‘school’ and a lot of games in their tiny basement (which usually consisted of at least one “cousin” fight). I didn’t usually win.”

 

Amy says she is truly blessed and finds it hard to narrow down one thing she is most thankful for because she has a lot.

 

“I am very thankful for my family, faith, friends, health. employees and my business,” said Amy, who owns the local American Family Insurance branch.  

 

“I started my business with absolutely nothing, but through the grace of God my business continues to grow,” she says.  “I have a wonderful family with two beautiful adult children.  I hope to be a grandma someday, in the ‘not so far’ future.”