I’ve made my list and today I’m checking it twice of all the things I need to accomplish for Thanksgiving. We are hosting. We have twenty people coming. It is a wonderful gathering that allows us to reconnect with family and friends. Usually, we have more, but some are traveling this year, which is to be expected during the holiday season. Three years ago, my husband and I decided to have a local restaurant smoke our turkey. That eliminated the stress of brining and cooking the turkey. It also reduced the worry about contamination in the kitchen. These can be quite a challenge in the bustle of preparing a feast. This year, we have asked a local man to smoke our turkey and pulled pork. He makes award-winning sauce. It will be great. I can’t wait to see the look on everyone’s faces when they try it! The guests are bringing a dish. This eliminates lots of work for me. It allows a wonderful array of flavors from different homes. I am providing the rolls, drinks, and cookies. I will also provide a charcuterie board. This is easy for me. It’s always a crowd-pleaser. For my charcuterie board, I have planned to have fruit and cheese balls. I’m going to try to make some pimento cheese thumbprint crackers. I’ve heard they are a hit. I will put the recipe at the bottom of this page so everyone can enjoy it later. Yes, we are having potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, salad, pie, green beans, and gravy. I am not cooking those items. That gives me more time to enjoy the festivities. On my list is to grocery shop. I need to clean and set the tables. I want to make sure I have everything laid out perfectly for our guests. I hope the man who takes care of our yard arrives before the big day. He needs to handle all the leaves in our yard. This will ensure the surroundings feel welcoming. I’m going to set up the tables early. This way, I won’t have to rush around at the last minute. I want to soak in every moment of this special day. I want everything done by next Monday. If there is a last-minute thing to do, it won’t stress me out. This allows me to focus on what truly matters—spending quality time with loved ones. I also thought it would be fun to make a personalized ornament for everyone. This favor is for the people who are coming. They can hang it on their Christmas tree when they go home. It’s the little touches that make the holidays so memorable and magical.