For the Hawks, as the years have gone by, family members have increased. In 1940, when the Hawks moved to the area, there were four. We are now at the point that individual homes arent large enough, so this year we will be having Thanksgiving dinner in the Carlyle Presbyterian Church fellowship hall. The dinner will be our traditional Thanksgiving fare and the guests will be the same, just the location has changed. Our family has been blessed. Bob Hawk
Our big, fun, family continues to grow in numbers. Our celebration began last Friday and continued through Sunday. We had 32 around our table, in every corner and every room, but we couldnt imagine it any other way. We had baked turkey, smoked ham and all the trimmings. Our dessert efforts were made simple this year with granddaughter Emilys Wesley Youth Group Pie Fundraiser. Happy Thanksgiving to all. Kelly and Steve Sigg
I will have Thanksgiving at my home in Yates Center. My three children and two daughters-in-law and my husband and grandson will be gathering around the table. We love to watch football on Thanksgiving Day and if the weather is just right we usually will shoot some clay pigeons. My sons will always request scalloped oysters. It is a unique dish that I learned how to make from my mother-in-law years ago. Melissa Stiffler
From Barbara Anderson: Those around the table will be my friend, Juan; my son, Benjamin Bockover and his family, Leah, Ava, Delaney and twin 2-year-old boys Lincoln and Everett; my daughter, Cari Jo, and her family, Tyrone, Camri and Brooklyn; and my daughter Rachel and her family, Courtney, Nolan and Noxx. These last two years my family has increased from feeding eight to 16! We always have my grandmother Opal Houks oyster dressing to go along with the traditional turkey and fixings as well as her homemade pecan pie and lemon pie (with real meringue, not just Cool Whip!) My Grandmother Opal told me the oyster dressing recipe came from a long line of ancestors from Ireland. Having lived in the New England area, they always incorporated the oysters into the dressing. Even after moving to Kansas, they continued the tradition. Some of family members love the oysters, some not. I cannot imagine a tastier dressing and love making it for the memories it brings of my ancestors. I will be using the Blue Delft china passed down to me by Joan Fisher, the mother of my best friend and who was like a second mother to me. Again, those dishes remind me of wonderful memories and at some point that evening I will make a call to my friend to see how her Thanksgiving Day went.
I think the best part of Thanksgiving is spending time with my family and overdoing it on some great food! I am counting down the days to pumpkin pie and Cool Whip! Jennifer Terrell, KSU Extension Office, Erie
Tracy and David Lee write: Our newly married daughter, Adin, and her husband Michael Decker from Provo, Utah, will join us for Thanksgiving week. This will also be the first Thanksgiving celebration for our first grandchild, Juliana Josephine (Jo), who is just 8 months. She and her mother, Tai, and son Austin and wife, Bailey, will join us as we visit relatives in Missouri, and with the Harry and Joyce Lee extended family. We are looking forward to smoked turkey with trimmings, wonderful homemade rolls made by Joyce Lee, and new specialty desserts by Tai. We also cant wait for all the great pies. There are usually many extended family members on Thanksgiving, so we make the most of it by playing games, and of course, watching football.
My favorite Thanksgiving traditions are gathering together after dinner and reading the story of the first Thanksgiving, reading Abraham Lincolns Thanksgiving Day proclamation, and then going outside and playing family football. Later, we also like to make blessing snack mix and watch a family movie together. It is a blessing to have this special holiday to remind us of all God gives us, and also to help us remember that we can be grateful no matter what! Robyn and Nathan Fawson
Alana Cloutier, Humboldt, writes: When I was a kid my British and Native American parents usually took me out to eat on Thanksgiving, which is something I highly recommend! No dishes! No over- (or under-) cooked turkey anxiety! You can go to the movies after! For the last 10 years my husband and I have celebrated Friendsgiving with a big group of friends. We all travel to the same friends house, and stay for a couple of days of hiking, puzzle-solving, sitting in front of a nice fire, and of course, lots and lots of food. On Thanksgiving Day we always grill a turkey, and I make yams with marshmallows and bourbon, and a pumpkin pie. Our group has swelled over the years with new spouses, children, and pets, so its sometimes a bit chaotic, but with everyone scattered across the country, its nice to slow down and just hang out for a couple of days.
I would like to take a moment to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving and remember the thing that makes Iola great: Our willingness to serve our community, our willingness to share with those in need, and our willingness to love our neighbors. Jon Wells, Iola mayor
Spencer and Helen Ambler will have to set up extra tables this year. Expected guests include: Christopher and Danette Washington and children, Chris A. and Morgan, Chantilly, Va.; Kevin and Diana Jukes and children, Sean and Stella, Cooper City, Fla.; Jim and Linda Young and son, Jared, Kansas City, Kan.; Neal and Alice Washington, Lawton, Okla.; J.R. and Kim Young, St. Louis, Mo.; Douglas and Cussandra Hale, Chanute; Kathryn Jukes, Lauderhill, Fla.; Tracy Washington, Cambridge, Mass.; William Newman, Iola, and Dawn Williams, Iola.
We will have around our Thanksgiving table several of our family, including Thad and Micheal Parker, Lenz and Aylan, Chehalis, Wash., Kim Parker, Will and girlfriend Julie, Meridian, Idaho. Ryan and Lise Parker, Anika and Nathanael, Houston; our grandson Denver Parker and girlfriend Ophelia. Denver and Ophelia have just recently returned from their deployment in Kosovo. We are thankful to God for all of our blessings and especially our being together on this Thanksgiving day. Gary and Janice Parker
Judy Baker will be spending Thanksgiving with her daughter Kelcey and family in Olympia, Wash. Darin, Kelcey, Emilly, and Drew will be hosting the Thanksgiving feast. It will be an exciting holiday for them all.
The Willis family will host Thanksgiving at the home of Dan and Angie Willis. Brett Willis will help host his sister Kristin and her husband Justin Stotler and their children Emalee and Colton Thompson and Bailey Stotler as well has his brother Tyler Fehr with Nikki and children Lynsie, Cain and Marlee Fehr. Amy and Trevor Wilson will bring Galen Smith along with Amanda, Dustin, Aidan, Ryleigh and Maddy Baker. Also squeezing in around the table will be Joan Willis, Todd and Jackie Willis, Lee Ann Childers of Wichita and Gail and Lloyd Strickland of Lawton, Okla.
Bob and Beverly Johnson, Humboldt, will host a Thanksgiving feast, featuring prime rib, In deference to son Bobs offer to prepare the main course, at noon Thursday. He and wife Melanie and their children, Noah, Alayna, Emma and Maddox will attend, as well as Jenelle Johnson, the elder Bobs sister. Assorted friends of the younger Johnsons also may be at the table. A tradition is for each person to tell why he or she is thankful.
Earl and Vicki Long are feeling very blessed. Joining them for Thanksgiving dinner will be her brother, Ronald and Elizabeth Kelley from The Woodlands, Texas, and Kelleys daughter, Kayla Kelley from Austin University, Austin, Texas. Also joining them will be their daughter, Jennifer, Osage City, and grandson, Alex Francis and girlfriend, Jadyn Swearingen, both of Nevada, Mo.
The Mentzer family will celebrate Thanksgiving at the Craig Mentzer farm with the following attending: Bill and Marjorie Mentzer; Craig and Denise Mentzer; Corbin and Lissa Manbeck, and Elcie; Nathan and Heather Mentzer, Elijah, Case and Jeanie; Miles and Jennifer Mentzer, Isaac, and Faith; Neil and Amanda Godsey, Bryce, Blake, and Claire of Olathe; Craig and Jeanine Pumphrey, Edna Pumphrey and two special guests from Wichita.
My wife Jo and I and children Allie, a junior, Sam, a freshman, Jackie, 7th grade, and Ben, fourth grade, will be having Thanksgiving dinner with Jos extended family in Farlington. This has been a tradition since Jo and I were married in 2000. Turkey, stuffing and pies will be in order.
I am particularly thankful in how community members of LaHarpe, Gas and Iola have come together in a steering committee process to gather input and will be making a recommendation to the USD 257 Board of Education for a bond proposal, to give our district patrons and parents the best educational options for our students to be successful in the future. Stacey Fager, USD 257 Superintendent of Schools
