Thanksgiving is not about sitting around eating too much food with family that you may or may not even like.

Thanksgiving is about being grateful for what you have, even if it a mere pittance compared to others. Being grateful you woke up that morning. Grateful you are employed, or if you are not, that you were able to scrap together enough to keep going until you find a new job. Grateful for the people in your life who pick you up when you fall, and even grateful for those who don’t because it reminds you to be more kind than they were.

I am grateful that my 80 year old mother is still fighting her 13-year battle with lung cancer, even when she is driving me crazy.  And before the judgment begins, no she was never a smoker. Ever.

According to Cancer.net, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in women.

Although smoking is the primary cause of the increase in lung cancer in women, lung cancer is diagnosed in women who have never smoked. Researchers think the following factors may contribute to the development of lung cancer in women who don’t smoke:

• Genetic factors, such as how women’s bodies react to carcinogens (substances that cause cancer)
• Environmental factors, such as exposure to secondhand smoke, radon, and asbestos.
• Hormones, such as estrogen

Doctors call lung cancer in women an epidemic, and they are looking for differences in lung cancer between men and women.

So mom continues to fight her fight, and is grateful for every day she has. Especially every day she can spend with her precious granddaughter. Even when that precious granddaughter is driving her crazy.

I am grateful I have a wonderful 4 year old daughter, who may try my patience once in a while (all right, every day) but I know how blessed I am to have her. Being a single mother is the hardest job in the world, but I would not change a thing. Except maybe I would win the lottery once or twice.

I am grateful for my friends, many of whom have been friends since we were in high school, junior high school and even elementary school.

I am grateful for my new friends, especially my food blogger friends. Many a relationship was formed through Twitter and food blogger conferences. Some became friends before we actually met in person, we were “virtual” friends on the internet. But that relationship is no less real than one formed on the playgrounds of youth.

I spent an incredible day with a group of food bloggers, breaking bread, laughing and toasting the joy of our friendships. We had an early Thanksgiving, filled with good food, great people and smiles.  Just like a family Thanksgiving.

Here is a list of links to all their delicious recipes, all worthy of your Thanksgiving table. Or anytime for that matter.

APPETIZER — Crispy Yukon Gold Latkes with Harvest Fruit Puree from Tori Avey. Her blog is called The Shiksa in the Kitchen

TURKEY – Tips to Make Any Turkey Beautiful and How to Make the Sugared Grapes and Leaves Garnish from Denise Vivaldo of Food Fanatics Unwashed

SALAD — Endive Boats with Avocado, Pomegranate and Crab Salad from Rachael Hutchings of the blog La Fuji Mama.

POTATO – Garlic and Herb Potato Gratin from Dorothy Reinhold of the blog Shockingly Delicious.

CRANBERRY —Dorothy’s Fresh Cranberry-Ginger Relish from Dorothy Reinhold

SIDE — Caramelized Chestnuts and Brussels Sprouts in a Cider Vinegar Glaze from Greg Henry of the blog Sippity Sup and podcaster at The Table Set

SIDE — Spiced Roasted Winter Vegetables from ME!

BREAD — Potato Herbed Focaccia with Caramelized Shallots from Louise Mellor of the blog Geez Louise

DESSERT — Kahlúa Sweet Potato Pie with Kahlua Whipped Cream from Patti Londre of the blog Worth The Whisk and our Thanksgiving Blogger Potluck Project Manager.