This year marks the third year in a row that the Dahlman family is having our annual Turkey Trot. I can’t claim exclusivity on this endeavor. I got the idea out of a magazine, but it has our families spin on it. Most of all because, well. so far we are the only people that have attended the Turkey Trot (see last year’s picture). That will all change this year when for the first time we have invited a very limited set of people. I like to think of this as the Turkey Trot: Beta, which is in limited release in a select area of Lynnwood.

What is a Turkey Trot? I guess it could be whatever you want it to be, but here is the plan for ours. First, everyone arrives at our place around 8:30 am. At 9:00 am we begin the “trot.” In years past this has been a walk, bike, stroller, or wagon ride around the block (about a mile). Last year we cut it a little short because of freezing rain. I expect the “trot” could actually turn into a run of some sort as the years go by and the kids get older, but for now it is a trip around the block, or the “loop” for those of you that want to pretend you are Lynnwood natives.

After our vigorous “trot” we retire back to our house for brunch, or pre-Thanksgiving stomach stretching exercises. We have our Breakfast Casserole (I’m working the recipe each year to make it better: Eggs, sausage, bacon, hash browns, cheese, cream of mushroom soup…), Butterscotch Pull-apart (big cinnamon roll thingy), fruit, coffee, toast, and OJ.

It really isn’t much, but it has been fun so far. Except maybe the spinach-egg-pastry breakfast we had the first year, which the kids refer to in the same tone as their last bout of the flu. The idea behind the whole thing is to build traditions within our family. Andrea and I have figured out that we only have to do something 2 years in a row to have our kids think the we have always done it. We also watch “The Princess Bride,” the night before Thanksgiving. If you ask our kids, we have always done it (for the last 2 years, but don’t tell them). We are building exciting memories that are centered around our family, but they are not just memories, they are an expectation for the future. I’m looking forward to our 20th Turkey Trot when I’m loading my grandkids into their stroller for a trip around the block.

Pastor JD