NATCHEZ — Traditionally, Thanksgiving is a time for people to take a minute and reflect on things for which they’re thankful, before eating a big meal and watching football.

As residents throughout the Miss-Lou worked on last-minute Thanksgiving Day meal preparations on Wednesday, some were already reflecting on things for which they are thankful.

“I’m thankful our families are going to get together for Thanksgiving, and all the good food we’re going to get to eat,” Misty Cousin of Acme, La., said.

And, like Cousin, when asked, most people throughout the area said they were thankful for their family as the holiday approached.

“I’m thankful for waking up each and every morning, seeing my family,” Quentin Chatman of Ferriday said.

It was even on the mind of some of Natchez’s youngest citizens. James Gammill, 4, of Natchez, said he was thankful for his mom, Devin Gammill.

Caitlyn Upton and Abby Massey, both of Natchez, said they were thankful for their upbringings, too.

“I’m thankful that I was raised in a Christian home with great parents, and I’m thankful for close family,” Upton said.

Likewise, new mother Courtney Lovelace of Vidalia was thankful for her son while expectant Natchez mother Miranda Strahan was looking forward to the future.

“I’m thankful for my baby and to be with my family on Thanksgiving,” Strahan said.

But, beyond family, some Miss-Lou residents were thankful for things they’ve done with loved ones over the past year.

“I am thankful for being able to move here and having a sustainable environment with my sweet boyfriend,” Natchez resident Catelyn Tullier said.

Jerry King of Vidalia was thankful for not just his family, but where he lived.

“I’m really thankful for family and the freedoms we have in this country, the freedom to worship how we want,” King said.

And, for Natchez’s Tameka Hulbert, the best thing for her was the ability to wake up in the morning.

“I’m thankful for the Lord enabling me to see another day on Thanksgiving Day, because not everybody gets to see that,” Hulbert said.