The history of Thanksgiving can help us appreciate the miracle of being alive in this time and place, and the timeless gift of gratitude can ground us through any storm.

Are you ready for today’s puzzles?

This week’s crossword puzzle was inspired by the holiday light displays that opened around the Memphis area this weekend.

The Grizzlies posted 140-plus points for just the sixth time in franchise history, using the offense of Scotty Pippen Jr. and Jaylen Wells to take down the Bulls. 

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Box score: Grizzlies 142, Bulls 131

NBA box score for Saturday’s game between the Memphis Grizzlies and Chicago Bulls.

Kids and adults gathered Downtown Saturday for the Downtown Holiday Tree Lighting sponsored by the Downtown Memphis Commission. Photographer Ziggy Mack was there to capture the excitement.

Missouri overcame some late momentum from the Bulldogs to take a road win Saturday in Starkville, Mississippi.

The Tigers’ Tilly Boler posted another 20-point performance, her third of the season and ninth of her career. Alasia Smith had 12 points to go with 12 rebounds and six assists. 

The Vols quarterback threw for 209 yards and four touchdowns to lead No. 10 Tennessee to a victory against UTEP on Saturday in Knoxville.

Ole Miss (8-3, 4-3), which entered the day as a 10-point favorite, lost for the first time in four games and surely will drop out of the 12-team playoff picture.

Onlookers at the Memphis Christmas Parade on Saturday talked about how the parade was a nice chance to show off their community spirit, an event to shine a positive light on the vast South Memphis area.

Jennifer Chandler’s go-to recipe for a ‘fancy’ mac and cheese was inspired by one made by chef Jackson Kramer at Interim.

Word Flower is a fun and challenging game that people of all ages can play.

Are you ready for it? Here are today’s sudokus.

MATA’s interim CEO Bacarra Mauldin addressed the myriad problems facing the transit system, even while noting progress on some fronts.

Fairley, MASE and Melrose also advance in the state football playoffs with quarterfinal victories.

On Friday, Sharon Young was honored for her decades of providing daily, hands-on care for her patients at Memphis Jewish Home & Rehab. 

During this year’s annual Methodist Healthcare Luncheon at The Peabody, actor Dennis Quaid discussed his patient-advocacy work and shared memories of filming in Memphis.

If the company gains in value, employees could collect 80% of their salaries in the eventual payout, said Bill Seely, Varsity Spirit president. 

DeSoto County District Attorney Matthew Barton announced “Operation Final Departure” to help the incoming Trump administration with its vow to deport immigrants. Barton’s effort will focus on inmates in the DeSoto County jail.

The City of Memphis plans to invest additional resources Downtown — including almost 200 more cameras — to make the area safer. 

The TBI is investigating, and the sheriff’s office does not currently believe anyone else was involved in the inmate’s death. 

The Grizzlies are looking for a winning streak. Their best chance for a long one may come before the end the year. 

“I think he was used by his brother,” the prosecutor said after the sentencing. “I think he knew better, and he obviously knew things were fishy and that he shouldn’t be doing these things. He is not a criminal.”

Lakeland continues to work with Tax Increment Financing in hopes of generating revenue for other projects, such as roads and infrastructure.