Did I Mention It's Christmas?: If not for a couple of characters mentioning as an afterthought what the rest of their plans that week are, you'd never know it was Thanksgiving.
Don't Split Us Up: The Sanderson children are faced with separation when a family wants to adopt the boys as farmhands, while Mrs. Oleson's wealthy cousin wishes to adopt little Alicia. At the last minute, Mr. Edwards and Grace Snider marry, and – seeing the children need to be kept together – adopt all three.
Face Death with Dignity: Julia Sanderson doesn't panic once she receives her deadly diagnosis, and spends the next final weeks arranging for her children to be cared once she's gone, as well as using the time she has left to be with them.
Graceful Loser: After Isaiah proposes to Grace that they marry and adopt the Snderson kids together, the reaction from Mrs. Oleson's cousing Minerva Farnsworth, who intended to adopt Alicia? "I call it beautiful".
Lineage Comes from the Father: When Julia Sanderson reveals to her children about her diagnosis and the oldest breaks down in tears, she insists that they be strong by reminding them that they're John Sanderson's children rather than Julia Sanderson's.
Title Drop: The title is part of a poem Julia asks Rev. Alden to read during her funeral, and her voice is seen reciting it: "Remember me with smiles and laughter, because that's how I'll remember you all. If you can only remember me with tears, then don't remember me at all".
Vocal Dissonance: Julia has a hoarse, guttural voice, atypical for a middle-aged woman, and more fitting for an old lady.
Wedding Episode: Isaiah decides that he and Grace should marry, and adopt the Sanderson kids so that they won't be split up. Rev. Alden suggest marrying them right there and then, before he attends a thanksgiving dinner at Amy Hearn's, and the last scene has their rueshed up wedding and celebration that the John, Carl and Alicia will remain together.
Your Days Are Numbered: Widow Sanderson receiving a terminal diagnosis kicks off the plot as she asks for help to find a family to look after her children when she's gone.
