Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Psalm 100:4-5
…through all generations …
Grateful!
I have a children’s book titled “Thanksgiving in the Woods.”
It is a true story about one family’s Thanksgiving tradition. Each year they make a special effort to go into the woods to eat their thanksgiving meal, with extended family and friends. The story tells they bring traditional Thanksgiving food, set up tables and chairs, load a truck full of hay for hay rides, bring guitars to make music around a bon fire, and other outdoor activities. I always thought it sounded like a lot of fun.
So, when our grandchildren were invited to attend a “Thanksgiving in the Woods” I, of course, latched on to the idea and signed us up.
We didn’t know what to expect. I knew it would not be like the book, but I wanted to experience what this event had to offer. We knew the weather in North Carolina has been unseasonably cold, so we planned to dress warmly. We knew that by 6:00 pm it is dark outside, but that added to the excitement. We knew we were to bring a dessert, and we knew the park (which was on an island) since we had hiked there before with the kids.
We didn’t know if there would be any program, a campfire, or what kind of meal to expect.
We drove across the causeway to the island, parked in the lot, and walked a little ways up the unlit, paved path to the picnic shelter.
A large bon fire greeted us. The buffet table was set up in picnic shelter and we set down our contribution to the meal. The kids immediately started to run around as we stood by the campfire and had polite conversation with some folks.
The meal was the real deal…a full array of Thanksgiving foods…stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, spinach casserole, gravy, turkey, ham, cranberries and miscellaneous desserts including pumpkin pie, and a decorated theme cake.
Everyone went through the food line, including those serving the meal. Not until after everyone had finished eating did they open the dessert line. That was a nice touch.
A lot of work went into planning this event, and although the event was not at all like the book, we enjoyed being outside in the woods… we did not get cold…we ate tasty food (including smoked turkey!)…and we were thankful.
It was an enjoyable evening… at this “Thanksgiving in the Woods.”
Memorial Day is a day to pay tribute to those who died while serving their country.
We watched the National Memorial Day Concert on PBS last night and it was very moving.
Thank you to all those who served/serve our country.
He is risen. He is risen, indeed!
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
Lent is soon over: it’s Good Friday, but Easter Sunday is coming! Here are three haikus I wrote for this year’s Lenten journey.
Fast from complaining, And alter your mindset to Feast on gratitude.
Practice a new way. Fast from being critical, Feast on uplifting.
Lent can be a time to exercise letting go and form new habits.
I trust these reminders will carry on.
And so we begin a new year…new opportunities…new possibilities.
Welcome 2022!
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2: 11-14
God Bless us one and all!
It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to sing praises to the Most High.
It is good to proclaim His unfailing love in the morning,
His faithfulness in the evening…
Psalm 92:1-2
Today is set apart to honor the civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
He had much wisdom to share, but his overall message was unconditional love.
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate only love can do that.”
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality. Tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”
Luke 2 ... the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Today we celebrate God’s gift to us, his son Jesus Christ.
Have yourself a merry, white Christmas! (Yay! It snowed.)