Season of Thanksgiving.

We are coming upon a season of Thanks.  It is one of my most favorite times of the year.  As this holiday season approaches you will most likely hear the song “My Favorite Things” from the Broadway musical The Sound of Music. To me this song has always felt out of place during the holidays, until recently. I have begun to hear it in a new light, recognizing the famous list of “favorite things” as a list of reasons to be thankful. The character Maria, who sings this song, thinks about her list of favorite things when she seeks comfort.  We as Christians have a list as well. Our list is found in the Bible.  They are promises from our Lord – keepsakes we can cling to at all times including periods of worry, trouble, or despair. These promises urge Christ-followers not to be troubled or to feel alone. They are words offering great hope because they are not the words of mere men. They are inspired, never-changing words given to us from our Savior and Lord. Read through a few of these promises below:

The Lord will give His people strength. Psalm 29:11

The Lord hears our cries. Psalm 34:17

The Lord will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4-5

The Lord will answer when you call to Him. Jeremiah 33:3

You need not be afraid. God is with you. Isaiah 41:13

The Lord will give rest to your burdened soul. Matthew 11:28-29

The Lord will comfort you. John 14:27

The Lord has given us His Spirit to guide us. Acts 1:8

You will have everlasting life when you believe. John 3:16

Our list can go on and on. The Lord promises us mercy, protection, strength, eternity, love, and forgiveness. As it says in the Bible, God cannot lie (Hebrews 6:18) and His word is truth (John 17:1). We cannot look at God’s promises like we do those of our friends and family. As people, we often promise, but don’t follow through, even when we have the best of intentions. God’s Word is binding and true. These promises hold fast. We do not have to wonder if they will happen. Rather, we ought to wait in expectation. So “when the dog bites, when the bee stings, when you’re feeling sad,” I encourage you to remember all God has promised you. It is in these promises you will find great strength.  As you celebrate Thanksgiving, in addition to thinking through all you are thankful for, take time to thank God for His many promises.

Blessings, Karen

A Porch People Thanksgiving

I am sure at some time in your life you have seen the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving movie.  I used to look forward to it....and somewhere along the way I grew up.  It was my kickoff for the Thanksgiving Holiday.  Today we went to Aunt Doris' house for the Burgess family Thanksgiving.  These are some of my favorite folks, these are my people, these are Porch People.  I looked forward all day to being at this gathering.  I knew there would be hugs, food, fellowship, more food, and if you left hungry it was your own fault!  This family has some amazing cooks in it!  Marcie has Jett for the time being (Magen and Keaton are in Birmingham with the girls) and so I volunteered to cook the dressing she normally cooks.  WHAT WAS I THINKING!  I love to cook, but I have never in my 59 years on this earth made dressing.  Remember....I grew up in South Florida....and my mom cooked STUFFING!  I am a Stove Top addict today because eating it gives me a feeling of home.  I asked Marcie for her recipe because I did not want anyone to be shocked with stuffing.  She wrote it out, as we do here in the South, on an envelope and talked me through it. The closer the weekend came....the more nervous I became.  Who am I kidding?  I was past nervous.  Friday night I made a pone of cornbread in my largest skillet.  Saturday morning at 5 a.m. I was making pone number two.  We went to breakfast with Beth, visited Jessica at Awbrey's Open House, ran to Russell Do-It, and Walmart, before coming home so I could complete this dressing.  Two huge onions, four stalks of celery, some soup, broth, salt, pepper later I had a massive amount of dressing in a pan, on my shirt, and on my face and arms.  I did not know how long to cook it.  So I decided to put it on at 12:30 and cook it for 30 mins and check it continuously.  Marcie gave me explicit instructions to  not cook it throughout....but to make sure when I stuck the toothpick in it came out with a few crumbs on it.  I thought....Hey....I make bread....I can do this......WRONG!  I should have had a trial run.  It was beautiful to look at.  There were crumbs on the toothpick.   It had a good taste.  It just was not what Marcie's tastes like...NOT EVEN CLOSE!  Kim brought another pan and HER's was just like Marcie.  When we went home Kim's was almost gone.  Mine was still hanging out...about 2/3rds full.  Marcie's teacher critique was well received....she said I needed another onion AND more broth when I make it for the Christmas gathering.  I laughed at that one.  I have been assigned chicken fingers so I am off dressing duty til next Thanksgiving.  Believe me I will have practiced between now and then.  For a first time...it was not terrible.  It was edible (better with gravy and cranberry sauce on it) and I can now say I have made dressing. Thanks Marcie for the guidance.  As we sat and talked about all that we were thankful for I noticed Marcie getting kind of quiet.  I gave her a questioning look and she told me this was a bittersweet day for her.  Magen and Keaton joined us for the meal.  They were going to borrow their son for the day....and here this precious fractured little family was.  Everyone was here....but the girls....and right now they are not even together.  Kash is at Children's awaiting surgery and Kruze is still in the UAB NICU.  Sitting there looking at the family....made me miss mine....a lot.  The more I sat there, the more I wanted to cry.  As I looked into each face, saw the love and hope in their eyes, and heard the conversations going on all at once I felt at peace, I felt loved, I felt a strong sense of belonging.  It doesn't matter if you are blood related through your earthly parents, or blood related through your heavenly Father....we family and have so many things to be Thankful for.  God spoke to me during that still small window and told me...."now that is what I want your sermon on tomorrow. "" Did you hear me?"  He really spoke so loud I could not understand why everyone else was not looking up.  When Frank walked into the room a little later I told him we needed to go home.  We packed up what food we had left.....except for the dressing...we left it!  Once we got home (we live a pasture away) I sat down and threw my original sermon in the trash.  I am always amazed when God speaks(It amazes me even more when I listen).  What a blessed day I have had!  Good food, good friends, good family, and a good time was had by all!  Happy Thanksgiving to all and to all a good night!

Happy Thanksgiving To All!

Happy Happy Thanksgiving to all!  I am safely ensconced in the Coach House at Rosemary Beach and this place is to die for.  It is for sale for a cool 1.5 mil.  Any takers out there.  Believe me if I win the lottery this weekend...this bad boy is mine.  As I promised threatened here is my story for this special day.  Thanksgivings in the past have always been done by my mom and my Aunt Shirley.  It was always held at my aunts and they did all the major cooking.  The daughters all did sides and there was more food than you could shake a stick at.  We could have fed the Valley with all the food....several days before the big day we were discussing the president of the AFL-CIO and his mysterious disappearance.....problem was....none of us could think of his name.....we all gathered in our prayer circle to bless the food at my aunts and my dad said, "Let us pray" when I blurted out...."Jimmy Hoffa!"  All 30 people in the circle looked at me as if I had two heads.  I was so embarrassed.  I looked around at all my family and apologized for interrupting the prayer  I explained the scenario of several days in the past....and we all got a good chuckle out of it.  Man I miss those days....this is our first Thanksgiving without my mom....or my aunt.  I miss them a lot....but we still have much to be thankful for even if this has been a bad year.  Amanda and I were talking earlier today and we decided on what we want for Christmas.  WE WANT ONE GOOD YEAR!  It has been so long since we had one....I don't know if I would recognize one if I saw it.  Hears hoping.  So, I hope this post finds you all healthy and happy and wrapped in the warmth of good friends and family.  Happy Thanksgiving to all from the shores of Rosemary Beach!
My Thanksgiving Day Recipe and Pintervention(I am a Pinterest addict and I have to actually do some of my pins...so here goes):

Peanut Butter Pie

Ingredients and Directions:

8 oz of cream cheese(softened)

1 cup of peanut butter

Mix together well....

Slowly add to the mixture

1 1/2 cup of confectioners sugar

Mix well....then mix in 16 oz of cool whip.  Pour into two graham cracker pie crusts(I used an oreo and graham cracker(my SIL does not eat chocolate).  Garnish(optional) crushed nutter butters, crushed butterfingers, chocolate syrup drizzle.  It takes about 15 minutes to make, it can be frozen, it is to die for.

I Am Thankful For...

When I was a kid I remember many wonderful Thanksgivings with family and friends.  We would all gather in a circle to say the grace and several people would share what they were thankful for.  I remember a couple of  years I found myself not thankful for anything because of sadness....but even with all the sadness this year I have grown spiritually and I AM Thankful for many things this year.  I thought each day this week I would share some Thanksgiving nuggets of wisdom.  Some of them are silly....others more profound.  I thought I would kick off my Thanksgiving week blog with a poem about something I am most thankful for.....my family!  We are like energizer bunnies....when the going gets touch....we go to the beach!

'Twas the Monday before T day and all through my house

There weren't enough groceries to feed even a mouse.

Karen still had to work two days this week.

Frank was driving a man for employment to seek.

But Thanksgiving was not to be like in the past....

We were leaving on Wednesday for the Thanksgiving beach blast.

Cousin, A had rented a big place on the beach

And judging from the pictures it was really a peach.

We were planning to dine with D's mom and dad....

This was such a new venture for us.....it was RAD!

Amanda would sale in on Wednesday night

The rest of us would be all cozy and tight.

We'd cook Thursday morning to take to the Hughes.

I hope that we don't end up blowing the fuses.

Ten new additions would be at the Hughes table

After lunch we would watch some TV if we are able.

Then family photos all down by the shores

Then sleepy time so Friday we can hit all the stores.

Many of us must head home before nightfall.

But I can promise you now...we will all have a Ball.

What are you going to be thankful for this year on Thanksgiving day?  I would love for you to share it with me in a comment.  Thought I would leave you with a smile.  I love Thanksgiving....and hate that retail Christmas overshadows it.  Christmas retail is not supposed to officially start until Black Friday....a friend posted this on Facebook today and I had to share it with you.  Happy Monday!