“You know I can’t cook.”*

by chuckofish

Boy, I went to the grocery store Sunday afternoon and it was a madhouse. Par for the course I guess. It was also the first time driving my new SUV there and loading up the grocery bags, etc. I had to open the back and I opened the hood instead. I hope no one was watching. Well, tant pis, if they were.

Lottie wore dangly earrings (clip-ons) to church and looked like a gyp-gyp-gypsy, but she only received positive feedback from those around us. (I may have raised my eyebrows.) As you can see the twins were not much taken with the sermon on Melchizedek. But there was a baptism, so that made up for it.

They came over with the boy after church to feed the feral cat and hang out for a bit. I had no food for them because I hadn’t been to the store yet, so they didn’t stay long. But it’s always a treat to see them, earrings and all.

Thanksgiving is upon us and I have hardly taken a breath to stop and ponder the topic of thankfulness, but, wow, I certainly am! I am thankful that DN is cooking the turkey (and assorted other things) and that he sent a Word document outlining the cooking/prep schedule. He is so organized! I’m making the cheesy potatoes, daughter #1 will do the crescent rolls, and daughter #3 is making the pies. Daughter #2 can take the Ocean Spray cranberry sauce out of the can.

Daughter #2 reported that Katie was disappointed that “the snack at the school Thanksgiving party ‘was not really party food.’ In an ironic twist, because it was a party, parents brought in the food and it was cheese and crackers (as opposed to the “treat” snacks like Cheese-Its or teddy grahams that they have every day). Katie did not approve. But she told me…that ‘I bet we’ll have treats at Thanksgiving. At Mamu’s house. Maybe donuts. Or ice cream.'” You can count on that, sweetheart!

On Sunday afternoon I went over to daughter #1’s house to walk Mr. Smith and indulge his desire for unending tummy scratches.

What can I say? I am a sucker for his big black eyes.

This is a very thoughtful piece on contentment and “Wanting what you already have.” “My children once asked me what I wanted most when I was growing up. As I sat at the dinner table looking at my wife and children looking back at me I remembered my childhood dreams for my life and the answer was suddenly obvious: ‘This. Exactly this.'” Indeed, “Godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6).

And the meme world is on fire…


So be thankful for all the blessings of your life and try to relax. The world is more than we know.

Lord Jesus, our Savior, let us now come to you: Our hearts are cold; Lord, warm them with your selfless love. Our hearts are sinful; cleanse them with your precious blood. Our hearts are weak; strengthen them with your joyous Spirit. Our hearts are empty; fill them with your divine presence. Lord Jesus, our hearts are yours; possess them always and only for yourself. Amen (Augustine of Hippo, 354-430)

*Edie McClurg in Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)

P.S. The video is the edited for TV version, so the kids can see it–no f-bombs!