Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!
DN did most of the cooking–he brined a turkey!
Besides the two pies, we had some chocolate birthday cake for the boy…
And the cousins had a blast together!
We even had a dance party with our 1980’s 45s…
And Katie let Mr. Smith lick her hand!
That’s all for now!
O My God,
You fairest, greatest, first of all objects,
My heart admires, adores, loves You,
For my little vessel is as full as it can be,
And I would pour out all that fullness before You in ceaseless flow.
When I think upon and converse with You
Ten thousand delightful thoughts spring up,
Ten thousand sources of pleasure are unsealed,
Ten thousand refreshing joys spread over my heart,
Crowding into every moment of happiness.
I bless You for the soul You have created,
For adorning it, for sanctifying it,
Though it is fixed in barren soil;
For the body You have given me,
For preserving its strength and vigor,
For providing senses to enjoy delights,
For the ease and freedom of limbs,
For hands, eyes, ears that do Your bidding;
For Your royal bounty providing my daily support,
For a full table and overflowing cup,
For appetite, taste, sweetness,
For social joys of relatives and friends,
For ability to serve others,
For a heart that feels sorrows and necessities,
For a mind to care for my fellow-men,
For opportunities of spreading happiness around,
For loved ones in the joys of heaven,
For my own expectation of seeing You clearly.
I love You above the powers of language to express,
For what You are to Your creatures.
Increase my love, O my God, through time and eternity.
–The Valley of Vision
This is The Pilgrim by Augustus Saint-Gaudens (1848 – 1907) which was installed in Philadelphia in 1905.
FYI The Puritan, the first version of The Pilgrim, was commissioned by Chester W. Chapin as a monument to one of the founders of Springfield, Massachusetts—Deacon Samuel Chapin (1595–1675). The New England Society of Pennsylvanians asked Saint-Gaudens to make a replica of The Puritan for the city of Philadelphia.
Also, besides being Thanksgiving, it is the boy’s birthday! We wish him a wonderful day! We are truly thankful for him!
Happy Thanksgiving to all! Happy Birthday to the boy!
(The painting at the top is by N.C. Wyeth.)
Today we celebrate the birth of Charles Monroe “Sparky” Schulz (1922-2000), cartoonist and creator of Peanuts. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential cartoonists in history, and cited by many cartoonists as a major influence. I, of course, have been a fan since the mid-1960s.
Funnily enough, as I get older, I look more and more like Linus…
Linus has always been the character I relate to most (not Lucy as my siblings would argue). There is certainly someone for everyone to relate to in this great classic comic strip. To whom do you relate most?
We also remember that in 1789 George Washington recommended that November 26 be “devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be. That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks, for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation, for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his providence, which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war, for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed, for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted, for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.”
Well said, President Washington!
In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed November 26 as a national Thanksgiving Day, to be celebrated annually on the final Thursday of November. It has been observed on the fourth Thursday in November since 1942.
Meanwhile I am busy readying my house for precious visitors arriving tomorrow. Thankful for good times ahead and praying for travel mercies tomorrow!
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!
I hope you had a good Thanksgiving. I am still recovering from mine. So much family fun!
Plus high school friends fun…
Good food and drink!
Not everything went super smoothly–it never does…
But what ho, it is the bell and it tolleth for thee–we had fun and everyone made it home safely at last.
Katie narrating the ride from BWI via shuttle bus to the car in long-term parking:
Now it is onward to decorating for Christmas, right?
And Mizzou beat Arkansas! They’re 9 and 2 and headed to a bowl game!
Everyone got here okay and with luggage intact–thanks be to God! We were home by 9:00 a.m.
We had a lovely day…
…including some good cousin time and pizza!
We went to bed very early!
Have a happy Thanksgiving!
I am told that Katie requested a “countdown calendar”–I gather that she is pretty excited to be headed our way in a few days. Of course, we are excited too and I have been busily cleaning the house and getting ready for their arrival. I’m not sure we will be adequately prepared for the dynamo that is Ida–she is a girl on the go these days!
Will we be able to keep up with her?
(Note she is carrying a dustpan!)
Well, ready or not, here they come–I can’t wait!
Last week was exhausting and I will need a week to recover! But, of course, we had a wonderful time together doing all the things.
Watching the parades with Mimosas and cinnamon rolls…
Eating big meals…
…and throwing a swingin’ party on Friday complete with DN’s party punch and charcuterie board…
But we totally forgot to take any pictures!
After daughter #2, DN and Katie headed back east, we consoled ourselves with bingeing our favorite Christmas movies to start off the holidays…
And we put up the little tree…
After bringing up lots of Christmas stuff from the basement, daughter #1 left Sunday morning to pick up her new puppy…
…and we went to church with the boy and the wee twins. Afterwards we celebrated the boy’s birthday in our familiar style…
…with food (you don’t have to eat your veggies on your birthday!) and cake and presents…
And then I collapsed.
*Isaiah 2:5
Today is a day for giving thanks! We are thankful for so many things…
The Ultimate Fam…
…Cousins…
…Shared interests…(checking out the prices at an antique mall)…train ’em early!
…lunch out with the Compton Ladies…
…vintage Beanie Babies…
Jumpin’ on the trampoline…
My cup runneth over. Relax and enjoy the Mimosas, the parades, the food, the family, Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987), a fire in the fireplace, living in America, and all the blessings of this life.
And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Colossians 3:17
Everyone arrived yesterday on schedule and without much ado. We all settled in for some good times.
Okay, we may have gotten a little silly, but par for the course.
I hope you all are enjoying family time this week and counting your blessings.
Come, ye thankful people, come,
–Henry Alford, pub.1844
Raise the song of harvest home;
All is safely gathered in,
Ere the winter storms begin;
God our Maker doth provide
For our wants to be supplied;
Come to God’s own temple, come,
Raise the song of harvest home.
dual personalities 