Thanksgiving day - and giving thanks

 We went to bed early last night.  I mean before 8PM early.  I had shut down the work computer at 3PM and sent a text to my boss that I had done so. I only had a few things to do yesterday so it was not a busy day with two bosses out.  Thank goodness.  I took off at 3PM and headed over to Michael's as I needed to get some yarn (imagine that) for a couple projects I want to do for Christmas.  Got them, stopped for protein shakes on the way home for dinner and back home for the day.  Yeah, we went out to eat for lunch and hubby ate well (as did I with my grilled cheese and potato soup) so shakes were ok for dinner.  Sugar-free butterfinger shakes.  So good.  Anyway - about 7:45PM, I told hubby I was going to bed; I was so exhausted.  He followed.

I slept sound until about 3AM but I stayed in bed and finally drifted back off to sleep.  Next I heard hubby scurrying across the tile floor of the hallway to the bathroom about 4:40AM.  I laid there, hoping to go back to sleep, but could not, so got up.  Major headache again this morning - and a sore throat!  What's up with that?  Excedrin to the rescue again this morning first thing.  Both are now gone.  It's not about 6AM and I still need to get out of here and get the turkey in the roaster oven.  We plan to have lunch around noon at the daughter's and since I am doing the turkey, I need to make sure it's done. Besides, I need the turkey broth for the dressing and giblet gravy.  The dressing is complete except for the eggs and broth.  Did the cornbread, bread (thanks to my daughter who brought it over).  Oh yeah, I still need to chop up celery and onions to put in it.  Yipes, nearly forgot!  But have plenty of time for that.  Anyway - deviled eggs just need to be put together as I mixed that up last night.  There will be so much food today - and my appetite level has shrunk drastically lately since I've cut back on eating so much.

Have you checked the price of wrapping paper lately?  YIPES!  I haven't bought wrapping paper for about 3 years because I bought a large amount on sale and it has lasted - until this year.  I went to the dollar store yesterday and it was $3 a roll - and there isn't that much there!  I picked up two because I did need paper.  I went to Michael's to get yarn and checked the paper - and it was over $11 for ONE ROLL.  Nope, didn't do it.  I will work with what I got - and have a lot of bags that I will be using as well.  I will get by this year and will either pick up a bunch of wrapping paper after Christmas, if it is on sale low enough, or I have come up with another idea for wrapping paper in the future.  I refuse to pay $11 for one roll of wrapping paper!  It wasn't even a large roll!  But stores know we 'need' wrapping paper and will eventually buy it.  NOPE.  When I was growing up we also used newspapers!  We don't get the newspaper anymore so will resort to my next plan next year.

Sams Club just sent me a text that the rest of my order will be delivered tomorrow.  Glad none of it was for Thanksgiving!  It's all junk food for the stockings.  And for baking cookies.  :-)  Got to have things for cookies.  Right?  I only have two mama plates returned; I think it is the youngest who hasn't returned his yet - I'll have to ask him if he is wanting cookies this year.   I need to figure out what to bake for the others.  I wrote down a couple things - but as my mind is overflowing with 'things' I don't know where I put my list.... so, please tell me what cookies you want again....  I AM getting older and it's harder to remember things, right?

Hubby just opened my door to ask when I was putting the turkey on.  I told him "soon" so I guess I need to focus on finishing this and getting in the kitchen.  I got interrupted with receiving Happy Thanksgiving notes and responding to them. :-)

I am so glad I am off work on Friday and can focus on getting gifts wrapped and out of this room.  It seems no matter how many I wrap, I get another shipment in and have to start all over.  Buy I mean it; I am trying to cut back.  Of course the grandchildren usually only get two gifts anyway.  This year is the hardest in some ways.  If you know what your child's favorite cookie is (speaking to my children), please let me know cause that may be part of their gift this year!  A bag of homemade cookies from grandma - that works, doesn't it?    Some just tell me they want my salsa.   I have started cutting back on making salsa since the other year when I did over twenty quarts and then some didn't take and I 'had' to find others to take it.  It only lasts about 3 weeks in the refrigerator because it is without preservatives.  Have to give away to not throw away.  Maybe I will just make pint jars this year. I love to make it for the children and grandchildren, and have everything to make up a few batches.  It all takes time and money, of which I'm in slim supply, but it is a gift.  At least to me it is.  They may not think so.

I John 4:7  Dear friends, let us love one another because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God, and knows God.

We are heading into a new season here.  First of all, today.  Thanksgiving Day.  A day of giving thanks for family, for provision, and for friends.  Why not take a pause and speak words of thankfulness to those around you?  "Thank you for all you do."  "Thank you for providing for us." "Thank you, Lord, for blessing us so abundantly with family and friends."  

There are so many things to be thankful for, if you would but stop and think about them.  "Thank you for life." "Thank you for health."  "Thank you we are together."  So.many.things.to.be.thanksful.for.

Praise God for His blessings and His provisions for us.  I'm thankful for my children and grandchildren, and great grandchildren.  I am truly blessed by God by each one of them.  Thank You, Lord. 

And then Christmas is right around the corner!  Less than a month away!!  I will not stress about it and gifts I need to make and buy - but will treasure the journey to bless those who are in my life.  God has been so good to me.  He alone is worthy of praise, worship, and adoration. Hallelujah!

And with that - I need to get off here, get out of this room, and into the kitchen to get that turkey on to cook.  I got a small one because I thought we were going to have ham as well.... but it looks like no ham so a small turkey is it.  Hubby alone is a big eater so hope there is enough for everyone; I only got a 16 pound - and you know a lot of that is bone!  I can skip the turkey; go right for the dressing and giblet gravy. :-)  So. good. 

Have a very blessed Thanksgiving day.  I pray for travel mercies for those who are traveling.  I pray for love and warmth and special memories to abound within families.  This is what makes Thanksgiving great; being with family and those you love.  Remember to love and to make memories.

Blessings!

A productive but non-busy day

 was what yesterday was.  Hubby didn't want to physically go to church so we watched Free Chapel together.  Then we both took a nap, although he fell asleep during the service as well.  Once we woke, we had to get ready for the independent living facility I was speaking at.  It went well, I think.  The message was on gratitude, and two people came up to me afterwards to say 'thank you' for the message.  I miss being around people who are friendly - and these people are - they are hungry for people to come see them. I'm not on the scheduling for speaking so occasionally isn't bad.  I'm going to be busy with the RV parks for the next few months - in fact, I simply must start soon as I have three nearly right in a row this next month. I need to at least get rough drafts of the message, a title, and a scripture.  I'm not so concerned with going 'physically' somewhere right now as we are physically in these RV park services.

I really meant to go visit Ms. Vicky yesterday but decided to do a 'quick' run over to Sam's Club.  Can anyone do a 'quick' trip to Sam's Club?  I spent more than I ever have on one trip, I think. And I really did not get that much.  I still need to do a small order for Fry's and schedule a pick up - if I go there personally, I know I will spend more.  But then... is that so bad?  Hubby made a 'smart-aleck' comment about all the groceries I have bought lately.... he's getting his dates confused; it's been more than a couple days since I picked up groceries at Fry's and then it wasn't that much.  Ok, it had been less than a week, but I needed sugar and flour and some other things.  I think what made the biggest hit on the total was the Premier Protein drinks I bought yesterday.  They are $25 a case - but we do drink a lot of them.  I usually get vanilla for myself; chocolate for hubby - but the mint chocolate is in stock so got two cases of those.  I like a different flavor ever once in awhile.  And I needed more sugar.  With making the jam and pickles, I quickly went through 10 pound I got the other day.  I need to write out an extra list of things I 'need' for my Christmas baking and just go pick it up.  I did buy one package of meat.  No sodas, but I do get hubby his V8 juice in a can that he drinks one of every morning.  That's why he is so healthy, right?  I think it is two services of 5 fruits and vegetables - or something like that - every morning.  Maybe I should drink some to get me going! LOL    And I never made it over to see Ms. Vicky.  It just feels like time gets away from me.

I'm smiling this morning ... hubby has MY trainer today and tomorrow (and next week) as his trainer is taking a couple weeks off.  Morgan is about as excited to work with him.  Of course he has driven her crazy the past few weeks with 'I can't do this or that, I need to do this or that' and she just looks at him and smiles.  I'll hear about it tonight when I go for my own training.  He got the 7:30AM today and tomorrow, I'm at 5PM today and Wednesday.  We really do need to work out more than just two days a week, but at least we build strength when we do go.  I can't wait to hear his comments when he comes back from his first session with her.  'Can't' doesn't appear in her vocabulary; she will make you rephrase your words from "I can't do this' to "it's difficult, but I will try'.  LOL  My can't comes out way too often.  She decided a couple weeks ago that every time I said 'can't', I had to bring in a goodie treat the next time.  Well, I didn't do that as she would be so spoiled before Christmas she wouldn't need any treats.  I'm making her wait.

Speaking of Christmas treats, I got the sweetest text from Dr. K's wife last night.  She said she has personally eaten nearly the entire loaf of bread that I had given to them for Christmas.  She made me smile.  That's why I love to bake and give food away; so that people can enjoy it.  

I did remember Saturday evening to put the turkey in the refrigerator.  It should be completely thawed out by Thursday morning for baking.  Glad I have a roasting pan to bake it in versus the oven as we need the oven for other things.  Since I love to cook, I can't wait until Thursday morning when I can start getting things pulled together!  I almost bought a pumpkin pie yesterday for a grandson, cause I think I remember correctly that pumpkin pie is his favorite; but I didn't.  My son is making his famous dessert and I can't wait! 

Colossians 3:17 (NKJV)  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.

Since this week is Thanksgiving week, how about if we pause throughout the days and just thank God for all that He has given us?  Pause and thank others for the things they do to make life more simple. Tell your spouse you are thankful for them (sometimes they are the one who needs to hear it the most!). 

And in all things, thank God for keeping you alive, for providing for your family, for loving you so much that He sent His one and only Son, to die on the cross for you.  Yes, we are getting ready to celebrate His birth next month, but we should never cease giving thanks to God for what came after that.  It's because of Jesus we have Christmas and Easter.  God the Father brought salvation to us through Christ, and His death has given us hope for a future with our Heavenly Father and our Lord. Hallelujah!  No one else loves you that much - right where you are.

Blessings!