2017 Week 47: Giving Thanks

Like most of you, we enjoyed a family gathering and Thanksgiving feast. Mike was the chief cook and I was in charge of the program. Our expressions of gratitude were by means of a game. First, I read my friend Rachael Phillips' post: Thanksgiving 2017. Then everyone, even the little ones, had five minutes to make their own "weird list of things they were thankful for." If they didn't know how to write, they could draw. Everybody was involved. Those were the only minutes of silence in the whole day! But the conversation that followed when everyone read their lists was very lively. Great fun! Some 200 items made the lists, some abstract, like humor, love, vulnerability, openness, worship, friendship, etc. Items listed by someone else were crossed off. Karen and Malachi had the longest lists. And Jude interpreted what his drawings represented. He won the children's category.

One item on my list was the ongoing watercolor class This week we attempted our first larger painting applying some of the techniques we'd learned.

The highlight of the week was our family togetherness--outdoor and indoor fun. 

RWL (rolling with laughter) similar to LOL

Zion shared his new birthday cards. Can you tell what game we played?

Skye was here with his girlfriend Cassie. The only one who couldn't come was Matt, as a millwright he often has to work odd hours and holidays. 

I'm sorry I didn't get a picture of everyone. I was too busy enjoying the growing family. Yes, the younguns are growing in stature, knowledge, wisdom and grace. Two of them celebrated birthdays this week: Malachi is now 19, and Zion 8.

How did I find time to color the most complicated design this week?! Ha! Too many tired evenings relaxing watching listening to TV with Michael.

2016 Week 47: Thanksgiving and Birthdays

This year we hosted the family Thanksgiving. Michael installed a lighted shelf above the dining room window and I put out simple and meaningful decorations out of reach of little hands.

I enjoy Leah's miniature clay figures every year.

The feast was delightful but best of all the family fellowship.

 

Zion read the Thanksgiving story. I commented on the adversities the pilgrims faced and read Jesus Calling meditation for the day. Our thankfulness activity for this year was to look back and think of the hardest thing, the greatest adversity, and give thanks, thus allowing God to transform our outlook and redeem our experiences. No one shared openly, but some immediately knew what it was they were to be thankful for. A good exercise for all of us this year: In everything give thanks.

This was also a big birthday week.

We celebrated Zion's seventh Sunday afternoon at the YMCA. He wanted to be able to play in the water.

Rebecca was eager to get in the water at first, but then quickly chickened out when Mommy didn't go in with her. It was just not the same with big cousin Elijah helping.

Swim suit beauty.                                           Silly face.                                        "Look what I can do."

Monday, several robotics team members went to another auction and purchased a whole lot of needed equipment. In the process of unloading somthing heavy, Michael, on the receiving end, fell down and badly twisted his right foot.
The next day he had it Xrayed. Thankfully there was no break. Tuesday evening at their regular robotics work meeting, someone took a picture of the two leg-impaired members.

Mentor Mike and Jessica ready to do the Riverdance

Wednesday I was deep into preparations for Thanksgiving, so Mike went to pick up Diane who always likes to spend a couple days with us over the holidays. She and I were fascinated by this squirrel and wondered what kept its attention for so long.

Wednesday was also Malachi's 18th birthday! 

We celebrated him as a family Thursday evening. After the meal, we played card games and waited for Samuel and Kristie to return from the ER where they went to have Sam's swollen hurting hand checked out. Again we are grateful there were no broken bones. They did run a few other tests as he was feeling faint. His work schedule has been so very strenuous. We are hoping he can get a few days of rest before he must travel again and endure ongoing sleep deprivation.

NO Black Friday shopping for us! It was more of a catch-up or recovery day. My big accomplishment was to put together the year-end newsletter to go with our Christmas cards. Would you like to read it? Leave a comment.

Michael posted this photo Saturday.

"This is what it looks like to cycle in Indiana in November...
and you thought I was just a pretty face."

He is very grateful to still be able to ride outdoors! And, by the way, his foot is much better.

Let Christmas preparations begin now! Let us lean into this period of anticipation, of waiting--the Advent season.

2015 Week 48: Giving thanks

This week in the USA we emphasize giving thanks. 

Great numbers travel distances to gather with their families and feel most grateful for relationships.

My brother Lynn came from Las Vegas to spend a couple weeks with Mother. We invited all our Midwest family to join us on Thanksgiving Day. 

Mother surrounded by three of her five children--Lynn, Alan, Rita

The matriarch herself

I had to teach Monday. After that I was able to worry about focus on the fact that we were expecting 28 for Thanksgiving dinner. I'd wake up in the morning trying to work out seating arrangements in my mind. Working steadily, slowly, area by area, everything came together. I was so happy when I figured out how to arrange the many plants in the solarium and make room for three guests. Next I set up the table in my craft room with its three inserts.

I was very intentional about staying out of the kitchen in order to focus on hostessing--welcoming and interacting with everyone. Mike wanted to cook and others offered to bring food. The big day arrived. Ha! So much for my resolve. Mike was sick and unable to participate!

However, Stephan and Karen had come very early so he could have one more opportunity to hunt. So they helped me prepare as well.

Karen even went out for a run in the nice weather.

Here she comes!

Earlier in the week both Mike and Stephan brought in some venison for the winter. Can you tell how many?

In the end, only 26 showed up and found a favorite spot. Kayla's little family in the solarium made such a pretty picture in the sunshine surrounded by greenery. I went outside to look in and get a photo. Not until I looked at the photos online did I see the photo-bomber!

Neice Tina came all the way from Elkhart to spend the day with us. We anticipated the encounter between Rebecca and Simon, almost two. Sure enough, she went to give him a hug and kiss. He would have no such thing, and was happy to escape up the stairs and play with the train set.

Another little one, Tina's two-and-half-week-old Betsy, made the rounds, getting acquainted with her extended family.

Hmmmm. . . are Sam & Kristie being inspired to try for a girl?

There is a saying in Spanish: "Muchas manos en un plato hacen mucho garabato." Literally, "Many hands in one plate make a mess." No mess here! The many hands worked together to clean up after the meal. By the time everyone left, there was not much left for me to do.

Diane and I played a game she enjoyed a lot.

The next day Sam and Kristie dropped off Elijah to spend a couple days with us while they went away for a deserved getaway.

We watched movies and played games and enjoyed our tall ten-year-old grandson.

He learned some chess strategies, but was unbeatable at Hand and Foot!

Tomorrow it's back to work, grateful for these few lazy days.