thankful

tonight was our family's *Thanksgiving* - as i had stated on the "real" day, ben & kelly had to work so we waited until today to have our feast.

shortly after they arrived and just as i was putting the finishing touches on my very exceedingly tremendously famous broccoli casserole, they handed me a card that said "Merry Christmas!" i said, "what's this?"

"early Christmas present ma -- open it."

i got as far as pulling the paper out part way and saw a cartoon couple looking down at something in the lady's arms....i didn't even look any further before i said "oh my GAWWWWWD" and promptly burst into tears. not simple dab at your eyes like you won an award tears, no.

big.
ole.
tears.

apparently, we will have an extra person at the table next year -- i'm gonna be a grammy :) is that not just the coolest thing, ever?

i was undone and really don't recall how i made the balance of dinner or even sat down to eat.

overjoyed? i am truly blessed.

:)

Happy Thanksgiving

Manhattan Project/Cold War Era
Hanford Photo Declassification Project

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i am thankful to have been invited three places to eat dinner today: well, two places and one dessert stop. we have opted to go to Jim's sister's for dinner and i am taking him into work early so i can pick him up by 3 to go to philadelphia.

i believe i will, instead of returning home right away, stop at Sister Jean's kitchen to see if she needs an extra set of hands for a few hours because i know she will have a lot of guests today - it will be my first visit since september because a few days after said visit, i landed my second job and simply haven't had the time. i am making the time today since i am off.

this sunday is my family's traditional dinner - two very important members of the tribe have to work today so we will convene on sunday - with everything delish and our tradition (and anyone who joins us at the table does the same) is that we make a "Thankful List" - 10 things we are thankful for over the past year. we say grace as we gather around the table and we each take turns reciting our list - it is quite poignant and something we all look forward to doing every year. one year, if i recall correctly, i believe ben was thankful for led zeppelin. good times :)

do you have a sacred tradition you carry on with your friends, family? i pray that God blesses you all to overflowing. i know i am thankful for you, dear readers, who have ministered to me in ways you could not possibly know or comprehend. you are blessings to me.

gratefulness.

iStock Photo

As they were going they were cleansed.
And one of them, realizing he had been healed,
returned, glorifying God in a loud voice;
and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. Luke 17:11-19, in part

A really touching piece at 614 Charlotte. It started with a phone call and making and distributing pies - how wonderful!

We have one family of five kids here, 10, 10, 13, 14, 17. Their Mother left two weeks ago and just never came back....

The Gospel message this weekend had to do with the 10 lepers who were healed and only one returning to say thank you. I am always incredibly humbled by this passage, even more so as I continued reading about the sweet family mentioned above:

...I felt very humbled when bringing them their pies because they were truly thankful. The two little guys hugged me so hard I thought that I would drop the pies.

We could learn so much from the little ones.

"Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine?
Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?"
Then he said to him, "Stand up and go; your faith has saved you."