Hey, Girls!
I’m sitting on the back porch on a lovely Sunday afternoon. Queen Esther is a few feet from me hugging a yellow tennis ball with her front paws and huffing and puffing with a wide, toothy grin in the afterglow of about 30 good cross-yard throws. I use one of these thing…
…for two really good reasons:
1) I wear out long before Star does and I don’t mind saying I don’t wear out all that easy. She never gets enough ball time. Never. I’m no math wizard but hurling that thing twice as far means I only have to throw it half as often.
2) In a word: dog spit. Well, that’s two words. Or let’s just make it a hyphenated word: dog-spit. She may be the Queen but spit is still spitty. I don’t care how lovely the original Queen Esther was, Xerxes wouldn’t have given her a second look with spit all over her chin. It’s just not ladylike. The whole story could have slipped and fallen on it.
Anyway, what I’m trying to get at is that I’ve gotten to have a few days mostly to myself. I hate to even mention those words to you moms of young children but it will happen for you someday, too, and sometimes you’ll be glad it did and other times you’ll pine for those babies like every fine day of your life is long behind you even though you know better than that. That’s when it’s a really good idea to have grandbabies but, unfortunately, it doesn’t always get to be your idea.
My man almost always heads to the ranch Thanksgiving afternoon after the meal. It was the deer lease before he got some hunting acreage of his own. I don’t pout about it because I don’t mind and it wouldn’t do much good anyway and it’s simply the way we’re accustomed to doing life. We were laughing at the table a few days ago when he admitted that, in the early years, he’d go to a little extra trouble to be a handful this time of year so that, the second he mentioned heading to the deer camp, I’d yell, “Gooooooo!” and kiss him goodbye in an anxious fury. Anyway, Keith’s idea of closeness has never been clinginess. Sometimes, if he’s been cooped up too long around here, he’ll retreat a tad into his own world like a lot of men do but 30 minutes after his truck tires hit I-10 West (or at least by the first Buccee’s) he’s often calling me and telling me why he ever fell in love with me in the first place. It makes me smile every time.
My man and I do better on this schedule: a lot of time together, a little time apart, a lot of time together, a little time apart, a lot of time together, a little time apart… And that’s how we’ve made it 34 years this coming December 30th.
Instead of getting my nose out of joint when he’s gone (it wouldn’t be a pretty sight anyway), I play like I own the place. I get up a bit later, read a little more, have longer quiet times, come and go as I please, and get with friends (and family, of course, but family is something we do on a regular basis anyway), walk in the woods all by myself (with Star) and I watch movies he’d probably hate.
Yesterday I decided to spend most of the day by myself doing this and that and, lo and behold, I got in the Christmas spirit. I tried to find where our Christmas decorations got stored in this new house last year when we made our monumental move to the country but, for the life of me, I couldn’t find a single box. I don’t know how to navigate the attics yet so I’m sure they’re up there. If they’re not, believe you me, you’ll hear about it. There will be heck to pay by somebody, especially if the stockings I handmade and tediously beaded from a kit for Keith, Amanda, Melissa and myself back in 1982 don’t show up. It was my last act of seamstressness and, without it, there is not the least whiff that I ever walked in craftiness. I’ll not have it.
But I did indeed know exactly where my Christmas dishes were. They were a gift from my “Other.” You know. We girls have a mother then many of us who live in a wide enough circle of women also have an “Other.” I mean, who really gets enough nurturing in this life from one older woman? Spread the love around. She doesn’t take the place of the one who raised you but sometimes you can tell her things you can’t exactly tell your M-Other. That was Miss Mary Helen to me. I have many things from her and most are beyond a retail price but these dishes are the most beautiful ones I’ve ever owned and I have 12 whole place settings. I bet a number of you have this same Spode pattern or one similar. It was the ultimate in Christmas dinnerware to our mothers and grandmothers and, to traditionalists, it can hardly be outdone.
It’s too big a waste to set them aside only for Christmas Eve or Day so I try to get them out nice and early and put some of them on this stand Miss Mary Helen gave me so we’ll use them everyday through the season. It’s a happiness to me.
And that’s all it took. Next thing I knew, I’d downloaded a new Christmas album on my iPhone. I don’t like it yet but I will before long. You know how we are about Christmas music. It’s the memories that surround them that make them our favorites but I’m ripe for some new memories anyway. Bring them on!
Actually, I got on here today just to say that I’d love to hear about one of your favorite moments from your Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Any of the four days will do. It doesn’t have to be life altering. Our community here also appreciates a snippet of simplicity. Just capture something you keep picturing from the weekend. An expression. A taste. A conversation. A sight. Write us up a little snapshot of it so that we can picture it through your words and through your beautiful eyes. Not too long, remember. We bloggers are notorious for ADD, myself included. It’s rare that we really read a long one. I’m so mindful when I write a long post that, by the end of it, I’ve lost most people. Sometimes it’s worth it because I’m working something through but, most of the time, I’d have been the wiser to have been the briefer.
Oh, Amanda snapped this picture of her Daddy and me on Thanksgiving afternoon so I might as well throw it in, too. He’s wheels are heading East and I’ll be mighty glad to see that handsome face. We Moores love you guys. Christmas will be here in exactly one month whether we’re ready for it or not. You may as well not fight it. Tie that house of yours up in red and green and slam the door on your Scrooginess. Don’t be a fossil. Make some wassail. Tis the season, Sweet Thing. Let’s celebrate us some Jesus.
Fireworks (we live in the country), bacon wrapped turkey and target shooting. Ewws, Ahhs, and too much food! We are counting our blessings that dear friends spent the week with us at home. God is good. I am unworthy. So many blessings.
Celebrated Thanksgiving and my daughters birthday! She was born on Thanksgiving Day 33 years ago and that was such a exciting day! she is a beautiful daughter who loves the Lord and her family! I have another daughter also Beth just like you, two wonderful women and my friends!
you are absolutely precious sharing life through your JESUS loving eyes.
Never write short…the best is saved for last. GOD bless you dear sister.
Lots of family time with adult daughters & husband. The thing that stood out was Tom, Marissa & Megan going to the cemetery where his mom was buried on October 27th. Head stone to side of grave & no grass yet. Tears flowing & lots of contemplation!!
Thanking God for the family around the table. My precious husband who is able to be here after 2 brain tumor surgeries. My 88 yr. old mother who help me cook our dinner,( and still sells Avon ). My sweet daughter, son-in-law, 2 sweet grandsons. My brother & his family.
Missed my other brother who celebrated in Heaven with Jesus. Missed my son who was working in intensive care unit at hosp. Thanking God for my Christian hertiage and salvation. So very Thankful for my family.
Allen and I spent a quiet Thanksgiving today but we roasted a turkey and all the trimmings and ate in the dining room. We have one daughter Beth. We have always been very close to but since her marriage 7 years ago she has spent all her holidays with her husband’s family, which leaves just the two of us. Proud to say that we had lively conversation and fabulous food for two that I am happy to say have been in love for 37 years.
My brother, a chef and R and D man at Bonefish Grill, made the best turkey meal EVER. We are savoring it daily. Great to have family and their friends.
One great memory: my ugliest serving bowl got broken…hallelujah!!!!
We went to see “THE STORY” tour in Greensboro on Saturday evening. We went 2 years ago – but seeing it again somehow you see things you missed the first time. It was just a tremendous time of worship.
I’ve been searching all over to find a plate holder like that. Any idea where I can find one?
Playing cards with my 5-year-old nephew, 3-year-old niece, and older cousin–who recently completed rehab. How childish we were, playing boys vs girls. And to watch my nephew laugh hysterically at my cousin’s antics as they won the game. We were kids again!
Thankful for redemption, forgiveness, reunions, and the ability to be a child!
Best part of my Thanksgiving was being home with my family and boyfriend. I am studying at Liberty U and live about 60 miles away from home so it was great to be able to be home for a few days. Thankful for Thanksgiving break, only 2 weeks of classes left =)
Ten family members at our huge oval oak pedestal table in the kitchen this year. My husband and me, our three children and their spouses, and our two grandchildren. That’s what made my Thanksgiving great! And also when my 7-year-old granddaughter was offered a choice of the Sister Shubert rolls or the homemade whole wheat rolls she said, “I want the brown rolls!”
Just sitting around the Thanksgiving meal table and hearing that my sweet children (ages 10 & 7) said they were thankful for Jesus.
We made a trip to Iowa with family. My cousin pulled a group of women together to meet me because they had read my book and wanted a Word. Each one was unfamiliar with the other woman except for the hostess/my cousin. One began to share about her husband in jail, the other shared about her husband working in that jail, another shared that her husband went to jail and then was sent to a mental institution and then the other woman chimed in, “My husband should have gone to jail for what he did to me in court!” We all threw our heads back and laughed at the common hearts of women who each adored their Lord, but had this thread that bound them together as women. Delightful to see His sense of humor. He loved them up big that morning and they got their Word. Glory to God!
A highlight for me was having breakfast with a dear friend who recently returned from a trip to Haiti where she and her husband met their soon-to-be adopted children for the first time! They got to hold and kiss and squeeze their babies in anticipation of bringing them home in January. She shared some of the most precious pictures I’ve ever seen.
Dearest Beth and all my siestas – Thanksgiving in the convent is fabulous! We live community daily but on these special days – it is a particularly lovely experience. We begin the day as always – with praise and thanksgiving. The morning is busy with cooking (any sister that wants to cook gets to cook!) and decorating tables. Then at midday we gather to pray again and share a wonderful meal. This year I was especially delighted with the stuffing and the cranberry sauce – each was seasoned perfectly. The afternoon is relaxed – lots of naps, walks, and time to recreate in small groups. Then the day ends when we gather in chapel once again to praise God for His blessings this day and always.
Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, I was blessed to go on a first date with a precious man of God that I had been talking with for weeks. At his suggestion we started the date at church, praising the Lord and he ended the night by praying for me and for us. Our first moments together and our last together were spent with the Lord. Saying this was the best Thanksgiving ever doesn’t quite do it justice. Thank you LORD!
We have a new family tradition. We avoid Black Friday and instead travel with our church to Boone, NC to work at the Operation Christmas Child Processing Center. It’s fun seeing what people put in their shoebox gifts. We work with hundreds of people from all over the US. We pray over the boxes and celebrate the opportunities the children will have to hear the gospel. For fun several of us wore reindeer antlers and Santa hats. In a way it’s like Santa’s workshop, only this one is real. On the way home some of the youth sang O Tannenbaum each time they saw a Christmas tree on the roof of a car.
Sword fighting with my granddaughter outside which lead to mushroom hunting and then slashing in the mud…. glorious
Praise Jesus I never thought I would have a granddaughter!
My sister exclaiming “This is the very best food I have tasted in a very long time.”
My dad was in the hospital for Thanksgiving, and I wanted to decorate his room. I helped my four girls (ages 11,8 and 6 year old twins) decorate a poster of some things we are thankful for (including dads and grandpas and hospitals).
I also had a wonderful bible study/discussion with my two older girls about the 3 enemies of Christians: the world, the flesh and the devil. They were fascinated by it and had all sorts of things to say!
Thanksgiving is my FAVORITE because we have a huge family and a big family reunion including a Granny Walk (where all the girls get together and walk), a Granny Cup (guys get together and play golf), and a Turkey Trot dance (my FAVORITE) all in honor of my wonderful grandmother who left a godly legacy to all of us. My Granny’s mom died while in the hospital when Granny was 6 year old which left Granny with one sibling, a sister she adored, who passed away at the age of 33. So, it was just my Granny, and she was lonely, but she married my grandfather, Paw, and they had six kids and 24 grandchildren who almost all have a lot of kids now. It’s a BIG group and we all have so much fun and we all love the Lord!! God is GOOD!!!
My husband declared us aliens on Thanksgiving evening. I suggested we go to the movies since our families are scattered. He had never done the movie thing on a holiday. Anyway we went and saw Skyfall (great movie) but as we were sitting with maybe 8 other people waiting for the movie to begin the theater filled up! My husband leaned over and said, I guess we aren’t the only aliens to go to a movie on Thanksgiving. My MIL just entered assisted living last week so we had a traditional meal with her at noon. It was a good day.
My husband and 11 year old daughter making venison chili together while Gone With the Wind randomly played on TMC… (And I was finally able to adequately explain the Carol Burnett curtain rod dress she saw at the Smithsonian 2 years ago)
So funny, cuz I saw that part of Gone With the Wind over the weekend and immediately thought of Carol Burnett’s outfit and LOL’d.
Best Thanksgiving memory this year is watching my two sons (ages 10, 13) love on their grandmother maybe for the last time as she succumbs to Lou Gehrig’s disease. They were so brave and courageous and told her they loved her, I swear, a thousand times. All of this, after my sons and I survived a serious car accident the Friday before, was almost too much to handle! Also being in the middle of Beth’s James’ study during this time has blessed me beyond words! Overwhelming gratefulness and thankfulness to Jesus this Thanksgiving.
Our family celebrated alone this year–just the five of us, with no relatives coming in–so that afternoon we went on a hike. On a whim, I’d bought a little package of fake mustaches a few days earlier. So, we wore mustaches while we hiked, and took the silliest family photos. It couldn’t have been more simple, but it will always be “treasured” in this mama’s heart.
Amy,
I love your story, it sounds so fun. I love to do things like this. I wore groucho glasses the other day to an appointment and it was absolutely the most fun.
🙂
Thank you! Groucho glasses must’ve been a blast! I wish I were fun all the time, but I’m so very not. 🙂 I get so busy “doing” that I forget to just “be,” you know? But that day, I remembered, and I pray my kids will never forget it. 🙂
Love it…I have some of those groucho mustaches/nose/glasses. Must have our boys wear them with my husband.
Beth…I get so tickled every time I read about Keith and his doings because he is so very much like my Joe! The “a little time apart” between the “lots of times together” is exactly us; nothing I could ever have imagined but sure was a blessing how that worked well with my now retired US Army Colonel husband who has an exotics ranch an hour away! WE recently celebrated 43 years of marriage so it does work well. Blessed memories of our Thanksgiving included priceless times with our son, d-in-love and sweet grandchildren from GA here in TX with us! Our daughter and s-in-love from TN were with Nanna in GA so we were together as family…just in 2 locations!
This Thanksgiving, we took a reprieve from traveling 8-10 hours with 2 screaming kids to visit family, and instead stayed in our home area and spent much of the holiday with our best friends (in exchange, we will be taking that trip this week, and my husband will have 3 days in the woods with the deer and return my long-lost-darling. But I digress). Because we didn’t travel (far), I got to go shopping Friday afternoon with my best friend. She is nearly a decade older than me, but she is the best sister/friend/mentor God could have ever given me. We made a beeline for Lifeway, in search of my 6 year old daughter’s desire for Christmas: her “very own, big girl Bible.” Since I’m at work, and can’t afford to write all the details, I will simply leave you with my favorite memory: My best friend and I found ourselves sitting in the Bible aisle, surrounded in a complete circle by every pink, purple, glitter, leather, hardback, translation we could find. A sweet worker asked if she could help, and I looked around our stacks and realized, that there was nothing we needed. This was bliss. I am not a public crier, but I broke down right then and there as God poured down His gracious redemption on my tattered heart. I never deserved my children, husband, life a have; and yet, here the Most Holy One has given me a 6 year old mini-me who already thirsts for His Word. Best gift of my life. That perfect, white, leather, clean Bible now sits in the trunk of my car, just waiting for my darling girl to pour over it and learn Jesus’ truth for her life. At $10, I’m sure it’s the best buy of the whole season.
My boys helping with Thanksgiving dinner! They got to choose the menu this year – (chicken-fried-venison-steak with instant mashed potatos & gravy!) My oldest harvesting first BUCK – 8 pt – thrilled. Enjoying the Texans win and pouting about how BAD the Cowboys played:(
“Blessed beyond measure” is how I would describe my Thanksgiving this year. Our entire family (27 in all) were all together at my sister’s house for Thanksgiving lunch. My parents (81 yrs. old & almost 79 yrs. old) were there along with all four of their daughters & our husbands, also, their ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. When I found out we would all be there I immediately thought “We must have a family picture taken!” My sister lives out in the country & one of her sweet friends came out and took pictures for us. I’ll always treasure that we were ALL together in 2012.
I don’t want to write too much, but I do want to mention that I also had the wonderful privilege of taking my mom and mother-in-law to Branson, MO the day after Thanksgiving for a few days. These two ladies are also two of my best friends. We had such a fun & special time together.
Yes, Thanksgiving 2012… “Blessed beyond measure!”
***I forgot to mention the three grand-sons-in law. (in case anyone was wondering how I came up with the number 27 from those I mentioned in our family group) 🙂
My daughter-in-law hosted our Thanksgiving this year. It was wonderful to be with my son, his wife, and my adorable grandsons! What a blessing to see my son become the father I so admire! He is patient, gentle, and he and the boys “rough-house” until the boys are breathless with laughter – Thanksgiving feast for the eyes, ears, and heart!
**love the chuck-it**! Had to retire ours because our Labrador doesn’t do ‘easy does it’ and ‘tennis ball’ together and she’s in danger of tearing her meniscus 🙁
Tidbit of Thanksgiving joy: filling up our refrigerator door with sticky note answers to “On Thanksgiving Day, I want to share that I am thankful for…”
Neat idea. Can picture it and want to do it sometime!
this really helped my two 9-year-olds stay focused on everything to be thankful for (from Jesus to a roof over our heads to cranberry sauce). I plan to transition this activity from that which we are thankful to recognition for each other’s good attitudes/deeds/traits/accomplishments. I am in a phase of sibling rivalry that needs to be broken and refocused into seeing what is good about the other.
Wonderful time and wonderful dinner with husband, 9 yr old daughter, future daughter-in-law, mom-in-law, dad-in-law, and best friends. My 22 yr old son was hunting in WV for the week. His poor fiance has yet to spend a Thanksgiving with him. My husband has chosen to hunt Muzzleloader season for the past several years which is a couple weeks after Thanksgiving-perfect for us both (right in-between the holidays)!
The night before Thanksgiving, my husband, two kiddos (13 and 10) and myself prayer walk our house. We have been hosting Thanksgiving for the past 8 years for both sides of the family AT THE SAME TIME. Several of our family members are unsaved and unchurched. We prayer walk each room asking the Holy Spirit to be an overwhelming presence, guiding the conversation, our hearts, actions, etc. Every year, I become anxious and every year, Jesus answers our prayers an abundance. We enjoyed a truly blessed day.
I was baptised 11/18/12 so my Thanksgiving day runnth over with blessings. I did all the cooking as usual but it was so joyful this year. I had quiet time to read the Word early each morning and when we started dinner after the blessing was done, we each went around and spoke of our thankfulness, mercies and graces we have. OH YA !!!
We celebrated Thanksgiving with just the five of us {my husband and I and our 3 kiddos} relaxing and doing our own thing. None of the chaotic hustle and bustle that has characterized holidays for so many years. We went Jeeping in the mountains near our home. When we came to a particularly steep hill we didn’t know if we could climb, we decided to test our luck and Jeep up it anyway. Imagine our surprise when we came to the top and found ourselves perched upon the very edge of the mountain overlooking the entire valley and city that we live in! It was a GORGEOUS view and we all gawked at how we’d nearly missed it out of fear of the steep climb to the top. Oh how THANKFUL we are that God pushes us through the hard stuff to get to the GOOD stuff.
My family rented a house on a lake for the weekend. There were 28 people in and out at one time or other during the weekend (most stayed for at least 2 of the 3 nights). One of my favorite memories is from Saturday afternoon when 2 sisters, 1 brother, a brother-in-law, a significant other, a 17-year-old nephew and his girlfriend, and I visited with my soon-to-be 89-year-old aunt (last surviving sibling from my father’s family). My 91-year-old Mom stayed at the house with 4 kids ages 7-11 and 4 teenagers ages 14-19, and baked apple dumplings for us all. What a special memory for all of us.
Thanks, Beth, for sharing your memories with us. We feel like we know the farmhouse, the dogs, the kids, the grands, the man, much better than logistics allow all due to your willingness to be transparent and let us in. That’s how we bond and grow closer to each other and I think it is a glorious thing.
My favorite memory was the scene etched in my head of the family gathered around the kitchen island saying grace. Brings such warmth and joy to my heart. God is better than I could ever ask for and it’s these times that make me remember how praiseworthy He really is.
Hiking in the Great Smokey Mnts with our lovely French exchange student.
Loving our time with her, sad as it is coming to and end.
We had lots of good moments over the Thanksgiving weekend. But I believe my favorite was Friday afternoon, hubby and I went to lunch at Red Lobster, just the 2 of us. The food was excellent and the company and conversation even better. I love some one on one face time with my hubby!
My husband and I decided to celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary (December 18) early and spent the Thanksgiving weekend on our first Amtrak excursion to Philadelphia and Boston! Now we also took the week after the holiday off and are headed on to spend 3 days in Maine and back for a night in NYC before returning to NC to celebrate our grandson’s 3rd birthday on 12/1!!!
Hope your and your family have a wonderful holiday season.
This year we had a small Thanksgiving . . . just my husband, myself and our two teenagers. I found a list online of questions to ask your teens (and see if you could guess how they would answer first) and we spent the meal getting to know our kids a little better. It was wonderful. Then at midnight all four of us hit the mall.
My best memory this year is of the hilarity that comes out of my little sister’s mouth sometimes!
My fiery, toddler sister (who has quite a bit of gumption, I might add) who jabbered our grandmother’s ear off on Thanksgiving. She went on to tell her how daddy had swatted her the other day, and so I informed her that it was because she wasn’t being very nice to him at all. She smiled and said “It was funny!” So my grandmother asked if it was funny when she got in trouble. She surprised us all by exclaiming, “It was ‘larious!” (Her way of saying hilarious.) We’re going to laugh about that one for years! She’s a sassy one for sure, we’re all praying for the sanity of the man who marries her someday. 😉
And this week, although Thanksgiving is over, my favorite memory is yet to come. Wednesday is the last week of our Beth Moore woman’s group Esther study. I have enjoyed the deep study so much, and all of us are looking forward to starting your Daniel study in January. I couldn’t be more excited! I simply cannot get enough of studying God’s Word with sweet sisters in Christ! 🙂
After many years of wrestling with an over 20 lb bird and fixings in the kitchen for 3 hungry sons and extended family, this year was a quiet one with my hubby and I. Boy, they all grow up and out (of state!)quickly!
The best part of the day was a beautiful, warm morning (in Ohio!) spent on my deck with my Bible and favorite 4-legged friend. She chased sqirrels, and I enjoyed Psalms and thanking the Lord for what a blessed year it’s been!
Everyone came to our house for Thanksgiving – my sister and her family, and my in-laws. It was the first Thanksgiving without my husband, who died on 11/29/11 as a result of a work-related accident. We had a wonderful time together.
M.J.
My oldest son got married in August& we gained a wonderful,big,fun,new family! They have 8 children plus my son & another son-in-law so they bring alot of fun&laughter to our house where there are only 3 of us now. As they were leaving my daughter-in-laws Mom said,”It’s so nice to spend a holiday with people you enjoying being with.” She turned to her daughter&said”Thanks for not marrying into a crazy family”, which we found both delightful& a bit surprising.LOL
Thanksgiving morning found my mom, my sister, and I in the galley kitchen of my parents’ home. Standing practically shoulder-to-shoulder, my sister had charge of putting together the veggie and relish trays; I had brussel sprouts and green bean casserole going; and my mom had her eyes on the sweet potatoes and mashed potatoes on the stove (not to mention the turkey roasting in the oven). The food turned out pretty good, but the time spent with my family cooking and laughing and eating around the same table was even better 🙂
An annual tradition is for my family to visit an outdoor Christmas light display on Thanksgiving evening. This year my snapshot is of my wild little boy, aged 10, hanging out the window of our truck so that he could fully experience the lights in all of their glory. He added some audio, too, with singing of Christmas carols and a few “wahoos” spread throughout. I don’t know if the other vehicles enjoyed it as much as we did… but there is just something about a kid and Christmas.
Had husband’s family over for dinner again this year. Last year his family literally imploded just before dinner and a few folks left. The Lord protected my children’s ears/hearts in beautiful ways! As we sat there this year TOGETHER enjoying the food and the company I held back tears of thankfulness for God’s faithfulness and the evidence of answered prayers. He really is better to us than we deserve. Meanwhile, formal dining room decorated in my kids’ crayon-leaf-rubbings artwork… no pretending we don’t have small kids! It was gorgeous.