Thanksgiving...
How very many things some to my mind when I think of Thanksgiving!!! My early memories of Thanksgiving at my Great Granny McDonald's house...running out the creaky back door with the OLD door knobs, and through the airy laundry room and the screen door slamming behind me as I scampered out to Aunt Nora's...or to check the squirrel cages they had all over.. Then the tradition later carrying on at Aunt Ginger's, and even Aunt Laura's some years...
Or, the memory of the time I very disrespectfully called my Grandmother by her nickname and added a sassy comment to it -- oh the silence that followed!!!! (lol) (course, Grandma didn't hear what I said, but everyone else sure did! And the looks I received -- they almost still give me chills. ) ;)
I know we spent Thanksgiving with Mom McDonald's family too -- and I think I have memories of it - but I have more Christmas memories there...
How about the delicious food?! I could list SO many dishes....and desserts!
I cherish the car rides with Dad McDonald to Sweeny to pick up Paw Paw (and Grandma) for Thanksgiving (or Christmas)...Daddy telling me hunting stories and other fun memories of him as a boy... a gloomy weather day, or a V of geese don't pass by that I don't think of those special times with my Daddy..
Then there's my first Thanksgiving with the Moreno's... Me, sorta stressing over a lemon meringue pie -- something I'd never made before...only to learn that it was mainly for a particular niece. :D I was relieved the whole Moreno Thanksgiving dessert did not all hinge on my first lemon pie attempt. I was SUPER excited to get to make something, but ya'll all know what it's like -- you want to impress. :) In addition, there's the 2nd & 3rd Thanksgiving with my sweet family in-love...each year just gets better!
The first time we went Black Friday shopping -- on Thursday. :)
I think one of my favorite parts of Thanksgiving day is looking at the ads... After everything from the busy day has calmed down... sipping coffee, having some more pie, and looking at the ads....deciding if anything is really worth getting out for.
As a little girl, and up until I married, I loved waking up on Thanksgiving...really, the whole week. There was just a special feel in the mornings... the cool, crisp air *usually anyway*...the sounds of my parents starting their day...having Dad home for the week...the smell of bacon, biscuits, or cinnamon rolls cooking... Just special...
I can't forget making the Noah's Ark Gingerbread 'house'... instead of a actual gingerbread house at Christmas, Mama McDonald & I would do a Noah's Ark at Thanksgiving. (Super Special!!) Other yummy treats like Persimmon Cookies are a Thanksgiving MUST!
The list could go on and on...It really really could. But, even though all these things "a few of my favorite things" (did a nice little tune just flow through your mind?!) these 'things' are what Thanksgiving is all about. At All. They're just extras; bonus'; additions.
Thanksgiving would still be Thanksgiving without all this -- course, no doubt I would shed tears if next year none of these things were possible -- but, it'd be OK. I still need to be Thankful for ALL the Lord does, even taking away. I truly am grateful for my family - and I mean my FAMILY -- McDonald/Moreno -- it's ONE to me. And, my little foursome family. My precious friends -- ones I see very often, and some I hardly get to talk to -- Each of you are HUGE blessings in my life - never doubt that. I praise God for His love for me, and saving my soul - writing my name in the Book of Life. I feel like those are the 'normal' things we're thankful for, but I promise, it's sincere! I'm thankful for my memories... I can't even begin to write out all the things I'm thankful for. And, it's true, the more we think on gratefulness, the more grateful we become, even for the little things! Which is so vitally important. We're to praise God in ALL things...it's hard, but oh so worth it. His way truly is best -- but I promise, ti's not always our way...or Meagen Moreno's way.
This year...right now...this week....I'm thankful for the Lord's provision, grace, strength and intervention. I don't want to bore you, but want to type this out for my remembrance.
God's Grace & Strength -- That's what has carried Brian & I through the past 12 weeks... 2 weeks before Dad died were some of the absolute hardest for Brian and I, then Dad dying threw a curve ball, and God's Grace and given us the strength to pick ourselves up, and press on. Each week has had a trial of some sort, a big one...but each time we have seen God's Hand in a way we've never seen before. I am truly grateful for the Lord carrying us through. I promise...we'd be a wreck without Him.
Provision -- This one is kinda funny. I was looking for Aspen some clothes, but couldn't find what I wanted. So, I should've already been doing so, but I began praying more faithfully, trusting that the Lord would meet these needs and provide specific items. I gave it to the Lord and asked Him to just drop it in my lap…preferably through hand-me-downs… Then, Brian & I were talking about some things I'd like to do to our home, and I asked the Lord to somehow begin providing those needed/desired items… On morning, I felt prompted to drive through the neighborhood as it was trash day, and thinking someone might be tossing a bookshelf or something I'd prayed for. I REALLY didn't want to. I was already later than I'd planned, but went anyway. Sure enough, there was a black something or other with LOTS of trash bag surrounding it….I kept on driving, thinking 'thats not really what I want…' On my way back home, I was once again prompted….so, I drove BACK by that pile and it was still there. I slowed, looked, but went on. (lol) Finally, I realized I needed to at least park, and look at it. I went back (a 3rd time!) and looked….It's sorta what I'd want…could see potential. So, I checked it - it was light enough for me to lift, and if it'd fit in the car with my girls AND groceries, and it did! But, when I moved it, I realized most the bags around this shelf thingy were clothes! So, I thought, grab it, and if nothing else give it away, no need for it to be trashed!! So, I took like 4 bags of clothes. Once home, curiosity got the best of me and I pulled something cute out of the bag to check the size and what on earth I might have picked up… It was a 3T girls dress! Aspen's exact size & EXACTLY what I had asked God for. God never ceases to amaze me in the ways he provides for my family. That was a background story. For the past 4 weeks, each Tuesday, the Lord has met a need or desire (specific prayer request). I have honestly been amazed. Even this week, in the rain today. Either through neighbors cleaning out their house, or a friend offering something to me she was getting rid of... The Lord is answering my prayers...desires...needs. Not necessarily the way I'd originally want - trust me, pick up furniture some the side of the street is awkward, humbling even -- but, it's provision. And I praise GOD for it!! Thank you LORD!! I'm thrilled and look forward to what else He continues to send my way. I hope He doesn't stop! It's been fun...fun seeing what He does, and seeing Brian's face when I tell him about it....he's been doubtful at times, but when He sees the amazing item, He too is blown away. PTL!
Intervention - I'm thankful for the Lord intervening and closing doors we think are His will, but really aren't. Whether it's Him leading, then closing the opportunity to see if we'll trust His Sovereignty or if it wasn't His will in the first place -- I'm thankful HE steps in, and takes control. There have been 4 instances this year I have scheduled something, and each time for some bizarre reason, it has been canceled. And not just 'canceled', but canceled for bizarre reasons!! I can't help but believe the Lord is protecting from something; yet, I truly felt He was leading it in the first place. Who knows...but, either way, I'm thankful He closes the door, and intervenes even though I feel/think it's OK/His will.
I apologize for the length of this...there's ALOT here, and it's mainly for just me. Me to remember what the Lord is doing in my life -- Today, and has done this year. I'm so very thankful for our freedom, and our ForeFathers who bravely faced so much, to build this country...as I listen or read our history, I'm amazed at answered prayers, provision, intervention, grace & strength the Lord gave to the Pilgrims & SO MANY others since the beginning of America.
'Thank you Lord, for so very much. You know the very thoughts of my mind, and heart. I truly praise you. May you be the center of this Thanksgiving in my heart, mind, and across my countenance. Guard me from attacks of the evil one, and make me a blessing to those I come in contact with. May you be the presence I unwrap this holiday season, starting Today."
I love YOU, my friend - my family - reading this now. May the Lord open your eyes to His working in your life, even in the past hour, and may you see His hand in new ways throughout this next year.
Have a wonderful Thanks Giving Day -- Give all the Thanks you can.
(This is me in rare form...it's my 'support my incredible husband's Band' outfit -- and my 'fly' shades -- from my amazing Bro-in-law! -- Go T.C.) But, seriously, I, am thankful.
