Thanksgiving

What are your plans? What's on the menu? Are you traveling? In or out of state? Are you a Black Friday shopper? What bargains are you hoping to hit?

We're staying home, low-key stuff. With a move looming over our heads, we're not going to go anywhere, and the band has to work the day after Thanksgiving (Christmas parades), so we never really go anywhere. We always had a tradition of inviting single soldiers to come for dinner, but the folks here don't have any interest. We invited a couple from our neighborhood to come for dinner instead. We've shared a few meals with them (both here and there) and enjoy their company. Sometimes it's nice to have friends outside of the military realm, because you find new things to talk about!

So, my menu is set and here it is:

Turkey breast (since there are only 4 adults and 2 small kids eating (their daughter is only 10 months, not likely to eat much turkey, lol) a breast works well)
stuffing
mashed potatoes (I use the gold potatoes, and throw in a brick of cream cheese, a bit of butter, and some milk - YUM)
fresh green beans, lightly steamed
home-made cranberry sauce
sweet rolls, made from scratch (yes, you read that right...from SCRATCH)

For dessert there will be pumpkin and lemon meringue pies, which I am making today with my friend Stef. She's never made them before, so I'm showing her how (the lemon is from scratch, no canned filling for me...and the pumpkin...well, it's canned pumpkin, because our pumpkins didn't survive past halloween!)

Hannah's made some cute decorations for the table and home, both in school and Sunday school. A great turkey with "thankful feathers" (made with a paper bag and a red balloon for his snood!), another turkey "wind sock" style. Scotty did a turkey with his hand in Sunday school, so we'll hang that out for our friends to see as well.

I am thankful for many things this year. Thankful for the wonderful friends I have made here in the last 2 1/2 years; friends I will be truly sad to leave.

I am thankful for my husband and children. No matter what else changes...the city, the home, the environment...I always have them. They are my life, my love, my pride.

I am thankful the the opportunity to worship God in a wonderful place. Westview Community Church has truly become a family to me. Being a part of this church family has grown me in ways I didn't think possible. I never think I will make an impact at places I go, but I have seen the impact I made here. God led me to this church, and stretched me.

I am thankful for health. We are all relatively healthy, so to speak. Yeah, we have colds, the occasional stomach bugs, etc...but we are HEALTHY, and don't have any serious health concerns. I'm thankful for the health of my family too. For the recovery of AK, who has cancer, for the health of my mother and father, who may have some issues, but nothing that isn't being managed. For the great health of my MIL, Linda...who follows in the tradition of women in her family living a long time.

What are YOU thankful for?