A Sandy Thanksgiving

View from Staten Island

They call themselves the forgotten.

But on Thanksgiving Day, 1,300 volunteers, including four of my own family, showed them that they are not discounted.

A few weeks ago, while our family prepared for a blessed time of celebration – our oldest daughter’s wedding – folks in Staten Island, a borough of New York City, were bombarded by a storm that changed the course of their lives, Hurricane Sandy.

Because of their location being separated from NYC by New York Bay, Staten Island residents say they feel disconnected from the city.  When the hurricane hit the outer shore of the island, the borough once again felt ignored and cut off as they pleaded for relief help.

Meanwhile, safe and unaffected by the storm except for a week of rain, my husband and I watched the news, saw the photos of devastation, but got busy with our family wedding.  While we experienced blessings secure in our home with loved ones, homes in Sandy’s path were destroyed and lives lost.

Fast forward a few days.  Our Thanksgiving plans involved traveling to the state next door to ours, one hit by the storm, to celebrate the holiday with newly married son and daughter-in-law.  The week prior to the holiday our son phoned us to ask if we might consider an alternative to our traditional Thanksgiving Day feast.

The church’s Sandy Thanksgiving relief effort

Without hesitation, we quickly agreed as he explained what he and our daughter-in-law had in mind.

Their church organized relief help for hurricane victims; our son had already volunteered a  Saturday mucking and cleaning out homes on Staten Island.

Next the church planned a Thanksgiving weekend relief effort called Sandy Thanksgiving.

With our consent, our son registered the four of us – son, daughter-in-law, Mama, and Papa to serve. Instead of stuffing ourselves with turkey and the trimmings, we would fill those in need with a helping hand and hope.

Some of the volunteers in our group

An army of volunteers outfitted in red t-shirts proclaiming ‘Jesus Loves Jersey’ descended on Staten Island to help clean out homes, distribute relief supplies, and provide food.

We met for our shifts at Gateway National Park and dispersed in small groups to zone stations within the area hardest hit.

Our son became leader for our group of ten.  He, daughter-in-law, my husband and five other young adults spread out in our zone to help clean up yards and houses.

Another lady and I agreed to man the food station where I became grill master, cooking hot dogs, hamburgers and sausage on a brand new propane gas grill.  We served hot sandwiches, chips, cookies, granola bars, drinks including water, coffee or soda, and pie to any hungry person who came by.

We distributed relief supplies from buckets and mops to work gloves and masks.  All the supplies and food were donated and we were instructed to distribute everything.  At the end of our work shift, the gas grill and ice chest would be given to a family in our zone that needed these items the most.

Mounds of debris

God planted us exactly where we were needed.  We were the hands, feet and words of Jesus as we ministered to those who still need so much help almost a month after the storm’s devastation.

As the rest of our crew threw their efforts and strong backs into clean-up with area residents,  I served others by offering a cheerful word, a hot sandwich, a cool drink, a place to sit and rest for a few minutes, and a listening ear.

Even if I couldn’t handle the clean-up work due to a finicky back and hip, I had legs to stand, hands to flip burgers, and kind words to dispense.  I believe I was placed there for a purpose.  God wanted me to witness small miracles with my eyes and ears so I could share them with others.

Near our zone station, Juan worked cleaning up his modest home, wrecked by the flood waters.  After just a few moments of talking with him, I could sense he was a gentle soul.  He spoke of God and His provision and care even though Juan’s home was ruined and unlivable.

Juan in front of his home

Juan pleasantly agreed to allow me to photograph him standing in front of his home so I could share it in this blog.

I told him I wanted folks to realize the need that still exists on the island he calls home.  He nodded and smiled and posed for me.

I soon realized that God placed my co-volunteer there for a purpose too. Juan is a mechanic, but many of his tools were lost or ruined in the flood waters.

My co-volunteer, Elaine, knew a recently widowed woman who wanted to give away her deceased husband’s mechanics tools.  Elaine would see that the tools would find their way into Juan’s hands.

Juan shared that his home owner’s insurance company claimed his policy was cancelled two days before the storm hit.  That spurred my new friend into action.

Fluent in Spanish, Elaine conversed with Juan about his situation.  From his truck, he produced insurance papers and proof that he had paid his premiums on time and the insurance company had acknowledged receiving them.

My co-volunteer knew exactly what to do because she works in real estate.   We agreed that this was definitely a “God thing.”  The Lord knew that Juan, an ardent believer, needed her help.

Amazing things happened on this Thanksgiving Day.  A vehicle pulled over  and the driver asked me if I knew so and so.  I replied, “No, I’m sorry, I don’t.”

As we talked, I realized he was not affiliated with my son’s church in any way.  The man explained, “I got a call to bring this food and meet him here.  I can’t find him.  Will you please take it and see that it is distributed to the people here?”

I agreed to do so.  He opened the back of his SUV where there were six boxes of sack lunches.

Each sack contained a large deli sandwich, a bag of chips, fresh pears and a bottle of water, all anonymously donated with no acknowledgement desired.

A pick-up truck pulling a trailer with construction tools stopped by next.  A handsome young man with a thick New York accent and his little dog, Bella, hopped out.

“I’ve got some boxes of pizza here – straight from my friend’s restaurant in Manhattan.  Can you please give these out?”

“This is no ordinary pizza,” he explained as he opened the top box to show me.  And it wasn’t.  It was pizza to die for.

“You’ll make sure that someone gets this, that it won’t go to waste?” he pleaded with me.  I assured him we would.   He told me he just needed to come to the island and help.  All of his family were eating Thanksgiving dinner; he was missing it but he didn’t care.

“They all think I’m crazy to do this, but I just gotta do it, ya know?”  he exclaimed as he grabbed Bella and jumped back in his pickup to go help somewhere else.

A construction company truck filled with workers drove by.  I yelled to them, “Are you hungry?  Do you need some lunch?”  They replied they were fine and drove on.

Later in the afternoon, they returned and asked if the offer still held.  They gobbled down hot dogs and sausage and exclaimed how good they tasted, thanking us profusely for providing it for them.

Another car arrived at our “block party.”  A young man emerged with a large container overloaded with fresh fruit – a whole pineapple, apples, grapes, clementines, pears, bananas.  Without a word, he deposited the fruit on our table. I thanked him with a “God bless you.”  He merely nodded, returned to his car, and drove away.

All afternoon, moments like that occurred.  The more we blessed folks, the more I felt blessed to be there in that moment.  The kindnesses I witnessed, the gratitude of those we served,  every minute was a memory-making moment that I’ll never forget.

As we cleaned up our station, loaded tables and chairs into a rented van, we discussed who to bless with the gas grill and cooler of leftover hotdogs and hamburgers.  One man came to mind.

This man evacuated his wife and children in plenty of time before the hurricane hit, but decided to stay and ride out the storm to protect their home from looters afterward.  As a wall of water descended on him, his decision forced him to swim from his home to a neighbor’s house which had a second story in order to survive.

Despite a bout with hypothermia, he had been working non-stop since the storm cleaning out his house and helping neighbors.  As my son and another volunteer helped this resident load the new grill onto his truck, this man confessed,  “I’m not used to being helped like this.  I feel like crying.”

A word of prayer

My son and co-volunteer asked if they could pray for him.   As I watched, I couldn’t help noticing how moved this man was by the experience.

And I thought to myself, “This is what we, the church – the body of Christ – are called to do, to be the hands and feet and words of Christ to our brothers and sisters in the world.”

What an amazing thing to be thankful for!

As the day came to a close, our son drove the rental van with tables and chairs back to the church’s make-shift headquarters at the park and I rode along.

We decided to walk down to the beach while we waited for my husband and daughter-in-law who were walking the several blocks back.

The beach proved peaceful and deserted.  No one else walked along the sand except the two of us.

Waves gently lapped at the shore as I shot a couple of pictures and marveled at how difficult it proved to envision an angry, out of control wall of water and wind forcing its way through this serene scene…until we turned around and saw the mounds of debris behind us.

I glanced at my son, my boy turned man.  My son who answered God’s call to help those who are hurting, those who need a helping hand, those who need hope to make it through another day.

I hugged my son tightly and said, “Happy Thanksgiving.  Thank you for bringing us here.  It’s the best Thanksgiving ever.”

As we turned to depart from the beach, I noticed God had painted yet another of my favorite scenes – a sunset.

Another day was ending.  Another day of life.  Another day for which to be most thankful.

Sunset on Staten Island

©2012 mamasemptynest.wordpress.com

Wordless Wednesday: Thank you for this food

 ©2012 mamasemptynest.wordpress.com

Let the celebration begin

Christmas came early this year.  I am one of those traditionalists.  I prefer to decorate for the Christmas season only after Thanksgiving has passed.

That doesn’t mean I don’t love Christmas with its glitter and glow, good tidings, and best of all – the celebration of the most amazing gift God ever gave our world, His only Son Jesus Christ.

Yep, we’re all about the season here at Mama’s Empty Nest.  Just don’t expect me to deck the halls, play Christmas music, or enjoy the bauble-laden shelves of Christmas trimmings in the stores until  after Thanksgiving has been given its due.

I love Thanksgiving and I think, as a holiday, it gets the short stick.  Our culture bounces over it from Halloween to Christmas, commercialization all the way.

Sandwiched in between all the gaudy and frankly ridiculous Halloween junk and the holly-jolly holiday of Christmas, Thanksgiving seems like the red-headed step-child.  There, but shoved aside.  Sometimes forgotten in the hub-bub.

The Thanksgiving holiday spells F-A-M-I-L-Y to me.  It’s when as a family “we gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing.”  It’s the day we absolutely remember to be thankful and we say it out loud, even though we should practice this observance each and every day we have breath.

Thanksgiving is the day for enticing aromas of homemade dishes of goodness.  It promises hugs and laughter as family members arrive home.  It reveals itself in the glow of candlelight illuminating the faces of loved ones around the dining room table.  It speaks comfort and peace of a full nest once again.

So I don’t rush full force nor ahead of time into the harried hurry scurry of preparing for Christmas before the Friday after Thanksgiving.  I like to take my time to first savor the Thanksgiving holiday.

But Christmas came early this year with a gift.  A surprise gift.  A gift presented to me that left me speechless – not an easy task.

When our oldest daughter and new son-in-law arrived back from their exotic honeymoon trip,  Papa and I greeted them at the airport and transported them back to the empty nest.  We then pitched in to pack up daughter’s remaining belongings and all the wedding gifts for the trip to their new home several hours away from us.

Papa and I happily observed and commented as the newlyweds opened their wedding gifts.  Afterwards, Papa disappeared from the family room and then returned carrying a box wrapped in Christmas paper, which he deposited on my lap.

My brain couldn’t process what my eyes were seeing and my hands were holding.  A Christmas gift?  Now?  For me?  What the heck?

I think I actually may have babbled all of that out loud while still wracking my mind for an explanation.  Daughter and son-in-law beamed at me;  Papa smiled with that coy, all-knowing grin he has.

And I was stumped.  Really stumped.  I kept asking why?  What are you doing?  The only answers I received were admonitions to stop asking so many questions and just open the thing!

I started to rip that red and green wrapping paper off that so boldly announced Merry Christmas, then stopped and said, “I don’t understand!”  I mean, everyone in my family knows I don’t rush Christmas!

More cries of “Just open it!” ensued.  So I did.  Inside was something that I never expected.  Something that surprised me beyond words.   The sight of it simply astonished me.

Totally bewildered and perplexed, I asked my husband again, “Why?”  He explained that he wanted me to have this present because of all the effort, time, and love I had poured into our three adult children’s weddings.

He bestowed this gift to me because he knew I’d be so very excited to receive it as it was an item I’ve mentioned for a long time that I’d like to acquire but didn’t feel like we could spend the money to purchase — especially this year. 

And giving this gift was hubby’s way of showing me his appreciation and love.  He wanted me to have it now, before Christmas, so I could use and enjoy it when the holiday rolls around.

His words and that gift made me cry.  When I tried to speak, I couldn’t, only tears surfaced.

This gift, purchased in secret with daughter’s help, rendered me dumbstruck.  Inside the opened box lay a brand new digital SLR camera to replace my little purple Nikon Coolpix point and shoot.

My husband explained that he’s realized how much I’ve relished taking photographs in the last couple of years and how frustrated I get with my small and simple digital camera.  It takes good pictures outside, but indoor photos always disappoint me.  And it’s so slow, I miss a lot of neat photo opportunities.

So now, I have much to learn with this new camera, but oh, what a joy it is to use.  Matter of fact, after I recovered from my shock, read enough of the accompanying instructions to figure out how to take my first picture with it, I ran outside to start shooting.  (To your left I’ve shared a product of my eagerness.)

But not before I thanked my loving husband for such an awesome gift and thanked my Lord for such an awesome husband.

Celebrating Christmas early this year feeling loved and appreciated?  Priceless.

So hey there, Christmas season, I’m ready to start the celebration….just let me express my thanksgiving first.

©2012 mamasemptynest.wordpress.com

Thanksgiving blessings

Thanksgiving

by Ralph Waldo Emerson

“For each new morning with its light,

For rest and shelter of the night,

For health and food, for love and friends,

For everything Thy goodness sends.”

Here at Mama’s Empty Nest, we give thanks today,  this Page 24, Chapter 11 in my book entitled Opportunity, to the One who provides our needs.

May you be blessed with love, family, and friends on this special day and may you have many blessings to count.

Happy Thanksgiving!

“Know that the Lord is God.

   It is He who made us, and we are His;

   we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving

   and His courts with praise;

   give thanks to Him and praise His name.

 For the Lord is good and His love endures forever;

   His faithfulness continues through all generations.”

~Psalm 100:3-5

©2011 mamasemptynest.wordpress.com

Counting blessings, a family legacy

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays of the year and it is right around the corner of next week.

My family and I have so much for which to be thankful.

As often happens when I think about the blessings I’ve been given, I immerse myself in the waves of nostalgia for memories that envelope my heart in gentle, caressing folds of love.

In the last years of my maternal grandparents’ lives, they resided with my parents and me.  Both Grandpa and Grandma died, within six months of each other, the year I turned nine.  So my childhood memories of them are brief but certain aspects of our life together remain vividly ensconced in my mind.

One of those cherished vignettes is sitting side by side with my grandmother in her favorite rocking chair singing hymns as we rocked in time.   Grandma may not have realized it,  but she instilled God’s Word in my heart with those “hymn sings” we shared.  She also taught me valuable life lessons through the words of those songs, one of which was to be thankful for my blessings.

I distinctly remember those song lyrics and one particular hymn has been swirling around my mind all week.  Today, this Sunday, in my book of Opportunity, Chapter 11, Page 20, we sang this old hymn, Count Your Blessings, in worship at our country church.

My husband and I worshiped God today in the sanctuary of this church  - where we were married and where middle daughter will marry her true love in a few months; where both of my parents grew up as members; where all four of my grandparents belonged; where my great-great grandparents were two of eight founding members back in 1820 – this church which was built upon ground donated by those great-great grandparents.

As I sang this well-loved tune, I thought about the legacy of my family heritage in this church.  In my mind’s eye, I envisioned my ancestors who worshiped God in that very spot all those long years ago.

But mostly as I heard those familiar musical notes, I could picture my elderly grandmother and my little childhood self in our living room at home, rocking in that special chair, and praising God as two voices – one worn, weathered, and cracked and one young, high-pitched, and tender –  sang:

When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,

When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,

Count your many blessings, name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

    Refrain:

    Count your blessings, name them one by one,

    Count your blessings, see what God hath done!

    Count your blessings, name them one by one,

    Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.

So I am counting my many blessings and naming them one by one.  Even though this year had its challenges, I’m thankful.   One of my blessings is being the wife of my true love and mother of three amazing adults who come back to the empty nest from time to time for visits.

This past fall, our oldest daughter moved back to our nearby city from a state down south and it’s so good to know she’s within easy driving distance again.   Recently, she told me this: “I love being 10 minutes from one of my best friends, 35 minutes from my mom and dad and 10 feet from my sister!”  (They share an apartment in the city.)

Sounds like she’s very grateful and counting her blessings as well.  I’m hopeful that counting our blessings will always be an essential element in our family legacy.

©2011 mamasemptynest.wordpress.com

Wordless Wednesday: Porch light’s on, come home

©2011 mamasemptynest.wordpress.com

 

Keeping Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving memories are too precious to let slip by so I need to record them before they are pushed to the back of the filing cabinet in an old, unused, dusty folder in the storage compartment called my brain.

I love Thanksgiving.  I love its warmth, I love the idea of families gathering in the homestead, surrounding the bountiful table of delicious food with the beautiful faces of loved ones.  I love pondering and remembering to count all our blessings and name them one by one, as the old hymn my Grandma taught me says.

My memories of Thanksgivings gone by still come to my recall.  When I was a youngster and my older sisters were married, my parents and I would always celebrate the day of thanks at my aunt and uncle’s home.  If I close my eyes, I can still visualize my aunt’s steamy kitchen with its red and white gingham curtains on the windows.  I can smell the amazing aroma of turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie. 

I can hear my aunt and mom happily chatting as they busily prepare the feast for the day.  I can see my father and his brother, my uncle, talking seriously about world and local events in the living room while I am situated in the “sitting room” watching the Thanksgiving Day parade on the television.

Spending the day with family was an important aspect of Thanksgiving.  And to me, it is still essential.  Last year, Thanksgiving was a quiet and somber day.  Still reeling from grief over losing my dad, the only family I had to share this day with was my immediate family – my husband and our three adult children.  My oldest sister and her family live in other states and we rarely get to spend this holiday together.  My middle sister was sharing the day with her married son and daughter-in-law and her family.

But this year’s day of thanks was different and a more joyful occasion.  All three of our adult children journeyed home from the hinterlands for the entire weekend and my sister, brother-in-law, nephew and niece joined us as well.  I actually enjoyed being in the kitchen the day before preparing some of our favorite Thanksgiving goodies.

Wednesday evening our southern oldest daughter was the first to arrive home after a very long drive. How wonderful to see her beaming face at the door!  Middle daughter was scheduled to work the night shift at her hospital, but surprised me with a phone call happily announcing she was “staffed down” for the entire night – she didn’t have to work after all, so she was on her way home from the city!  Another smiling face at my door!

Shortly after her arrival, son also arrived home from the state next door.  Seeing his tall lanky form at the French door made my heart leap with joy!   By that time, hubby was home from his day’s work and what ensued was much hugging, laughter, story-telling and bringing in of luggage.  We talked non-stop – all five of us together.  It was as if we hadn’t seen each other for ages.

At one point in the evening, I quietly observed my dear beloved ones and I wanted to laugh out loud at what I realized.  The girls and I had gone upstairs and in no time at all, the boys (hubby and son) followed us.  I realized that all five of us were located in our master bedroom, sitting on the floor or the bed or standing while talking and laughing and enjoying our time together.

It reminded me of the past when there were three little children jumping on Mommy and Daddy’s bed to get our attention.  But here we were, five adults with a house full of separate rooms, yet we congregated in one room for much of the evening.  It was as if we just couldn’t get enough of being together and it was wonderful!

That evening our house was full with each adult child nestled in his or her old bedroom, but my heart was fuller yet.  Having our family together for Thanksgiving was the most precious of gifts and as I said my prayers that night I had so much to thank and praise God for.

Thanksgiving Day was just as delightful as we added full tummies to our gratitude list.  How thankful I was that we could afford to provide a sumptuous feast and that we have a warm home in which to live when so many of our fellow humans are hungry and cold and homeless.  What blessings we have and so foolishly take for granted when we fail to stop and thank God from whom all blessings flow.  I am reminded again how easily we squander our blessings instead of sharing them with those less fortunate than us.

That afternoon, my hubby received an unusual surprise.  One of his brothers, who he has not heard from or seen for a very long time, telephoned from out west just to catch up with the family.  They had a very good conversation – another thought of thanksgiving.

How grateful I was for fun and laughter as we played round after round of games with our family.  Hubby took the day off on Friday and how thankful we are for the job he currently has.  We’ve had a few bumps in the road with downsizing and job losses, so the blessing of a steady job is much appreciated.

That afternoon middle daughter met her boyfriend in the city for the “backyard brawl” (big rival college football game) and then they rejoined the family that evening. Another person to give thanks for – daughter’s bf – a wonderful, godly young man who obviously adores our lovely one.

Saturday brought even more fun and festivities. The girls and I attended niece’s baby shower – a real cause for celebration as a new little life will soon join our family. 

Again my mind turned to thanksgiving – we haven’t had a new baby join our family since my great-nephew was born about 12 years ago.  So this little girl arriving in December will be so lovingly welcomed.

The shower was lovely with a princess theme just like the wee one’s nursery.  We gathered with friends and my girls received an extra special treat when they got to tend a friend’s baby – a beautiful, sweet-natured boy.  We relished princess cake and my sister’s gift to her new grandchild of the Princess Potty Chair was a hit!

While we welcomed the princess, the boys were having some male bonding time at home.  Boyfriend brought his new shotgun.  Woo, boy, nothing makes manly men more excited than target shooting with a new gun in the back yard!  A few empty 2-liter pop bottles met their demise as well as some sweet potatoes cleverly disguised as clay pigeons.  As soon as we girls got home, my daughters wanted an equal opportunity – they tried their hand at shooting too. That’s when my thankfulness for living out here in the country kicked in.

Before I was ready, it was Sunday morning – departure day.  Oldest daughter, first to arrive now and 28 years ago, was first to leave.  Sitting in church that morning, listening to my young friend deliver the morning’s message, my heart was full of thanksgiving for my family, for my faith, for friends, for my Savior.

So many blessings, my cup of gratitude overflowed.  My desire is to experience those moments of gratefulness each and every day.  I do not want to let Thanksgiving Day go,  I want to keep it in my heart and mind not just for one day of the year but for always and especially during the upcoming Christmas season.

“Know that the LORD is God.
   It is he who made us, and we are his,
   we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving
   and his courts with praise;
   give thanks to him and praise his name. 
For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
   his faithfulness continues through all generations.” ~ Psalm 100:3-5 (New International Version)

©2010 mamasemptynest.wordpress.com

Operation Christmas postponed (at least for a day or so)

Sometimes when my subconscious can’t get through to my awakened state of mind, I imagine it forms an alliance with my body.

The recessed part of my brain has been trying to communicate with the conscious component and since my daytime functioning brain (at least I hope it’s functioning!) isn’t picking up the signal, the subconscious has enlisted the rest of my body to join forces with it. 

I’m pretty certain I can attribute my current state of lethargy right now to this coalition.  It might not make much sense to you, but it makes perfectly logical sense to me.

See, I’ve concluded that my subconscious isn’t ready to let go of the Thanksgiving holiday quite yet, but since December has now arrived and Christmas is a mere 24 days away, my logical mind wants to plan the attack for Operation Christmas….get the decorating mission accomplished,  finish Christmas maneuvers (shopping), address those greeting cards and launch them into the mail zone, fire up the oven and bake some cookies, move it, move it, move it!

Let’s get this house ship-shape, toy soldier!  Tactical plans need to be made if you’re going to win the battle of the tangled lights and launch the attack on the hanging of the greens.  We’ve got a tree to erect!  Send out the platoon of nutcrackers to their observation tower.  Attention snowmen, line up on the fireplace mantel.   Lady, man your gift wrapping station!  Hut two, three, four!

But the mind can’t achieve what the body isn’t willing to do.  My body stammers and balks.

“Slow down a minute!  Too tired.  Didn’t get enough sleep.  Back is hurting.  Ow, what’s wrong with that knee?  It’s cold (shiver, shiver).  No energy.  Too hungry.  Need to get up early tomorrow.  Let’s just sit here on the couch, shall we?”

It’s obvious that my physical body is organizing a mutiny against my drill sergeant brain.  And somewhere underneath it all, the culprit behind my unwilling body is my subconscious mind.  It’s trying to reach me, sending out signals, communicating in code, but I’ve been ignoring the message, which is “Take time to be thankful before you race into the Christmas season.”

I’ve been contemplating this and my lack of Christmas spirit for the last couple of days. Today one of my fellow bloggers, another empty nester, confirmed my thoughts in a comment she left on my entry yesterday.  (Thank you, Reeling in the Years!)  She told me she was going to give herself the gift “of having several transitional days of missing them [her young adult children], saying good-bye to Thanksgiving, and not rushing helter skelter into Christmas.”

And that’s exactly what my little inner voice and my body has been trying to tell me all along.  Thanksgiving is truly one of the most endearing holidays to me.  It’s not just about gorging on turkey and all the trimmings.  It’s about family coming together, spending precious moments, enjoying home-cooked meals and conversation around the table, expressing love for one another.

Thanksgiving is about pausing in our hectic schedules of life and evaluating all the things we have been blessed to witness, experience, and learn from.  And it’s about being grateful for all of it.

The Thanksgiving season gets so left behind in the dust,  like the proverbial red-headed step-child  neglected and overlooked in between Halloween and Christmas.  Let’s face it, retailers – stores or online – don’t get much action with Thanksgiving.  That’s not where the money is to be made.  So Thanksgiving has become a little blip in between the other two holidays.  To me that is just so wrong and so heartbreaking.

I’m not a big fan of Halloween, but I do love the Christmas season.  However, when I was growing up, the Christmas season did not truly start until after Thanksgiving was over. 

Now Christmas lights and decorations start appearing, not just in stores but also on people’s homes, as soon as the Great Pumpkin moves along.  I can’t tell you how many houses I’ve seen on my travels with pumpkins still on the front porch and Santa parked in his sleigh in the yard with lights blazing long before Thanksgiving Day even arrives!

We’ve relegated Thanksgiving to a day to stuff ourselves silly with food, watch a few football games, and then forget about this treasured day and our blessings in our frenzied rush to hit the stores on Black Friday, even if it’s in the middle of the night. 

Well, this year I’m not jumping into the foray.  Instead I want to savor and cherish my season of Thanksgiving, so I will not feverishly and frantically charge into the Christmas melee, even if it is December 1st.

So please bear with me, dear reader.  For a few more days, I’m going to muse about the season of thanksgiving.  I need to meander my way through my thoughts about this so overlooked season and express ideas about that for which I am most grateful.  Only after I accomplish that mission will I be prepared – body, mind and soul – to enjoy the wonder of Christmas.

©2010 mamasemptynest.wordpress.com

My thanksgiving gift for you

Short on time and much to do,

Pumpkin pies need baked,

And pumpkin bread  too.

Turkey’s thawing and stuffing balls to make.

And frog eye salad for goodness sake!

Mama’s empty nest is filling up,

My thankfulness overflows its cup.

Also grateful for readers who make my day.

So sending these Thanksgiving greetings your way.

May you all have a blessed Thanksgiving surrounded by those you love.

©2010 mamasemptynest.wordpress.com

Thanksgiving blessings

Image via freedigitalphotos.net

The season of Thanksgiving always makes me nostalgic and I love being retrospective and reflecting on all the blessings I’ve experienced over the years.

Today I re-read some of my earliest entries from a now unused blog I started five years ago when I was recovering from my cancer surgery.   Comparing my life then to where I am today evokes emotions that bring me humility and gratitude.

Here’s a quick look backwards:

• November 2005 – Five years ago, I was so thankful to be alive.  My cancer diagnosis that summer frightened me, brought me to my knees, and made me realize how much of my life I took for granted.  It also caused me to examine a bitterness that had taken root in my heart.  Through much prayer and atonement, not only did I praise God for His forgiveness, but I came to fully forgive others.  The chains of bitterness that encircled my heart were broken!
• November 2006 – I was happy and grateful to have been given another year of life to witness our son’s senior year of high school, tearfully and proudly watch him graduate from high school as valedictorian of his class, and send him off to college.  I was also very thankful for the high quality medical care in our city for middle daughter’s concussion treatment, appreciative for oldest daughter living in the city nearby, and so fortunate to enjoy time spent with my elderly father.
• November 2007 – Another year graciously given to me chock full of blessings.  Despite some set-backs, God was working in all three of our children’s lives while teaching lessons about careers, college life, and loving relationships.  Good medical results from cancer screenings for me provided more fodder for my grateful heart.  We celebrated the holiday at my middle sister’s home with a feast of her awesome good cooking – always something for which to be thankful!
• November 2008 -  Celebrating Thanksgiving that year, we had a full house – my father, my sister and her family, and all of my own family, especially wonderful since oldest daughter had moved to another state.  What a joy it was to sit at our bountiful table with some of the people I love the most, name and count our blessings, one by one.
• November 2009 – Last year’s celebration at Thanksgiving was quiet and reflective.  Hubby was unemployed, and we had just lost my father the past summer. Grief was still fresh, especially on the first holiday without him.  But oh, there was so much for which to be thankful!  God supplied our needs, and we were warm in our home,  had plenty to eat.  Middle daughter had graduated from college and launched her nursing career.  Son had scholarship money to pay for his next semester of college.  Oldest daughter safely traveled home from the south for the holiday.  My father had lived a long, full, rewarding life of 90 years.  God took him home quickly before his suffering became too difficult and for that I was also thankful.

So many life events, some wonderful, some daunting, occurred during the last five years.   But through them all, the Lord has taught me lessons that needed learned, shown me grace, forgiveness and His faithfulness.   The blessings overflow like the goodies in a horn of plenty – a cornucopia of God’s love.

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