Thanksgiving 2016

My pictures uploaded backwards, and for some reason I can't get them moved, so I'll start backwards on Thanksgiving week with our family! I also can't get the text to publish right, so sorry about that. It's mostly for my own personal record, so I'll just be confused someday as to why this is!

This picture is the State Semifinals game, which we won! We're headed, once again, to the State Championship!! It's so exciting and brings back lots of great memories from years past. This photo is our son, backup quarterback, who played several minutes at the end of the game. Since we were so much ahead, he was coached to just take a knew for the last few downs. I love this picture of him looking back at the coach, his cousin. :)

This picture below is of the cinnamon rolls our oldest son made for Thanksgiving week. He made the dough for these, as well as the hot roll dough. He did such a great job! They were delicious! This brings back memories of Thanksgivings past where my father-in-law and my husband's grandmother used to make the rolls. What a wonderful family tradition!


Next photo: The younger cousins' table keeps growing and growing! Second cousins and family guests make this photo even more special. We love welcoming new family members into the family :). The newest little family member attending was three months old. It was his first visit to Oklahoma!

Next: The annual pumpkin bash was lots of fun!  There weren't too many that splattered everywhere, but when they do, they are picture-perfect moments that are fun to capture!  One pumpkin was filled with whipped cream and water, making it a surprise splatter!  But at least it smelled better than a rotten pumpkin!

The annual "cousins" picture is always a big group, no matter who is missing or here. There's just a BUNCH of them, no matter what!  And what a blessing that is!

I captured a sweet picture of my husband coloring with a niece and great-nieces and nephews.  Love this one!

And back to the football game...A family picture with our immediate family...the next to last one we will have with this Senior.  So thankful for those memories and for those who came. We had lots of relatives who were able to be there, which was extra-special!

Our youngest son is the official team videographer. He got to be in the press box and wear the special press pass.  He felt pretty important - and was important for his cousin, the head coach! :)

The next picture is our nephew (the head coach), another nephew who plays on the team, our son who plays, and a niece who's a cheerleader.  On the end is our brother-in-law and uncle to these three in the middle...dad to the head coach.  He's the defensive coach.  What a special picture!

And back to Thanksgiving day!  The annual Turkey Trot, in its 10th year.  This nephew and his wife are newlyweds. They "ran" to the finish line dramatically making it seem like they were finishing the tedious run with tears and sweat. Ha ha! Not sure they ever broke a sweat, actually, but boy, did they have fun and make it look like a dramatic ending! Not surprising because he's in the photo/video industry and he knows exactly what it takes to have great photos captured!! :)

Last picture is the group Turkey Trot picture.  A big group in the great weather!

I designed this graphic for t-shirts, thinking it would be a neat family thing.  It didn't quite work out like I wanted it to, but I'm thankful we have them for the memories and traditions it represents.  Sometimes things don't work out like we want it, but for me it was important.  So it matters to me and is special to me. 

I am thankful for God's blessings in my life and in the life of my family.  I am thankful for this tradition and the memories that we have shared together. This is THANKSGIVING.  Thank you, God.

Thanksgiving 2014

Thanksgiving preparations began the Tuesday before Thanksgiving when our oldest son, Zachary, began making homemade bread dough for cinnamon rolls. In a big family tradition that began many years ago by my husband's grandmother, continuing to my husband's dad, it has now passed on to two of my husband's brothers, and now to our son. 

Zachary was honored to get to do half of the cinnamon rolls for the family Thanksgiving!  He's definitely close - if not "on target" - for perfecting them.  One of his cousins told him they were just like "Gramps" would have made them.  What a compliment!  Personally, I hope he keeps practicing :).  Hee hee!

We had a huge group for Thanksgiving Eve singing night at the Tipton church of Christ, followed by yummy finger foods at my mother-in-law's.

There were 40 people there, so it takes a lot of food!  

Plus, we always have leftovers to eat for the next few days for those who prefer the snack food over the regular turkey and dressing....or those who want it all!

The yearly "Turkey Trot" brought out quite a few brave souls to run/walk/or even ride a bicycle.

I always like the pictures seeing the walkers and runners from behind.  I thought about walking this year, but I wouldn't want to give up the pictures of the event!  Plus, someone has to keep time for the runners. :)

Thanksgiving Dinner was wonderful, as usual.  The potatoes, green beans and corn were all garden grown.  And that's a HUGE bowl of mashed potatoes!  The homemade "hot" (that's the 'official' name for them, even if they're not HOT :) ) roll recipe has also been passed on from generation to generation.  Not sure that my father-in-law's can ever be exactly duplicated, but they're still great!

I make a cheesecake every year. This time it was a trial, but turned out really good.  It was a salted caramel/chocolate covered dulce de leche cheesecake.  Sounds fancy....pretty simple.

We had two out of three of our littlest new family members.  We had so much fun with all of the "littles" around!  Seems like my own were the littles not too long ago!

This little girl is the very newest to the family.  She was born November 17th.  She enjoyed her first Thanksgiving!

Liverpool Rummy and 42 are THE games of the season for our family.  Sadly, I only played two games of Liverpool this year, and one of them wasn't a whole game.  I'll have to have my own family play with me to get my "fix" for the year since we won't be around for Christmas for this side of the family.

Thanksgiving afternoon it's time for the traditional "Pumpkin Bash".  This year the pumpkins were rotting early, so they were goopy, stinky, and ready for bashing!

Here's the soon-to-be-married couple posing on the biggest pumpkin! They will be married New Year's Day!  It was C's first time to be at our family Thanksgiving and he won the "Turkey Trot"!

This was the biggest cousin picture at the pumpkins in a long time!  Two cousins and their families were the only ones missing this year!  That's quite an accomplishment in a big family!

I thought this picture was cute of our oldest son. He had just been splattered with pumpkin pulp!  But he didn't seem to mind!

Our nephew got a nice hit on a really ripe one!  The effects are great!

A new tradition in the making, perhaps? Not sure about this one!

You know how I feel about my new "old" pickup????

And that HUGE pumpkin went on top of it!

And then down it went!

It busted right in two! Amazing how heavy those things are when they're mostly hollow inside!

Some ask about cleaning up the field after the pumpkin bash.  You know what? My husband MOWS them!  Yes!  They are cut into tiny, tiny pieces, barely visible from the road at all.  And the birds love it.

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with many happy memories with your family and friends.

Thanksgiving Week 2014

Greatness, power, splendor, glory, and majesty are yours, LORD, because everything in heaven and on earth is yours. The kingdom is yours, LORD, and you are honored as head of all things. Riches and honor are in front of you. You rule everything. You hold power and strength in your hands, and you can make anyone great and strong. “Our God, we thank you and praise your wonderful name. (1 Chronicles 29:11-13 GW)

Our favorite time of year is here, beginning with Thanksgiving Week.  We call it "week" now because the kids are out of school all week - all except the college girl who had to go to school today, but will be home later this evening.  But, we will be together for the rest of the week and until Sunday afternoon!

What are you thankful for this year?  Each of us has countless physically, personal, spiritually, and emotional blessings from God.  The key is learning to give thanks for them realizing that ALL of them come from HIM. He is the giver of all good things! 

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

May each of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving! I pray that you have family and friends around you and that the love of God and Jesus strengthens your soul, guides your heart, and fills your mind with gladness!

A Month of Thankfulness

Do you tend to be a thankful person? Does thankfulness come easy for you?  If it does, then thinking of something to be thankful for every day in November is easy, but if you're not, then it may be really difficult.  And if your not, the thought or site (on Facebook) of everyone being thankful for a whole month may really annoy you!  Sounds strange for some of us, but I know it's true because I see it each and every year - the complainers of "thankful" month!

But if you are a child of God, you are commanded to be thankful - not just ONE month out of the year - but each and every day!

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Psalm 107:1

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 4:2

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! Psalm 118:1

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Romans 1:21

Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.  Colossians 3:15-17

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6

Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15

Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Psalm 106:1

Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Psalm 105:1

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15

May he grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans! Psalm 20:4

That my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever! Psalm 30:12

Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! Psalm 100:4

And you will say in that day: “Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted. “Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth.  Isaiah 12:4-5

And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.  1 Chronicles 29:13

I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers.  Philemon 1:4

In addition to being more thoughtful in your thankfulness this month, maybe you could pick one of these scriptures to memorize or meditate on every few days. There are 20 listed, so even one every weekday would work.  Either way, spend more time being thoughtful about your thankfulness this month.  In doing so, you will begin to be more thoughtful every month and every day.....and fulfilling God's Will for your life!

Thanksgiving Memories 2013

In the early 1960's my mother-in-law's family began having a big Thanksgiving together with her whole family.  It still continues today, stretching over a few days, and with a few fun additions that we do each year.

Meeting together for worship, along with our church family, is the beginning of the Thanksgiving time together.  It's a great time of worship and praise to Our Heavenly Father for all He has done for us.

After the worship time, we gather at the in-law's to have appetizers and finger foods, along with games and lots of conversations.

Our Thanksgiving run dwindled a bit this year. Could have been the low 30's temperatures keeping some from joining in the fun!  Cinnamon rolls and orange rolls are the traditional breakfast of champions for Thanksgiving morning.

Thanksgiving dinner was served in the early afternoon. There were 38 present this year. The dessert table held a lot of the pies and desserts.

A HUGE bowl of mashed potatoes mounded up on top! I think there were 20 lbs. of potatoes and the hand mixer only had one beater!  The other one had broken!

The rest of the food - fried turkey, regular roasted turkey, gravy, ham, dressing, potato casserole, macaroni & cheese...

 ....from the garden green beans, homemade cranberry sauce, canned cranberry sauce, vegetable casserole, cut from the cob corn, two different sweet potatoes, deviled eggs, jello salads....

 ....and homemade "hot" rolls. (They have to be called "hot" even when they're not hot! :) )

A few hours after lunch, it's pumpkin bashing time!  The kids gather up the pumpkins at our house - this year there were lots and lots!

For new members of the family, they are initiated at the pumpkin bashing!  That just means they're given a sort of mushy one so that it will splatter everywhere when hit!  H did great for her first time!!

 A cousin (and spouses) picture around the pumpkins....minus nine who weren't here.

The newest little member of the family had his first experience at the pumpkin bashing.  He was okay with all of the excitement!

Some pumpkin launching also took place.....

And finally, a picture of my husband (left) and his uncle.  They look so much alike, so from time to time, I try to get a picture of them together.

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

What Am I Thankful For?

(Reposting this. First published November, 2010.)

Today, I am thankful for:

T - The truth found in God's Word

"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

John 8:32

H - Heaven 

Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him."

John 14:23

 

A - Abundant Blessings

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

Ephesians 1:3

N - Never-ending Love 

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

1 John 3:1

 

K - Knowledge of God

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

1 Peter 1:3

S - The sacrifice for our sins

He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

1 John 2:2

G - God's gift of eternal life

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:23

I - Integrity of fellow Christians

I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent. 

1 Chronicles 29:17a

V - The vine - Jesus

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

John 15:5

I - Inheritance for children of God

For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.

Hebrews 9:15

N - Needs met by God

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19

G - God's grace

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.

Ephesians 2:8

Thanksgiving 2012

 

Thanksgiving is all about traditions for our family.  Although we've added a few things along the years, for the most part, Thanksgiving Eve, Thanksgiving Day, and the day after Thanksgiving has been the same for longer than I've been a part of my husband's side of the family.  And that's been over 25 years!

Some things are different.  Everyone is older.  Some grandkids have married.  Some now have children of their own.  And some people are no longer with us.  My husband's grandmother passed away a few years ago.  His dad passed away this past June.  Things were different without him here, but still....things were also the same.  The guys still played 42.  Many of us still played Liverpool (Rummy).  We still had hot rolls.  We still had cinnamon rolls.  His memory lives on and always will.

Thanksgiving Eve's tradition is worship in song with our church family.  By that evening all of our relatives are in town.  It is the very first memory I have of Thanksgiving with my husband's side of the family and quickly became one of my very favorite parts of the celebration. It's a time we all look forward to all year long.  The acapella singing is BEAUTIFUL! There's nothing like it.  Not only is our whole family in attendance, but so are many other families who have relatives in from all over the place.  Men - both young and old and in-between -  participate in the service, leading us in songs of praise to our Heavenly Father.

Our annual "Turkey Trot" (5K), held on Thanksgiving morning, was won by one of our nephews this year.  He's won it a few other years, as well.  How do you like his prize - the turkey hat?  He also gets his name on a plaque. Another nephew videoed the whole Thanksgiving time together this year.  We can wait to see his talents used on a family video that everyone can see!  One of the runners commented that he felt like they were at a 'big city' marathon, with the camera tracking their run as a car followed the lead runners!  Most likely the video will become a new yearly tradition!

This interesting metal turkey served as the marker for the starting line and finishing line for the race.  Later on the turkey had other duties.... :)

Our youngest son was so excited to spend time with his oldest 2nd cousin and the first great-grandchild of our family.  They had lots of fun together!

See...the turkey became the guardian of the dessert table after the race!  Too bad he didn't squawk if he saw someone eating too much dessert!  I think it he had done that, he would have lost his place at the table, don't you?

Here's a sampling of the huge amount of food we had for our Thanksgiving dinner.  This is my oldest son's plate.....before the homemade roll was added.  Yum!  It was delicious, as always!  I never get tired of the leftovers.

The annual "cousin" picture is always fun.  There are four grandkids/spouses missing, plus three great-grandkids missing for this picture, but still a big group for the annual "BASH"!

One of my nephews painted a Mike Witkowski pumpkin for Halloween.  It looked pretty neat sitting with all of the other pumpkins all ready to be hit at the annual pumpkin bash.  Funny thing was that the 'eye' part of that pumpkin never got smashed! Later the eye was sitting in a pile of smashed pumpkins....totally intact!  I should have gotten a picture!

For the first time ever, my mother-in-law participated in the bashing.  She usually comes to the bashing, just doesn't usually participate.  She was quite the slugger!  Hit every single one! The special effects of the pumpkin splattering is our favorite part of the event.....unless the pumpkin is rotten and squirts all over us!  Then it's just plain GROSS!  Thankfully her pumpkin wasn't too yucky....just a lot of fun!

For the second year in a row, we've had a new tradition added to our Thanksgiving weekend:  A playoff game for our HS football team!  And, for the second year in a row, we're headed to the STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME!  The only part of the tradition we want to change is that last year we came in as State Runner-Up and this year we want to be - and expect to be - the STATE CHAMPIONS and bring home the GOLD ball!

I pray you had a blessed Thanksgiving.....full of thankfulness, family, food, and fun!