We had a very peaceful and low-key Thanksgiving Day, mainly because we celebrated last week and the week before! Josh and Emma were out of town, and my other Josh and family were with my daughter-in-law’s family, so it was just the 6 of us.
Everyone did their part making something. Peach was proud of her fruit salad.
Aaron made his first apple pie.
I love a beautiful table. It says to your guest, “I have been preparing for YOU, YOU are important, YOU are wanted.”
I think about how Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us, we will also sit and dine at His feast. Can you imagine???
I love Pinterest and magazines that show decorating ideas, but especially tablescape ideas. As much as I love them, I know most of them are unrealistic for ordinary people like me. A limited budget, limited time and limited space in our little house really restricts what I can do with my table.
Purpose: Fellowship, food, education in the form of an opportunity for our kids to research, study and prepare a presentation about the first Thanksgiving (public speaking skills). Their presentation does not have to be long, detailed or polished. This is a good starting point for the younger children, even if they only tell one fact.
Each family began their own unit study/research. Each child is asked to dress in character and present something they have learned; it can be a poem, a song, a reenactment, a speech, whatever they want.
These place-cards are great for dinner parties.
Because they are made with chalkboard paint they are re-usable.
Cut a hardwood tree branch at about 1/8 or 1/4 thick with a miter saw.
Make sure they are dry before you paint them.
Sand one side if you want to, but that is not necessary.
Use chalkboard paint (a quart goes a long way) and a small craft brush to paint on two coats, letting each coat dry completely.
Dark Days
We all go through dark days, those days that we feel like the cloud will never lift and there is no ray of hope breaking through.
Some days are darker than others.
Different situations bring dark days. Usually it’s situations out of our control but we are willing to do anything to change them, yet the Lord allows us to endure them a while longer. Sometimes we loose sight that He DOES care for us.
Our Thanksgiving Day was fairly quiet this year.
I was pretty bummed because we had no extra people at our table. But the Lord did bring us an opportunity to fill a need for someone else so we were able to cook 2 meals and deliver 1!
While Jeff and I were out delivering the meal the girls set this beautiful table, they did a great job!
Special feasting times are even more memorable when the table is all dressed up!
Today we’ll spend a pretty quiet day (Lord willing) at home with just our immediate family. This is what happens when there are miles between you and your family.
Sometimes the miles are an actual physical distance and then there are times when the miles are measured in conviction, faith and worldview. And even though you may open your home and ask for any who will come to enjoy breaking bread together, they will refuse. They refuse because your idea, your conviction, your way of life is not inviting to them; and if you are living a righteous life (NOT self-righteous), simply sitting a table with you brings conviction. You do not share the same idea of fun and good fellowship.
A couple pie crust hints:
Use a deep dish pie plate (as seen on the left).
Roll your dough out thin.
Use a little sugar in your dough recipe.
Before placing in the oven, use your finger tips to rub some milk on the top, just enough to moisten it, then sprinkle a little sugar. This will help it brown and look delicious!
How to Roast a Turkey and Make the Gravy - video
How to Thaw a Turkey -video
I’m up before dawn to get the turkey prepped and in the roaster. I love that ‘Jeff’ could walk out in the herb garden and pick what I needed for seasoning. Well, OK, first he came in with lavender and I had to step out in the damp, dark morning to point out the rosemary… heee heee. He’s such a gooood man! But I don’t think lavender would taste too good on the turkey! ;o)
