Thankful Living & Thankful Giving

Giving thanks to our Heavenly Father for all that we 

have, enjoy, love and cherish....

and for everything else that comes our way, too....

from God's gracious hand.

The famous "Cottage Cheese Rolls"

Here is the menu we'll be following for this year.   Pretty much the same as in years past.    Reassigning the potato mashing job to my daughter.    We do a lot of the prep work the day before the Gathering:   making the mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce/relish, appetizer dip, pies & cheesecake and readying the serving dishes.  

On Thanksgiving morning, we hustle to the kitchen to get things going.  Prep the turkey, get the dough going for the rolls, rearrange the fridge, clean last-minute stuff.    Change clothes and strike "relaxing" poses.  Sniff the aromas expectantly.   Baste the bird (or not, depending on the recipe).    Set the table.   Hunt for the serving dishes we forgot to set out the day before (gasp in disgust at the dust that accumulated INSIDE a cabinet!!  How's that happen?).

We always like to invite others to join us on  this special day.  In previous years we've had family living close by, and we spent holidays with them, or they with us.   Last year, despite our best efforts, we were just four around the table.  This year, we've invited a young couple from our church, along with their three children.  

I'm looking forward to making the cottage cheese rolls with help from the little ones again.   It is always more fun to have little hands helping . . . dinner is more special-er for some strange reason when laughter is generously sprinkled (along with "love") over the ingredients!

You're not doing it right if  you don't get flour everywhere!

So give yourself permission to let the little ones help in whatever way they can.   Peeling or mashing potatoes, whipping the cream, being Mommy's helper, the important dishwasher loader or unloader!   Put an apron on those little ones, the big ones and the in-between ones!  

Assign the teens the jobs of lighting candles and pouring sparkling cider or wine.   Someone else can be "in charge" of keeping the gravy boat(s) fully loaded.    

The meal is about family, so smile and listen to the gabbing and giggling....and cherish the moments.   

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, 

since as members of one body 

you were called to peace.  

And be thankful.  

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly 

as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, 

and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs 

with gratitude in your hearts to God.   

And whatever you do, 

whether in word or deed, 

do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, 

giving thanks to God the Father 

through Him."  

Colossians 3:15-17 NIV