journeys-page

Thanksgiving Day is one of the few “stopping” holidays that still exists in the U.S.A. Sure, there are some restaurants that stay open. Hospitals, gas stations, and fast food places don’t close. But schools, and most businesses, and manufacturing places give folks the day off for Thanksgiving. So most Americans stop and get together with family and/or friends to eat together as a way of saying thanks for the many blessings of our lives. Many families attach other traditions to this national day of thanks. Some go hunting every Thanksgiving. Some have to fall asleep to the NFL or NBA on TV. My wife and kids have always watched the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV in the morning. We also have to have both turkey and ham, green bean casserole, southern cornbread dressing, mashed potatoes, Grandma Karges’s pineapple casserole, and chutney cranberry sauce for the meats. Since our kids were little, we’ve also added going to a movie on Thanksgiving night after the family dinner at noon. A lot of those were the new Disney animated features (i.e., Beauty and the Beast, Lion King, Toy Story, etc.). When we lived in Charleston, South Carolina, my Mom and Dad would drive from Nebraska and meet us halfway in Nashville, and we’d stay at some Residence Inn and go to Cracker Barrel for the Thanksgiving meal. This year my family will be meeting at our oldest’s in Arlington, Virginia for Thanksgiving. Our son Zack, his wife Mandy, and our youngest, Emily will be driving up from North Carolina together. Our daughter Katie and her husband Eric are expecting their second son on December 1. Me and Cindy were to fly there Tuesday, Nov. 21st. But Cindy decided to go last Tuesday to help, in case the baby came early. We love that non-stop flight from Omaha to Reagan International. May God be with us and help us to stop to give thanks for all the blessings of our lives. May God also be with us as we step onto that moveable walkway called Advent that will accelerate us toward Christmas at break-neck speed. Grace & Peace,