Thanksgiving Thoughts

When I was growing up in Wisconsin, we had very traditional holiday celebrations. Every Thanksgiving, we began our day with church in the morning and then to my Grandma VW's house for the Thanksgiving feast along with all my aunts, uncles and cousins. Every year my dad would tell me he thought Grandma would be having chicken this year instead of turkey. Every year I believed him. And every year my Uncle Pete carved the turkey. How I love those memories.

That was a time when people grew up, got married and raised their families in the same area so traditions could be established. It hasn't been that way so much with me. I went to college in Iowa, married Mark who has always lived in Iowa and I haven't left since. But even though Mark has lived in Iowa his entire life, we don't live near his family so we haven't had the opportunity to establish traditions like I had as a child.

When we were first married and living closer to Mark's family, we usually went there with his extended family. But then we moved and over the years our Thanksgiving routine changed and now it's different every year. When Mark and whatever child was currently involved in high school basketball, I would take the other available offspring and spend Thanksgiving in Wisconsin with my parents. It could be different people in any given year. Two years ago, Cody and Elizabeth were doing a rotation in Philadelphia so the rest of us boarded a plane and flew out there for the weekend. Cody and Elizabeth had limted pots and pans so much of our Thanksgiving dinner was made in foil pans. As Cody brought out the dishes, he wished us all a "Happy Tinsgiving." Cleanup was certainly a breeze. Last year, we once again treked up to northwest Iowa and had our last Thanksgiving with Mark's grandpa.

This year, we once again had a new Thanksgiving experience with an old twist. We were invited by our good, good Waukee friends John and Monica to spend the day at their home. Cody and Elizabeth couldn't be with us this year and John and Monica's oldest son, Ben, is in the Merchant Marine and spent Thanksgiving on a ship somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean. I was once again able to begin the Thanksgiving Day by going to church. We went to Lutheran Church of Hope and it warmed my heart to see them keep bringing in more chairs and more chairs as more and more people arrived. We were going to sit with John and Monica, but they were late enough that they got the front row. It was a traditional service just like I grew up with -- singing those wonderful Thanksgiving hymns.

We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing;He chastens and hastens his will to make known;The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing,Sing praises to his name: He forgets not his own.

Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,Ordaining, maintaining his kingdom divine;So from the beginning the fight we were winning;Thou, Lord, wast at our side,

All glory be thine!We all do extol thee, thou leader triumphant,And pray that thou still our defender wilt be.Let thy congregation escape tribulation;Thy name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!

To me it was the perfect service for that day, an opportunity to reflect and just feel so humbly thankful for all the blessings I have been given.

From there, it was on to John and Monica's. I brought dessert, which Carissa made, and we (certainly me anyhow) ate too much, watched some football, talked a lot, laughed a lot, and enjoyed a day with friends. I could not have had a more perfect day. I could not be more thankful.

Sometimes I think it would be nice for my kids to have grown up with a Thanksgiving tradition and be able to enjoy that experience. But this is good too. It gives us the opportunity to be thankful for family, friends, loving the ones you're with and the ones somewhere else, setting aside this day for Giving Thanks.



Thanksgiving
1. A day set aside to give thanks.
2. Carissa and Carson home for the weekend.
3. Monica, John, Callie and Zeke.
4. Movies.
5. Fondue.
6. Safe travel for Carissa and Carson as they drove back.

With Lifted Hands
1. Safety for Ben in his travels.
2. Cody and Elizabeth.
3. Focus as Carissa and Rachel prepare for finals.
4. Rachel.
5. Tate.
6. Carson will be able to join us in Wisconsin.
7. Blessings on the Christmas season.

Football, Hawkeyes and Church

Last weekend Mark, Carson and I travelled up to Minneapolis for the Iowa/Minnesota Game. Our good friends, John and Monica and the fam were there and to say we had a wonderful time doesn't do justice to just how much fun we had. A big part of the fun was all the Hawkeye fans who had also come up for the game. There were Hawkeye fans everywhere -- At our hotel in Bloomington, at John and Monica's hotel downtown, at IKEA, there was black and gold everywhere you looked. The game was at night and we walked from John and Monica's hotel to the Metrodome. On the way, we would greet other Iowa fans, shout out a "Go Hawks" and slap hands. As we passed tailgaiters, a big "Go Hawks" would sound out again.

During the game, we cheered, we high fived everytime Iowa scored, or made a first down. One young lady a few rows down led us in the I.O.W.A. cheer every time Iowa got a touchdown and since they had 55 points, she was a busy girl. We were strangers with a common goal -- cheering and encouraging our team.

So then I was thinking. What if all these fans went to the game, but people in black shirts sat in one section, people in gold shirts sat in another section. Another section had people whose shirts said Hawkeyes and another section was for those whose simply said Iowa. And while the game was going on, we all looked at the people in the other sections and if we saw someone with a short sleeve shirt we would think "My goodness, doesn't that person realize we're in Minnesota? In November?" Or if someone had on a sweatshirt, we would nudge the person next to us and say "We're in a dome for pity sake, why are they wearing a sweatshirt?" And we would be so busy looking at all the people in the other sections that we would completely miss a nearly perfectly excuted game being played out on the field.

I see that as a picture of the church. There is the Catholic Church, the Baptists, Lutherans, Evangelical Free Church, The Reformed, Church in America, Nondemoninational and then along comes -- oh gasp -- contemporary versus traditional and on it goes. We become so intent on seeing the differences that we forget to keep our eyes on The Real Game, the One who is our common ground.

I have to believe that if I have a contrite heart acknowledging how sinful I am, but so filled with joy and gratitude for the saving grace that God has given us, then if I'm singing with an organ or drums and a guitar, if I'm at a Catholic mass or worshiping in an African-American community, that God is there with me.

At the end of the game, all the Minnesota fans had gone on home and Iowa fans were the only ones left in that vast cavern called the Metrodome. We were strangers with one common interest who had come into opponent's house, won the battle on the field and then took over their territory. I think if The Church would focus on the One we serve rather than how different we are, we could go far in defeating the real enemy and taking over much of the territory he holds on to. Fight on.

Thanksgiving
1. John, Monica, kids and extended family.
2. Iowa Football.
3. A day devoted to giving Thanks.
4. Cuzin Barby.
5. Having Carson along to Minneapolis.
6. Carissa coming home this week.

With Lifted Hands and Heart
1. Tate
2. Mark, Cody, Elizabeth, Carson and Carissa.
3. Safe travel for Carissa and others coming home for Thanksgiving.
4. Family blessings this week.
5. A successful cookie walk at the Reformed Church in SF.

Taking A Little Extra Time

Last night, I was watching the 6 o'clock news and and Andy Fales from WHO was interviewing elderly people about elections in the past. He asked how many elections they had participated in, who they had voted for in past elections, etc. One lady told Andy she dressed up to go vote. I can remember a time when people dressed up just to go do some errands. I think it's cool that men wore hats and women wore dresses when they left their homes. I love seeing June Cleaver wearing pearls. Although I never really see her do any housework.

This is one of my all-time favorite pictures.



This is my grandfather and me. There are a lot of things I like about this picture. I don't know where we were going when this picture was taken, perhaps for a Sunday drive as this picture was taken in a car. I love his hat, I love the bow in my hair and the fact that I'm pretty sure my mom made my coat.

God has placed some pretty wonderful people in my life. One of the people I just appreciate so much is a young lady named Tyra. Tyra could be my daughter had I started having a family much, much younger.

Okay, not that much younger.

Tyra is a bundle of energy and you can't help but have your spirits lifted just by spending a few minutes with her. She coordinates the children's ministry at our church and I can't imagine a person better suited for that role.

I have been on this cleaning rampage for several months now (it is waning somewhat, but I press forward) and in Carissa's room I found an angel suit and some crafty things I thought Tyra could use with her own little ones and in her children's ministry. I stopped by her house one day and I was completely caught off guard when she opened the door. She was wearing nice clothes, had makeup on, and, this really shocked me. She was wearing jewelry. Silver no less! I said do you have company, are you having a party? I was just thinking, well, I don't know what I was thinking. And guess what she said? She said she and her little guy were having some cuddle time. She looked this amazing for cuddle time. I have to tell you, I was in awe. I can go from bed to Hy-Vee to Target barely passing go. And since I work at home, I don't even want to talk about wearing pajama pants and a t-shirt for work. I think it was honoring to Tyra's little ones and her husband that she took the time and effort to look her best.

I don't believe in obsessing about our appearance, but I could at least not scare people when I'm running my errands. If I worked in an office, I wouldn't be able to wear sweat pants so I could do better with that. It's not like it takes a whole lot of time to fix oneself up a bit.

Oh, and I do wish men's hats would make a comeback.

Hope On Election Day

Dena wrote this in her e-mail devotional yesterday and all I can say is Amen Sister.

The reason I have hope, is not because of any candidate. I have hope because I know who holds tomorrow in His hand. I have hope because I see God in His beautiful creation. I have hope because this isn't all there is. I have hope because I've read the end of the book and we win. I have hope because Jesus said that He is preparing a place for me and He will come back for me. I have hope because I have been through the valley and God walked with me. I have hope because He said that He will never leave me or forsake me. I have hope because even though people will lie, cheat, disrespect, steal, hurt, and let me down--my God is still on the throne. My hope is in my Lord and Savior. My hope is in the One who made heaven and earth. The One who named each star and placed it in the sky. My hope is in God, who is able to do immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine.

I have hope.

Ten Absolutes No Matter Who Wins the Election

1. The Bible will still have all the answers.
2. Prayer will still work.
3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.
5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.
6. There will still be singing of praise to God.
7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
8. There will still be room at the Cross.
9. Jesus will still love you.
10. Jesus will still save the lost.

Go here to read more of Dena's writings and devotionals.