Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is the best holiday ever. Friends and family come together to remember the blessings that God has given us, enjoy each other's company and eat wonderful food. You do not spend weeks building up to it like Christmas. It is just a simple, quiet holiday with no great expectations. You do not have to be concerned that you are giving enough or too much. The marketing teams are not screaming at you to gain your attention and money. This holiday is something to be thankful for.

We enjoyed our first Thanksgiving service with our church family on Tuesday night. It was great! We sang, had a small reminder about being thankful in all things and each shared one thing we were thankful for this year. We spent a few minutes in the sweet Presence of the Lord and expressed our gratitude! Sis. Crawford had made chocolate-chip cookies and we brought milk for a little time of fellowship before the holiday. We are thankful for the sweet people that God has called us to lead.

Following service, Jonathan (nephew), Brenda, Savanna, and Scarlet drove in from Ranger, Texas where they pastor. We stayed up until 4am talking and then slept a little late. On Wednesday, we visited the new IKEA store here near our house. It is HUGE! That was fun, but we ended finding the shortcuts to get out of the store. We got tired and wanted out! Wendell and Linda Elms (Karla's sister) drove in around 4pm. We enjoyed grilling hamburgers and getting the dinner ready for tomorrow. Karla is cooking up a storm! We have laughed and enjoyed each other's company. The little girls have fallen in love with our Schnauzer— Cookie. The girls are asleep and so is Cookie! I talked with Dad on the phone as Mom was getting food ready to take to her sister's (Linda Bowen) house in Springtown, TX on Thanksgiving. I talked with Ronda Hurst (Karla's sister) as she was delivering a Coconut Cream Pie to the Shoemake's in San Jose, CA. Too bad she is so far away— I'd be asking for a piece! We are thankful for a wonderful family to spend time with, talk to and know that you are loved.

I actually had to prepare the turkey for cooking! Talk about a scream. I did not know the awful things that come inside that mushy bird! This was something that Bro. Layne (Karla's dad) always did when no one else was around. I didn't have the sense to do that! Pray that it turns out OK!

God has truly blessed us. Our life is full. Full of all the greatest things that life can offer! May you have a blessed Thanksgiving. Make sure to thank the One who makes it all possible.