Thanksgiving Day 2017

Yesterday was a whirlwind celebrating Eric & Rachael's engagement and the Thanksgiving holiday.  I'm grateful we were able to be together given the changes that are just around the corner with two marrying and moving to other states.

Mom, Kathy, and I had fun cooking for the big day.  Our menu consisted of turkey and gravy (of course), cranberry sauce (provided by Essie), yeast biscuits, green beans wrapped in bacon, Grandmother's dressing, mashed potatoes, broccoli, a chopped salad (provided by Eric), pumpkin and apple pies (provided by Ben & Laura), and pilgrim hat cupcakes.

Kathy decorated the table with things around the house that we had, and it didn't turn out too bad...

The kids had loads of fun with snugglebear and snugglebug.  Thanks to Eric & Rachael for providing the memorable entertainment! :)

We rejoice with Eric & Rachael at God's work in their lives!  Now to prepare for their special day on December 30, 2017.

1863 Thanksgiving Day Proclamation

I do, therefore, invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a Day of Thanksgiving and Prayer to our beneficent Father, who dwelleth in the heavens. And I recommend to them that, while offering up the ascriptions justly due to him that, for such singular deliverances and blessings; they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and union.

-President Abraham Lincoln

We wish you and your family a very blessed Thanksgiving!

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!

Psalm 107:1

Plymouth Plantation

Massachusetts

Samuel Turner

Well, the long-awaited photos of the cutest baby boy are now here! :)  It has been a whirlwind of a week meeting this new little life and taking care of his five siblings for three days.  But what special  memories have been built and precious relationships strengthened.  Family is indeed a gift from the Lord!

Little Samuel is truly our "Thanksgiving baby."  His birth around this national holiday was no coincidence.   This afternoon, as I considered all the answered prayer surrounding Samuel's arrival into the world, I was both humbled and overwhelmed by the realization that God Almighty does indeed care about the concerns of his people and works out all the details in their lives for their good. Gratitude is the only fitting response to the goodness of our God.

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever.

Psalm 107:1

And now for those pictures...

Before we took all the kids to the hospital to meet their new brother, some of them drew pictures to give to Mommy and Daddy.  Here we are at the "crayon station":

I love what Sarah wrote:  Sarah Baby Samuel Sweet

We also made a quick stop at Walmart on the way to find the perfect gift for Samuel.  With five exuberant children all looking at the toys, we had to settle on two gifts - and buy a third since Grace was immediately attached to one of the items we had chosen. :)

Here we are at the hospital waiting to go to Mommy and Samuel's room.  Don't they look a little excited?

The children were delighted to see Mommy and meet Samuel!!!

Besides the siblings, there was also a delighted grandma and some aunts. 

How we thank the Lord for little Samuel!  It has certainly been a most wonderful Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving

"I. . appoint . . . a day of public thanksgiving and praise . . . to render to God the tribute of praise for His unmerited goodness towards us . . . [by giving to] us . . . the Holy Scriptures which are able to enlighten and make us wise to eternal salvation. And [to] present our supplications...that He would forgive our manifold sins and . . . cause the benign religion of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to be known, understood, and practiced among all the inhabitants of the earth."     

 -- Governor John Hancock, 1790 --