I am thankful for John's family.  His mother and father were a great support in the early days.  John's mom came to our home after the children were born and always enjoyed being with us and loving on her grandchildren.  I understand more now as a grandmother what those children meant to her and how it was important that they were loved and taken care of.  John's dad always worked at least two jobs for as long as I can remember.  With the money he made he helped John and I with diapers and other baby necessities.  He paid for a truck so we could relocate to Texas when John's job did not work out in Virginia.  I always appreciated Laura's thoughtfulness.  She was always faithful in writing letters, sending cards unlike her sister in law.  I have never been a writer of letters.  I still have the knives she gave John and I for a wedding present and believe it or not I still use them.  I appreciate Ricky for his persistence in visiting and keeping in touch through phone calls and personal visits.  He has been very faithful in doing this.  I was so glad that John and Ricky were able to go to Rhode Island together to see Michael graduate from OCS.  I have been very blessed with a great family!

I am thankful for our new daughter in law Stephanie!  I appreciate how Mark is treated with respect, spoken to kindly, and not demeaned publicly.  She and Mark are working together to pay off debt so when he comes home it will be easier.  She is looking for a home and preparing for an all family homecoming.  I know it will take a lot of work but I appreciate her willingness to work hard and make their house into a home for the entire family.  It has been nice to be able to see the changes in Donovan via the internet as she has been faithful in posting new and updated pictures.  Thank you!

I am thankful for my daughter in law Becky!  She has been very supportive of Michael while he pursued his degree, during the times he has been deployed, and while he was away yet again going through OCS.  I know it put his mind at ease knowing he had your support.  I appreciate seeing how you worked together to get out of debt and you conferred with one another regarding large expenditures.  You worked out your own checks and balances and were honest with one another.  I love your laughter and enjoyment of life.  I so appreciate the love and care you give to Andrew.  It is nice not to have to worry about how he is being taken care of.  I know he has security and love in his life and that means so much to me.  I love the relationship you have with your parents-your love and respect for them.  They are fortunate to have you for a daughter.  I love you and am glad you are in our family.

I am thankful for each of my grandchildren they are awesome!  Jacob is our oldest by three minutes and is ten.  He has a take care of my siblings outlook, he loves to read, play computer games or board games.  He memorizes scripture for his club, and tries to read his bible. Jacob has a tender heart and is a caretaker.  He has a tender heart toward the things of God.  Josiah is his twin brother.  I cannot look at him without seeing his daddy as a boy.  He has his own way of doing things.  He loves science, math and legos.  He doesn't mind reading if it is something he is interested in.  I am amazed at the things he can build or replicate with legos.  God has given him a mind that is amazing.  Josiah sometimes appears to be indifferent to things but is also very tenderhearted.  Alaina is 8 and is so very precious to me.  She was my little sidekick for awhile.  She is very conscientious, and I fear a perfectionist.  She loves reading, dolls, Polly Pockets, and Pet Shop pets.  She enjoys science in school.  She is very excited about being in the school's production of The Wizard of Oz.  She is a girly girl who loves bows, shiny shoes, sparkly shoes, earrings, and play makeup.  She has recently become a Brownie and is enjoying her Brownie troop.  Anya is 5 and is our little red-head.  You just never know what is going to come out of her mouth.  She enjoys being read to and is loving kindergarten.  Well, at least the social aspect of it.  She has many friends at school so I think I know who the social butterfly of the family will be.  Everybody loves her-the teachers, the students alike.  Anya has become a Daisy in Girl Scouts and is loving it.  She enjoys Sunday school and sitting with her teacher, Ms. Elaine.  I am thankful for the time I have had Mark's children in our home.  How many grandparents are lucky enough to be able to have an impact on the lives of their grandchildren.  I pray for God's guidance, wisdom and patience as I help Mark raise them during the time he is away.  Thank you, Mark for allowing me this opportunity! 

I am so thankful for my little Andrew.  It is amazing to me how much he is like his daddy in looks and temperament.  He is built like a Sherman Tank (much like Michael as a boy) and he has a very sweet spirit.  I love how he enjoys playing with his father.  He enjoys reading and dinosaurs and movie monologues.  Thank you Becky!  LOL!!  He likes being outside and it was fun to see him enjoy the animals at the Pumpkin Farm while Michael and Becky were visiting.  He loved feeding them.  He loves his dog Pepper.  He enjoys running, chasing and playing with him.  I love you Andrew! 

I am thankful for Matthew and Edna's children, Adan and Abi!  I am enjoying my time with Adan.  Adan loves to be read to and enjoys going to the library.  He is shy.  It takes awhile for him to warm up but once he is there-look out world!!!  He enjoys singing and doing hand motions. Adan loves animals, playing outside and he loves his cousin Andrew!  He loves his sister Abi.  Adan has the same face shape as his father.  He loves to make funny faces and he has quite the personality.  He already knows many of his numbers and the letters of the alphabet.  Thank you big sister, Abi!  Abi-my first born granddaughter!  You have a special place in my heart.  Remember how you would come to grandma and grandpa's house and take out everyone of the movies we had and stack them.  You also learned how to open your grandfather's briefcase so you could get gum when you came over.  You are such a great sister.  You play with your brother as well as help look after him.  Abi loves to read and loves to make things.  She makes little notebooks and bracelets and sells them at school.  She loves math and is very good at it.  She is learning many Bible verses and is so proud.  Grandma is proud of you too!!  She invited her cousins to Bible school and they really enjoyed going with you.  She is a help to her mother and is very responsible.  I love you Abi!  You are a special young lady!

I am thankful for my grandson Kekoa and for the opportunity I had to have him in my home for about five months.  Kekoa you are in my heart always.  I saw a picture of you the other day on your mom's facebook page and I thought, you look exactly like your father.  I love your sweet spirit.  You love to be held and loved on.  I sure enjoyed rocking you and holding you.  I can see how much you have grown.  Kekoa enjoyed eating oatmeal for breakfast.  He would come out to the kitchen and I would make him some oatmeal.  Sometimes he would get upset because it didn't cool down quickly enough.  He loves to be outside.  He enjoys dogs.  I love his red hair, brown eyes, and sweet smile.  He is loved by his sisters and brothers here in Texas.  They miss him and get excited when I show them a picture on facebook.  I pray for you!  Kekoa loves cars.  He and Anya would sometimes fight over them.  Anya would take them away from him and he would just sit there with a hurt look on his face but then he got tired of that stuff and started taking them away from her.  You are a special little boy Kekoa!  You have an entire family and extended family who love you here on the mainland. 

I am thankful for my new little grandson Donovan.  I haven't met him yet.  I have just seen pictures of him and he is beautiful.  Donovan is already loved by his sisters and brothers here.  They talk about how "adorable" he is.  I know they can't wait to see and meet their new brother.  We have been praying for him will continue to do so.  Donovan has lots of hair like Mark had when he was a baby.  I also noticed his hair stands up on end just like Marks did.  I love you Donovan already and can hardly wait to meet you!

One day when I arrive in heaven I will get to meet my grandson Hunter and my other grandchild who we lost a couple of weeks ago.  I will see you one day.  Til then, I love you!

Thank you Lord, for these precious children!!!!

I am thankful for my daughter in law, Edna!  She is a very thoughtful person.  For my birthday one year she came over while I was at work and washed my dishes, made dinner and set the table very nicely.  She had flowers on the table for me.  She had no idea of the morale booster she was at that time.  Edna pushed me around the Galleria when I was in a wheel chair which was no small feat for her since she is so tiny.  She watched over me and made sure I was comfortable.  She comes for dinner and does the dishes for me.  I am so thankful for the love and care she bestows on her children.  She makes sure Adan has a meal for lunch before she goes to work each day.  She has stuck with Matthew through thick and thin while he was in Iraq, deployed to the border, and during the times he was in school and had homework and tests to study for.  You are really good with money and know how to make a dollar stretch when money is tight.  You work very hard to make a loving home for your family and I appreciate that.  Although sometimes there is a language barrier, one thing I want you to know if how much this family thinks of you and loves you!  I love you very much Edna.  Your mother raised a very caring, hard working, young woman who loves her family!  I am sure your mother is very proud of her daughter.  As his mother, I cannot tell you how much it means to me to see you supportive of Matthew even when I know it has not been easy.  Thank you, for what you have come to mean to our family!!

I'd like to thank God for my daughter, MaryEllen, today!  When she made her appearance in the world her father was so excited he cried.  I couldn't believe I had a beautiful little girl.  Mary brought much joy into our home, especially for her brothers.  When she talked too much, they threatened to unscrew her bellybutton so her arms and legs would fall off.  Believing them she would come screaming her brothers were going to make her fall apart.  She was used as a barbell for lifting weights, and would be tricked into going to bed by running a race to see who would get to the bed first.  She of course, would win, and we would give her a kiss and say goodnight.  Her brothers would shake their heads and think how easily she would fall for that trick time and again.  Hey, it works, don't knock it!!!  LOL!!  She missed her brothers very much when they moved away and was at odds with their wives when they married because she saw the wives as thieves.  They stole her brothers.  Of course by now she has a good relationship with her sisters-in law and loves them.  I know God has a plan for your life Mary.  Remember to put him first in your life.  Get your education and enjoy this time in your life-your singleness.  Embrace it!!!  I love you and am proud of the young woman you are becoming.  I love you!!!

november7

I am grateful for my son Mark.  Wow, Mark!  Mark was my last born (or so I thought).  I held him and loved on him so much.  I was so glad to have a little guy and to have him stay little for awhile.  He loved sports.  His dream was to be the governor of Wisconsin and to own the Dallas Cowboys one day.   He purchased his father a years subscription of Sports Illustrated along with the swimsuit edition for his father for Christmas one year.  One might think, Wow, that was really nice of him.  LOL!!  He paid for it with his father's credit card.  Mark continually tried to enter a football game the men of our church were playing.  He finally got in there and was dogpiled and for his effort got a broken leg.  However, before the cast was fully dried I found him at the top of the tree in the front yard.  Throughout his life, the trait I have most admired in Mark is his tenacity or indomitable spirit.  He is not a quiter and that character trait has helped him in trying times.  I don't think I could have endured some of the things he has.  One of the things I am proud of him for is his love for his children.  I am glad that he found a church in Georgia that he and Stephanie as well as the children enjoyed going to.  God loves you and has a plan for your life Mark!!

I am thankful for my son Michael.  I didn't know if I could love another baby as much as I loved Matthew and then along came Michael.  From the moment he was born he stole my heart and I knew I could love him as much as I loved his brother.  Michael charmed me with his tiny little short body and bulldog wrinkles across his forehead.  I thought he was beautiful.  Michael was always my sensitive, peacemaking child.   I remember him placing his arms around me when he thought I needed comfort, his "peons" he wrote for me, (I still have them), and his many drawings.   I am so proud of Michael, he too, had many sleepless nights, working his way through school while taking care of his family.  He also managed to get his degree and then was accepted into OCS and became a naval officer.  Michael just returned home from a deployment and will get to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas at home with his family.  I am grateful that he and Becky have a good church home and support of christian friends in San Diego when their family is unable to be there for them.  I love you Michael and I know that God will use your life to help others. 

I am thankful for my eldest son Matthew.  From the moment he was born I was madly in love with the little guy!  I have treasured the memories of the dead worms he would bring to me in his little pockets when he was three.  He was thrilled to bring me his treasure.  I said yuck, and did not realize that he was sharing what was valuable to him.  I remember the soccer games, the cooking contests, the sheep, and the dirty boots.  After spending all afternoon cleaning stalls he would try to enter the house without removing his boots and say, "Mom, my boots aren't dirty!"  He loves his wife Edna and tries to be a good provider for his family.  He has worked his tail off trying to go to school full time, work full time and still parent his children.  Somehow he found the fortitude to take his kids to the park and play with them.  Through much hard work and sacrifice on his and Edna's part he earned his degree.  He has been to Iraq three times.  He has also begun to go back to church and work on his relationship with God.  He has been attending classes on parenting his daughter.  Matt takes Abi and Adan to Awana's.  He has been going to church even when it isn't easy and I know God is working in his life as well as that of his family's.  I am grateful to God for his love toward Matthew and each of us who "call upon his name."  I am waiting for the time when "my boy" will sing again and I know he will!  I am so proud of you Matthew and I love you very much!!!

November has kind of snuck up on me.  I cannot believe it is actually the 2nd day of November.  This is the time of year I seem to do quite a bit of reflecting.  I really love November and what it means to this country and to me personally.  It is a time to be together with family, sharing laughter, love, and many memories.  I want to thank Mrs. Barbara Barkdoll and Polly Beers for the many times they came to visit my family and invite us to church.  I am thankful that someone took an interest in me, a bus kid, a kid that didn't have much, and invest time in me.  They taught me to sing, spending countless hours of their own time teaching me to sing specials.  One day, my heart was touched, and I saw myself for the sinner I was and received Jesus Christ as my personal savior.  I am so grateful for how he saved me and has worked with me through the years to bring about changes in me.  My prayer is that I will reflect Christ in my life. 

I am thankful for my family.  I am blessed to have a husband who works hard to provide for his family and to help others around him.  He gives of himself freely asking nothing in return.  He challenges his grandchildren to read their Bibles and to pray by example and by an encouraging word.  I am thankful for the parents God gave to me.  My father instilled in his children a good work ethic and loyalty while my mother taught us to be mindful of our words and actions and how they affect those around us.  Where would I be if not for their influence in my life.  Thank you mom and dad!  Thank you, to my husband, John!  I love you!

Christmas Parade in Irving!

Today was the day I had planned to go to the Christmas Parade in Dallas. However, it was not easy getting everyone out the door early enough to get parking and good seats. Consequently, the parking lot where I usually park was full and I was directed to a parking garage and told I could watch the parade from up there. I debated after seeing the people hanging out of the garage and said, NO WAY!!! I turned around and began looking for an alternative. I couldn't find one so we began to head on home. I knew there was going to be a parade in Irving so all was not lost.

I decided to pay a "surprise" visit to Charlotte. Mary and I went to make a Dunkin Donut run then went to her house where there was some wonderful coffee waiting for us. My crazy sister had her back door wide open enjoying the nice fresh air. It was a little cool but "hey" she was happy.

I enjoyed my coffee and of course some sister time. We headed back home a little later than I intended. We stopped by the house for a potty break and then went on to the parade. The grandchildren really enjoyed the parade but really loved collecting candy.

I am looking forward to the Walk-thru Nativity next weekend when my family will get together to enjoy each others company and to enjoy celebrating a little bit of the holiday together.

It is feeling more and more like Christmas. I love this time of year!!!

Reflections

Well here we are at Christmas time again. Before we begin this new season I want to say a few things about our Thanksgiving holiday. We had been planning to go to Albert's this Thanksgiving and well, things just didn't work out. Instead, we had our Thanksgiving at home.

We hung around the house and the kids got to sleep in. They had a friend over for a visit a couple of times and we learned how to hook up the playstation. The children enjoyed playing their racing games and then we moved on to Rock Band. We had two singers, two guitar players and a drummer. I enjoyed hearing Jacob and Josiah's rendition of MISSISSIPPI QUEEN. I was able to get a little Christmas shopping in.

MaryEllen came to stay for a few days. We were able to have some time to go out and to play a game of dominoes with her "special friend" Quentin. We were able to see Matthew, Edna, Abigail and Adan. That was nice. The grandchildren were able to spend a little time with their mother. Michael and Becky weren't able to make it but they will be here for Christmas. Mark had to work during Thanksgiving so he was not able to make it home. However, he will be home for Christmas too.

Thanksgiving was not the big splash we had last year but it was a very enjoyable time nonetheless. The boys voted for pumpkin pie and the girls wanted chocolate cake. We had both. MaryEllen's request was for yellow squash and sweet potatoes. How could I refuse? We also had turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy and mixed vegetables. I used a tablecloth and my good dishes. The girls were able to carry them to the table and help place them. They were oohing and aahing. I had to serve them their dessert on pretty plates also. We played Sorry, and Jacob beat me. He was very pleased with himself.

I am very thankful for many things. I have a nice, snug, warm home. I get to care for and have an imprint on the lives of my grandchildren. My husband and I were able to spend some time together. I had Mary and Matthew at home to visit with. I am healthy. I have been given a clean bill of health this year with no recurring cancer or developing cells. I am now in the home free zone. I have a wonderful family. I have four great sisters and a half sister I am getting to know more and three wonderful brothers. I have a father who is in great health and fun to be around. He is married to a wonderful lady who loves us and treats us kindly and is very supportive and loving to my dad. I am thankful for John's family. He has a great dad who has been there for us especially in the early years. John's brother Ricky who has faithfully visited even though it is rarely returned and Laura, John's sister. I wish she would come and visit sometime. Cough, cough!

I am thankful for my bible and for being able to read it. I am thankful that I live in a country that I have the freedom to go to church and worship God without fear of retribution. Thank You, Lord, for my blessings! Help me to learn to not take things for granted.

Memories of Grandma Ramsey

During the holidays I seem to become sentimental, and or nostalgic so please allow me the priviledge to walk down memory lane. Lately, we've been having conversations about names and why people name their children as they do. I am speaking about family names, primarily.

I'd like to tell you about my grandmother. Everyone called her Grandma Ramsey or Ruby. Those were the names I knew her by. I know people will find this surprising, but I do have a big mouth that has been known to say things before I think. Mmmmm, imagine that! Allow me to share a bittersweet memory about my grandmother.

My given name is MaryEllen. Just plain ole MaryEllen. Nothing fancy, classy, unusual or exotic. I remember as a child wishing I had a name like Melody, Melissa, Kathryn, Candace. Nope, I received MaryEllen for my handle. Just like the MaryEllen on the Walton's. Old-fashioned, Yuck!

One day I was speaking to my grandmother. I don't remember what we were talking about. I just remember the outcome-I hurt my grandmother's feelings. I told my grandmother emphatically, I do not like my name. She said, "you don't like your name?" I said, "No!" She said, "My name is MaryEllen." I was quiet, stunned. What, I never knew that. I felt like two cents. I loved my grandmother and would never hurt her. If only I knew I never would have said anything.

Over time, I began to learn some things about this grandmother and the kind of person she was. I am glad my mother named me for her and that is why I named my daughter after her. If my daughter and I could become a fraction of the woman with a servant's heart that she was. Wow! I would love to be remembered as a person who did for others.

Grandma was a single mother raising two children in the Bronx. She later moved to Massachusetts. She worked for the Milton Bradley company in the sweatshop making crayons. We are all familiar with those crayons, Crayolas. She did not make a lot of money but was very frugal. She would save money all year and during the summer come for a visit and take us kids shopping for school shoes and some clothes. She would take us to the five and dime store for an ice cream sundae or a hamburger. I would be so excited. This was a treat because our family could not afford to eat out.

When her mother's husband died, her mother moved in with her and she took care of her mother until her mother passed away. Anytime one of her brothers needed anything she would help them out. If they needed money she gave it to them. She gave her burial plot to one of her brothers after he passed, paid for surgery for several different people, paid for the burial services of her father-in-law, and other family members through the years. She helped her son and his family. This lady was not a Susie Homemaker. She was not the storybook grandmother like our father's mother. I am sure she would have been a great one if she had been given the opportunity. She always had to work and provide a living for herself, her children and later for her mother.

I wish I could have told her about MaryEllen before she passed away. I wish I would have told her how sorry I was for the thoughtless thing I said. Most of all, I wish I could tell her how very proud I am to carry on her name because of the person I found her to be. Many of the things I found out about her were through records, paperwork she kept after she passed away. I am truly blessed to have been named for her and hope my daughter realizes the legacy as she matures through life.

Thank you for reading my ramblings. I hope this blesses you. It was fun for me to put some of these thoughts down. Grandma was a Proverbs 31 lady without realizing it. She was saved so I know I will see her again one day.

Mighty To Save by Laura Story

Back to Blogging!

I've finally made the plunge and will be blogging again. I know some of you have given up on me ever posting anything again. My schedule made it difficult for awhile but I want to try to get back on track with my blogging again. It was, for me, a "catharsis". I enjoyed thinking things through while writing-it made things seem more clear. I hope you will enjoy this "author's" musings as much as I enjoyed the sharing of my thoughts and heart.

Well, school is back in session in Irving as it is in many towns across the country. I intended on taking the "typical" first day of school pictures. However, my grandsons took off before I was able to take their pictures. Alaina, on the other hand, dutifully stood, while I shot a couple of poses. I walked her to her classroom and took a couple of pictures. I did post one on my Facebook page. These pictures were nothing to brag about so I intend to catch my victims at a more opportune moment. HaHa!!!! Jacob and Josiah are in the fourth grade. They really like their teachers. Alaina is in the first grade this year and I think she is going to thrive in her class.

Our daughter, MaryEllen has moved into her dorm room at Dallas Baptist University. Her first day of class was on Monday, August 23. She is loving her life as a college student. I think she especially loves her independence. Surprise, surprise, right! Mary began her new job on campus today. I am so happy for her. She has been looking forward to this new time. They want her to work during the summer and throughout her college career. Her roommate is an international student from Vietnam. She is looking forward to developing a friendship with her and of course, learning a little Vietnamese.

As you can imagine, especially if you are a parent, it is pretty quiet in the house during the day. I think I can live with this! There have been quite a few changes in my life over the past few years. Change is good but it can take some time to adjust your thoughts and attitudes toward those changes. I will talk about some of these changes at a different time. For now I'd like to leave you with my favorite Bible verse. It is found in Jeremiah 29:11. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." I'm wondering............

Live Nativity at Grace Bible Church

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Make a Smilebox scrapbook

We had a great time together. I am posting this as an activity to do again next year. I have already extended invitations to my family to join me next year. Excellent presentation!

Thanksgiving Prep Continues-EXCITED

My family will be here for Thanksgiving. They have begun to arrive at various locations in the metroplex. We are already preparing for dinner and guests. We can hardly wait to be together. Our plans include ice skating at the Galleria, seeing The Christmas Carol, playing games, eating and visiting.

We are going to have fifty-plus people for our FUN-FILLED FAMILY AND FRIENDS EXTRAVAGANZA! We will be taking lots of pictures for a memory book and of course we will be posting on our blog. We just wish all of our family could be here with us.

I have my final Bible study today, will finish last minute cleaning and off to the grocery store I go. My three grandchildren have already told me they will be glad to help me with the shopping. I am sure they will have some input on the food selection. I hope everyone has a great time preparing also.

Our Thanksgiving Menu 2009

Turkey
Ham
Stuffing
Garden Salad
Fruit Salad
Vegetable Platter
Relish Platter
Mashed Potatoes
Sweet Potato Cassarole
Green Bean Casserole
Broccoli Rice Casserole
Green Beans
Corn
Macaroni and Cheese
Homemade Cranberry Sauce
Dinner Rolls
Pumpkin Pie
Apple Pie
Pecan Pie
Applesauce Cake
Dutch Apple Cake
Coffee
Tea (hot and iced)
Hot Chocolate
Fruit Punch

Thank goodness we have three bases of operation to work at. I can hardly wait! Can you tell! HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY PREP!

Chicken Soup

Today is rainy and cold in the DFW metroplex. Well, not cold for northerners, but cold for here. I decided today would be a good soup day even though my grandchildren are fans of "real" food like Kraft macaroni and cheese, hot dogs or chicken nuggets. I decided grandpa and grandma wanted some real food so that is what we are having today. HaHa! The soup base can be made with only four chicken thighs so it is relatively inexpensive to make. Enjoy!


Chicken Vegetable Soup

4 chicken thighs
8 c. of water
1 onion diced
1/3 of a celery bunch sliced-I chop the leaves also-I think it looks pretty.
1/2 tsp salt per pound of chicken

Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 1 1/2 hrs or until tender. I always add water to keep it at same amount as I started with plus the stock continues to get richer.

I remove chicken from pot and add:
4-5 potatoes, cubed
1 bag of baby carrots? I usually eyeball it and add what I consider good for my family
1 bag of frozen mixed vegetables
3 or 4 chicken flavored boullion cubes

I put lid on and let vegetables simmer. Sometimes I may add another potato or two. Stir the vegetables around, make a judgment. I add a little thyme to my soup.

While the vegetables are cooking I remove the skin from the chicken and begin to tear it into strips and add the chicken to the soup. I discard the bones and fat and whatever broth and celery remains in bowl, I dump back into pot.

If I just want chicken vegetable soup I may combine a little cornstarch and water to thicken the broth to make it more stew-like. Most of the time it is seasoned perfectly at this time. You may want to taste and add salt if needed.

There are times I decide to add egg noodles to the vegetable soup for something a little different. If I decide to do this I do not add the cornstarch. The starch from the egg noodles eliminate the need for this step.

My husband does not like soups, he likes things with "substance" so I make our soups more stew-like. Otherwise, he walks away hungry.

This is fun, easy and yummy to make! ENJOY!

My Fondest Thanksgiving Memory-Thankful Thursday #4

This week I would like to share with you the story of my Most Memorable Thanksgiving. This particular Thanksgiving takes place while I was a young mom, far away from home, and planning my very first Thanksgiving Dinner. John and I were both college students, trying to work our way through school. Before I go on, I must take you on a trip down "memory lane" so that you have my point of reference for Thanksgivings.





Thanksgiving at the Wright's home was a fun noisy time. Since we were a family of ten there was always something going on. Our home and yard was "the place to be" for the neighborhood kids. Most of the time, Thanksgiving's were celebrated with dinner at our home and then on to Grandma and Grandpa Wright's home on top of the mountain. We would go to visit with family, enjoy grandma's cookies, pies and or cakes. We might even get to play in the snow. I always enjoyed the drive to our grandparent's home after a newly fallen snow. The trees would be bowed over from the weight of the snow forming a canopy over the road. The sun would be shining causing the snow to begin to melt, then it would refreeze forming a sheet of ice over the remaining snow on the trees. This would shimmer and sparkle in the sunlight and create your typical Currier and Ives picture. It would be a veritable winter wonderland. After evening church services we would have a sledding party. The kids would bring their sleds, toboggans, or saucers. The youth leaders would build large bon fires in barrels. There would be tables set up with hot chocolate and we would roast hot dogs and toast marshmallows to make s'mores. Fun times! Our father would get our wagon or sleigh out and harness our horse, Fritz up to the sleigh or wagon. He'd put the bells on the horse, load us up on the sleigh or wagon and off we'd go. I loved the happy sound. My sisters and brothers and I have fond memories of this holiday.



John and I would not be able to go to his home or my home to celebrate Thanksgiving 1978. This year, we would have to stay home and celebrate the holiday for the first time, on our own. We were disappointed. I began to plan and dream about what I would do make our time really special. I had never cooked a turkey or made stuffing before. I had helped but never had I planned or had to do the cooking before. I am about to get a reality check.



Not long after this news, my husband gets laid off from his job. Now there really is no money to go home and we are definitely on a budget for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I began to wonder what I was going to do. I had a garden during the summer and had canned and frozen a lot of things for my family. But I wanted the Thanksgiving I dreamed of having and was determined to have. Slowly, my plans began to crumble and I began to grumble. I had plans and things were not turning out as "I" had planned. My attitude had definitely soured and I was not very happy with the way God was allowing bad things to happen and I began to cry.



I subscribed to a women's magazine called "The Joyful Woman" and sat down with it and my Bible knowing I needed an attitude adjustment. I petitioned God and voiced my complaints and believe me there were many. I was not Joyful. I cannot remember the details of the article I read but I do remember the conviction of my ungrateful spirit. IThess 5:18 says, In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I did not understand that nothing comes my way unless it first passes by God. He is aware of everything going on in my life and it is not by happenstance. Roman 8:18 says, I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Our sufferings in this world will produce in us the character that will enable us to live a life that brings honor and glory to His name and bring others into His kingdom. I was able to get up from that chair with a different perspective. I was able, with guidance from the Lord, to go into the kitchen and prepare the best Thanksgiving Feast ever.



That particular Thanksgiving, though not what I had envisioned, has become my fondest Thanksgiving memory because of a work he began in my life and continues, to this day. It has not always been an easy journey but it has been a worthwhile journey. Phillipians 1:6 says, Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Praise God!

Lest I leave you hanging, we did not do without. I had preserved a lot of food for my family and we were able to have a true feast even with our skinny chicken. If memory serves me correctly, I believe we had:

THANKSGIVING DINNER 1978

Roast Chicken
Stuffing
Mashed Potatoes
Green Beans
Homemade Bread
Pumpkin Pie
Apple Crisp
Hot Tea
Most of the food was grown in our garden. I even cooked and preserved our own pumpkin and made apple pie filling. I never dreamed how handy it would become to our family. See, God always supplies our needs.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM MARY AMON


Milk