With Thanksgiving in Our Hearts

 

Our Thanksgiving family tradition is to place five popcorn kernels at each place setting. Before the meal, we pass a small bowl around the table and take turns sharing five things from our list of Thanksgivings for that year. History reports say the pilgrims who survived the first winter in New England had such meager rations there was a point when each person had only five kernels of corn a day. Not only do the five kernels remind us of desperate times early European settlers endured prior to the first Thanksgiving, these small seeds also remind each of us to take a few moments to pause and reflect with thankful hearts to God for His abundant blessings. A few of the 85 thanksgivings mentioned around our table this year included school, family, jobs, Jesus, a chicken house, a work shop, spouses, soccer, a garden, prisoners, a smoked turkey, and a dog.

 



My five kernels of thanks

 

1) being together with family

2) the Cookie House

3) my job, friends, and life in Zambia

4) opportunities we have to be part of God's global family--

because that gives us a little flavor of what heaven will be like

5) American ice cream

Dear Heather

Happy Belated Birthday!

 

 

As promised, we ate your pumpkin chocolate chip birthday cake on your birthday.

Wish you could've had some too!

Pittsburgh Tourist

While in Pittsburgh for our cousin's recent wedding, we enjoyed a mini family holiday. Joel and Judith and their little ones met up with us for a family day. I figured I should play tourist and snap a few photos to share.

Once upon a time, our family toured this part of Pittsburgh before. What disturbed me slightly was realizing it was probably nearly 20 years ago when we first rode the cable car up this incline... and I remember that trip.

Since when can people my age remember things that happened 20 years ago?!?!

since when???

view from a lookout after riding the cable car up the incline

note: you probably wouldn't believe how many ways there are to get lost, er, I mean, to navigate Pittsburgh... take for example the yellow bridge pictured above. There are countless ways to cross this bridge on different levels and from different entrance points to differing exit points. Let's just say we spent more than a couple hours driving around Pittsburgh-- not necessarily on purpose. I saw a lot of cool things and enjoyed the ride though. Plus, I was more than happy to let someone else do the city driving/navigating for a change.

playing at the Point Park

babies make family time so much more complete!
Austin, this is a shout-out to YOU!

true holiday spirit...
don't you just love family outings?!? hahaha.

wedding

venue: Heinz Chapel on the University of Pittsburgh campus

One of our cousins got married a week ago last Friday in Pittsburgh, and I had the privilege of attending the wedding. This was definitely one of the most elegant weddings I've been too.



another view of the chapel

 

building across from the wedding chapel

 

ceiling at the reception hall

 

reception

The reception hall (also in Pittsburgh) was built in the 1800's and restored magnificently. Equally as stunning as the beautiful hall and lovely decorations were the presentation and taste of the hors d'oeuvres and four course meal we enjoyed throughout the evening.

Congratulations to our cousin and his bride; may God bless your home.

*whoops... sorry, I don't have any pictures of the bride and groom!*

Happiness...

...is being with my family for Sunday dinner.

 

Once or twice this past year, I was able to Skype in, perched on the buffet through a webcam.

Being here in person is one hundred times better!

classic B/J [Betsy/Julie] date

Betsy and I have had a lot of catching up to do the past few weeks. It had been too long since we... went shopping together, watched a movie together, went out for ice cream together, just chatted with each other about normal life stuff (not to mention deep heart matters...), etc. [if you have a sister, you probably get the picture.]

So, the other day we went to Target together. Betsy practically had to pull me out of the store, because I was getting lost in each grocery aisle-- exclaiming over the wonderful things on the shelves and reading lables. She says I would spend 10 minutes in each aisle, but she exagerates.

After our shopping excapade, we made our way to Culver's. For all my non-Culver-knowing readers, Culver's is an upscale fast food restaurant. I don't like fast food, but I LOVE frozen custard, which is Culver's specialty.

Until this past year, we didn't have a Culver's in Midland (there was one in Saginaw). Of course, Betsy and I had to go check out the new Culver's... together. Our visit was a screaming success. And, since our treat was small, we still had room for dinner when we reached home :).



our selection was a mini oreo cherry mixer in chocolate custard!

Hurrah for sister time!

I have a lot of posts to share...

...but I'm having some technological blocks with my pictures.

Lots of photos coming soon :)

Happy week before Thanksgiving to you!