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Study God

and his strength,

seek his presence

day and night; 

1 Chronicles 16:11 (The Message)

A Quiet Thanksgiving

Our favorite tradition is going to our church’s praise service on Thanksgiving morning.  Apparently it is a favorite tradition of many others, as there were nearly 400 people there. 

We never established a Thanksgiving meal at our house – after the large Hershey Thanksgiving was no longer held.  It is one of the busiest times of the year for me in the office, so I treasure a quiet Thanksgiving Day.

Cerwin grilled venison steak and a mixture of potatoes, sweet potatoes, and asparagus for our lunch.

After doing some office work, I baked a batch of chocolate chip cookies for the grandchildren who were coming overnight.

Diana enjoying one of the cookies.  She is spending the evening and night here – just because she asked.

Nate, Josh, and Jordan are using one of their 2008 “gift days” to spend the evening here – eating, playing GameCube, and watching TV.

The original plan was for them to pick up a pizza or stromboli on the way to our place, but our local restaurants were closed.  I checked our freezer to see what they may like and discovered a Philly Steak Roll Up, that we prepared at Dish-it-up a few weeks ago.  (Remember that Jenna?)

I didn’t have time to defrost it, but figured that wouldn’t affect the end result.

It would need about thirty minutes, so…

…I asked the boys to pose for a photo while we waited.  I may have known that this would be a major project if I planned to get a good one.  These happen to be their napkins.

I kept trying for a good shot, but they continued to be silly.

So I gave up and decided to settle for silly ones.

Meanwhile, Diana watched TV with us.

Fiddler on the Roof was already in progress when she and the boys arrived.

Nate, Josh, Jordan

About that time Josh’s mom called and asked me to get a good picture of the boys for the Creative Memories scrapbook she is making for him.  I told her my dilemma, but gave it one more try – and was finally successful in getting a good one.

The Steak Roll Up was finished right on time, even though it had not been defrosted.  Everyone declared it DELICIOUS.

I hope your day was as good as mine.

Honor his holy name with Hallelujahs, you who seek God.

Live a happy life!

Keep your eyes open for God,

watch for his works;

be alert for signs of his presence. 

Psalm 105:3-5 (The Message)

The Hunters Are Home

Cerwin brought home a three-point, and Jere an eight-point – both shot this morning.  Jere was first, shortly after 9:00 – with a fifty-yard shot that dropped it on the spot.  Forty-five minutes later, Cerwin took a long shot (150 yards) down a ravine, and also stopped it in its tracks.  

Though Cerwin’s only has three points, its body size is similar to Jere’s.

Our freezers will be filled with more venison steaks, bologna, hamburger, and dried beef.

Jere, Jeff, and Cerwin preparing to hang the deer at our shed, before taking them to the butcher.  Jeff saw only doe (which cannot be harvested in West Virginia).  The guys think that is a good plan for deer management. 

Cerwin was grateful for Jeff’s help in dragging his deer out of the ravine.  After Jere got his deer to the vehicle, he met the other two, and he and Jeff took turns dragging the deer, while Cerwin carried the guns and heavy coats.

These created things will someday be shaken and removed.

Then what cannot be shaken will last.

We should be grateful that we were given a kingdom that cannot be shaken.

And in this kingdom we please God by worshiping him

and by showing him great honor and respect. 

Hebrews 12:27-28 (Contemporary English Version)

When the Cat’s Away

The Mice Play

Our granddaughter Jenna wanted to use up some more of the “gift of time” (seven days) she receives from us each year, and asked if I would take her for a manicure/pedicure and invite our youngest daughter Deb. 

Deb and me relaxing in our massaging chairs.

When I think about Cerwin and the guys hunting in the cold, rainy, snowy weather of southeastern West Virginia – I’d much rather have my feet and hands being pampered.

Ahhhhh!  What a way to relax afterr a busy day.

Yes, I would rather be doing this than hunting.

We felt like queens for an evening.

After all that work, we had to eat something! 

Thanks, Jenna, for suggesting that we spend an evening like this.  It was so much fun – especially because I don’t get to see Deb very often (she lives an hour away). 

Thanks, Deb, for making that long drive to fulfill Jenna’s request.

To close our delightful evening, we shared this slice of pumpkin cheesecake.

  You’re my God, and I thank you.

O my God, I lift high your praise.

Thank God—he’s so good. 

His love never quits! 

Psalm 118:28-29 (The Message)

Birds and a Surprise

It was a busy day in the office, but I did take time to watch a few birds at lunchtime.

They seemed extra cautious of my movements as I watched from the other side of the window…

…or maybe they were busy like me.

~~~

Just before 5:00 this evening, I heard someone come into our house, and tried to imagine who was in the kitchen  just above my office. 

Was it my niece, who sometimes comes for or drops off DVDs or videos, was it a brother, a sister-in-law, a grandson, granddaughter, or daughter-in-law?  I expected whoever it was to come down the steps and say hi, but instead they just left.  (Maybe it was a thief. )

I soon forgot about it, and worked late, hoping to get one more mailing well on its way to the post office. 

I closed the office at 6:30, then microwaved the frozen Schwan’s meal (chicken, rice, and green beans with cranberries) I had thawing on the kitchen sink. 

After eating the portion I wanted, I opened the refrigerator door to put the leftovers inside, and had a surprise.   Then I remembered the footsteps in our kitchen – and KNEW who had been here! 

~~~

Shrimp!  Oh, yum!

There on my refrigerator shelf was a bag of steamed shrimp and a container of cocktail sauce! 

I quickly shelled and ate a few, before calling our daughter-in-law Kristen to confirm that she had been the one in our kitchen.  She had! 

How many times have you had shrimp for dessert?  That’s what I had tonight – and plan to have a few more before I go to bed .

God is greater than our worried hearts

and knows more about us than we do ourselves.

1 John 3:20 (The Message)

The Gift of a Day

5:00 a.m.  Can you guess what this means?

It means that Jere has arrived for Cerwin.  After leaving here, they picked up our oldest son, Jeff, and headed to West Virginia for a hunting trip.

It was a cold morning with a pretty sunrise.  It was good to be in church today, worship our awesome God, and fellowship with believers.

Jere and Kristen’s three youngest boys were here for most of the afternoon, while Kristen, Josh, Jana, and Abigail went to an anniversary party.  This is the photo opportunity I got when I asked Ian and Jared to turn around and smile.  Then they were back to their game.

Jesse entertained me in the living room while I watched a movie (The Prince & Me).  He is not pouting, but making that brrrrr sound all little boys make when they are playing with cars and trucks.

Later in the afternoon (after Jesse took a nap) these two ended up on the same rocking chair.  Jared said, “Take a picture of us Grandma.”

“Grandma, take a picture of me doing this.”

Then before I knew it their mother was back, and the house was quiet again…

…and the gift of “today” had come and gone.