Turkey, Taters and Gravy

For many years, Thanksgiving was an extra-special holiday for me. Since I moved away from my hometown of Chattanooga, Tennessee, almost 20 years ago, Thanksgiving was always the holiday when we traveled back home to spend the week with our extended family. I would look forward to the trip for weeks beforehand.

As my parents aged, the trips became even more special with each passing year. We would all gather at Mom and Dad's for turkey with all the fixings. I especially looked forward to Mom's pumpkin pie, made from my grandmother's recipe. I remember one year in particular when Mom forgot to add the sugar to the pies, and when we all kept saying that they tasted different, Mom's laughter rang through the kitchen as she told us that she forgot the sugar. By the time she realized her mistake, the pies were almost done, and she thought she could pass them off with none of us the wiser.

Now that my children are all grown and have begun their own lives, we didn't travel back to Tennessee last year and we won't be going this year. In fact, this year, only one of my children will be home for the holiday. Matt and Becca have to work and/or are on call for their counseling responsibilities, so they can't come home. Meghann is traveling to her boyfriend's family's and will be gone for most of the week. Brad has a special girl in his life, and her family has graciously invited Brad and I to share Thanksgiving with them.

I must admit that learning to accept the changes that have come with my children growing up hasn't always been easy for me. Perhaps because as a single mother for many, many years, the kids and I spent almost every holiday together. But I've learned in the last few years to cherish the times we have together and that the "holiday" isn't defined by the day, but rather by the time we are together. If that's the day before or after, or even the week before or after, I make the most of "how" we celebrate and not "when."

So this year, I'm thankful for my children, for my brother and sister, for my nieces and nephews, my great nieces and nephews, and even the hounds who live with me. I'm thankful for my health, for the energy to perform my job each day and for a warm house in which to live. I'm most thankful for God's abundant grace and mercy that He bestows on me each day. I'm more and more thankful each day for the gift of salvation through my Lord and Savior and for the hope of eternity.

And last, but certainly not least, I'm thankful for turkey, taters and gravy.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Walking the Path

This afternoon, I grabbed my camera and headed to the walking path across the street from my house. My intention was to spend an hour or so taking pictures of the beautiful trees that are now an explosion of reds, yellows and oranges in their celebration of the fall season. I set up my tripod, framed up several shots and waited for the perfect lighting.

As I took photo after photo, I often had to pause as people passed through the line of my shot. An older couple walking hand in hand deep in conversation. A young woman out for an afternoon run. A teenage boy walking a large black dog. A young father pushing his son in a stroller. The more people who passed by, the more I began to wonder who they are and what their lives are like. Are they happy? Are they surrounded by friends and family who love them? Do they have jobs? And if so, are they satisfied with their work? Do they know Jesus? Are they certain of where they will spend eternity?

We all walk different paths in life, and we make choices each day that impact the paths we've chosen. Some days, I feel as if I've made the best decisions I can and that I am in the center of God's desire for my life. Other days, I feel as though I'm wandering along, not certain of what to do or which way to go. I'm thankful, so very thankful, that whether I'm having a good day or a not so good day, God always has me in the palm of His mighty hand and that He is the one who holds my future.

As I packed up my camera and tripod and walked toward home, I stopped along the path and offered up a prayer. A prayer of thanksgiving, a prayer of hope, a prayer of petition for those around me who aren't walking the path of God, a prayer offering my all in service to the One who died for me.

Oh, and the photos? They are awesome!