Deo Gratias

Our Thanksgiving this year was filled with good food and good company.  The kids played their part in preparing for the big day and I certainly played mine.  I don't know if I am just getting older but Thanksgiving this year took a beating on me...I really feel like I was hit by a truck!  I shouldn't complain though for I do love Thanksgiving dinner and I do love hosting friends. Not only that, but our good God has showered us with so many blessings that I happily take on the pain and suffering that comes along with truly serving the other in order to please Him and thank Him!

Opening our home to others, I feel, is the one beautiful way, we can show our children how to serve others and it is something we can actually put into practice as a whole family.  Our children learn from our actions more than our words and I can't think of a better to show our children the beauty of serving our friends and in making our home beautiful through that service than to invite people over to a warm home for a savory meal and faithful fellowship.

Here are some pics...not nearly as many as I wanted to take but didn't because I was huffing and puffing in the kitchen!

 This is the kids' Thanksgiving Lego Diorama.  Okay, I helped with the teepee.  (And that pig hiding behind the tree on the right is actually a wild boar).

 Here are the place cards the kids made. Definitely a 10 on the Cuteness Scale.

 Special Occasions = Special Place Settings.

 Richard would easily challenge that equation by arguing: Special Occasions = Special Beer.

 For the appetizers I made these ever so tasty Pepper Jelly-Goat Cheese Canapes that had a toasted pecan crust.  They were DeLiSh!

Here is my all-time favorite cranberry sauce, made with sauteed onions, cranberry juice a hint of ginger and some chopped apple thrown in the end.  We absolutely love it!

 And for La Piece de Resistance: Pecan Pie made with pure Maple syrup...no Karo here-o.

And now moving from the feasting to the thanking... 

And our good Lord above knows that I am thankful for each one of these little turkeys.