Wednesday, November 23, 2005

This day is an Ebenezer- as in " Hitherto hath the Lord helped us" - not as in "Scrooge"

My main achievements today were surviving a last minute trip to the grocery store ( it was indescribable - all these old ladies going 2 mph and clogging up the aisles, ARGH) and making a few pies. I am freaked out by making real pie crust- it never turns out right for me. It's okay if it's graham cracker crust but...that stuff with butter that you have to roll out with a rolling pin...I threw it away I was so frustrated with it and ended up going with an easier crust recipe. RARGH. I should have bought pre-baked pie crusts but I feel that as I have plenty of time on my hands, I should do the work myself.

All that grousing aside, I LOVE Thanksgiving. I was surfing some random blogs today ( I know, I know, somewhat of a risky activity) and I found this one girl who said that she didn't like Thanksgiving and didn't agree with its message. WHAT?? I thought even heathens knew it was good and healthy to be thankful, even if they don't acknowledge that it's God to whom they should be thankful... I was truly horrified. I love Everything About Thanksgiving...I love making a list of things to be thankful for, mostly things that have happened ( or that I have become aware of or especially appreciated ) during the past year, as well as the Biggies- basic, general, important stuff for which to give thanks. I haven't started my list yet - but I think this is the perfect warming-up activity...

I thought of something a few days ago that I wanted to blog about, but I realized that it would work in superbly with a Thanksgiving post. I had pulled an old journal from 2001 out of a box and was skimming through it. It was pretty depressing stuff and yet also somehow a TON of fun to read. I was in college, Brad was not doing well, we didn't know if we were EVER going to get married, we didn't know WHAT God was trying to do with us - everything was dark, uncertain, confused, and wretched. We were fatigued, burdened, frustrated, sad...You get the picture, I think. And this type of thing had been going on pretty much non-stop for a couple years, although in varying degrees. Anyway, I said it was fun to read because I was reveling in the fact that here we are, four years later, on the other side of all that, thanks to God's blessings. That whole time in our lives seems like a bad dream. And it's like I just woke up to that fact all over again - that it's over- and I'm so thrilled that it's not my reality anymore. Reading that journal made me realize how MUCH God has done for us...All the moods and questions in it seem foreign and obsolete. And for this, I am thankful. I am more thankful than I can ever say.

Our new house, and all the many experiences during the past year where God led us to get to this place; my parents being nearby, for now anyway; a wonderful summer at the Shelter; a "new" car; protection on trips- driving and flying; a new form of fellowship and creative outlet in blogging; visits from my sisters, brothers-in-law, nephews and neice; God's healing and presence in the journey of grief; a trip to Florida in January; dreams of heaven; Christian radio programs; living in a warmer climate; new friends and old; hope; my husband; avocados; having my five senses and mobility intact; electricity; sweetened condensed milk, quite possibly nature's perfect food; new music; a beautiful world...For all of these, I am thankful.

This day is an Ebenezer- a reminder of how God has provided all these good things and many more.

7 comments:

Loreo said...

Bravo, Harold! I enjoyed hearing about your thankful list. How awesome to be out of the dark tunnel you guys had been in, PTL! I find pie crusts challenging, too, but because I am a pie fan, I keep plugging away. Tenderness doesn't matter, at this point--an intact piece of dough does! :) What do you do with sweetened, condensed milk, by the by?

Claire said...

The S.C. milk was an ingredient in my Key Lime Pie...As I licked the spatula with which I had scraped the leftover dregs from the can, I decided that I could eat this stuff every day...rather like Winnie the Pooh.

Amy said...

I ventured out to the grocery store today too. *That* was a a mistake! I got stuck behind this oooold couple in the ice cream aisle. At least there was plenty to read...rocky road, mint chip, fudge swirl, moose tracks...What was truly amazing was the fact that I only came home with one box of ice cream sandwiches! :) I wish I had your pie ambitions. I tried making pies a few years ago, but things didn't go very well. I've since decided to support my local pie economy by supporting the area bakeries. :)

ljm said...

Happy Thanksgiving!! Are Brussel sprouts on the menu this year?

Claire said...

YES! I'm bringing the Brussel Sprouts n' Sage side dish to the feast...I only got one box of sprouts and when I thought better of it and went back to get a second one, they were all gone! Phew! I guess it's not a disaster though b/c there will be a few other things to eat on the table...Methinks that I want to make Brussel sprouts every year now...Whodathunkit?

Booker said...

and a happy thanksgiving to you Pass's! :)

Linds said...

Happy Thanksgiving to you both! Enjoy the sun in GA :)