Thanksgiving Blessings

As we approach this Thanksgiving Holiday, I can't help but think about how different this year will be from last year, and how different last year was from all of the previous years.

At this time last year, I was preparing for the holiday knowing that it would be the last one I would share with my precious mother.   In previous years, Thanksgiving was always a time of  fun, laughter, music, and food.  Most of all food.  Last year, we had the food, and we had the music, and we had the special love for each other that has always defined our family.  For that I am thankful.

This year, I am trying hard to stay focused on the many, many blessings that God has bestowed upon our family, and not the loved ones that are absent.  Not only will my mother not be with us this year, but my middle son Caleb will not be able to be here.  He is blessed to be living in Texas close to his future in-laws, so I know that he will have a wonderful holiday, but he will definitely be missed here.

We are planning to have our usual Thanksgiving menu this year and because I want this holiday season to be a blessing to the little ones here, I am working hard to stay focused on just how much God has blessed me this past year.

Here are a few of the ways God has blessed (and is continuing to bless) me this year:

My family is healthy.

My daughter and her children are living with us at the moment.  I have the blessing of spending time with my grandchildren on a daily basis.

My Dad is also living with us now.  Even though his health has gotten worse, he is still able to take care of his basic needs and just needs someone to help with meals, medicines, and helping him not fall on bad days.  I am thankful that God has chosen to allow us the privilege of caring for my Dad.

Even though I will not be able to attend the wedding, because of caring for my Dad, I am so thankful that Caleb has been blessed with the precious young woman that will soon be his wife.  I am also thankful for her sweet family.

I am thankful that my daughter is engaged to a wonderful young man, that is very good to her and has accepted her children as his own.  He encourages the children's relationship to their "real" dad, while making sure to be there for them himself.  In some ways, he reminds me of my own husband and how wonderful he was with my children from a previous marriage.

There are really WAY to many blessings to name, but suffice it to say, I have been greatly blessed.  God is so good!

Menu Plan 11/11/12 thru 11/17/12

Well, after taking a look at the amount we have spent on groceries this past month I have come to the conclusion that it is time for me to begin menu planning again.  Things have been hectic lately, but I can no longer use that as an excuse.   Here's our plan for the upcoming week:

Sun. - Pork loin, rice, gravy, steamed broccoli, sourdough bread

Mon. - Leftover Rice and Chili from the freezer, tortilla chips

Tues. - Meatloaf, peas, squash, sweet potatoes, turnip greens, cornbread

Wed. - Leftovers or soup made from leftovers :-)

Thurs. - Chicken Enchiladas, Salad

Fri. - Soup (Taco & Potato), cornbread and sourdough bread

Sat. - Leftovers


Breakfast - crockpot oatmeal, biscuits w/turkey sausage, cold cereal, yogurt, smoothies, fruit, pancakes

Lunch - leftovers, sandwiches, fruit w/cheese & crackers,  soup

Snacks - popcorn, fruit, cheese/crackers, yogurt


As always our menu plan is subject to change.  Hopefully, I will be able to stay on track and "shop" our freezer and pantry for a couple of weeks which will really help get our grocery budget back on track.

Have a great week!