Bless His Name

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I just want to say thank you to the Lord for all the blessings in my life. He's been too good to this sinner and has given me a life I never imagined. I enter His gates with thanksgiving for:

~ my eternal salvation provided through the blood of Jesus

~ the Bible that reveals to us the mind of God

~ my husband and closest friend in the world

~ the privileged to be mother to three great kids; Cody, Josh and Hannah

~ the role of wife and homemaker that God has placed me in

~ the amazing adventure we call missions in Croatia

~ the contentment God has placed in my heart for His will for my life

~ my best friend Amanda and all she means to me

~ dear friends in the States and around the world that love us

~ our wonderful people here in Croatia that are true family to us

There are so many more things I could list but when would I ever get the turkey cooked? I'm also so thankful for the world wide web and the opportunity it allows for me to know such special people from all around the world. 

Hoping this Thanksgiving is the best ever!! 

Here turkey, turkey, turkey

The other day we were buying groceries and I was in awe at all the Christmas merchandise on the shelves. Christmas?? Hello it's just now October so why are marzipan candies and chocolate Santas lining the shelves?? I totally expect this in the all-consuming US to here in Europe they tend to be a bit more traditional. Okay so they don't celebrate Thanksgiving but they usually don't put all the Christmas stuff out yet either.

The all consuming dollar (or what ever currency you use) has pushed the God and family oriented holiday of Thanksgiving off the bus. Yes I did find some Fall-ish napkins but other than that it's pretty much jack-o-lanterns and Santa Clauses.

Along with all other Godly things in the world the holiday of Thanksgiving, set aside to, duh...Give God Thanks will soon be a memory.

I remember waiting till Thanksgiving night when all the hoopla was over and I would turn on the radio because the non-stop Christmas radio would start on Thanksgiving and then it was time to start looking forward to Christmas. Now since the red and green holiday is being forced down our throats so soon it just makes me a little bitter and defiant. I will as always not even think about Christmas until Thanksgiving is over. Okay so maybe a menu, early shopping or so but no red or green or little mangers will be displayed in our humble abode until the carcass of our half-eaten gobbler is cold!

Looking Forward → → →

So if you know me you know that as soon as Christmas is over I begin my year by looking forward to Fall. No, really I do. I absolutely love the whole holiday season. I love the crispness in the air, the warm sweaters, big pots of hot stew, smoke rolling out of the chimneys in the neighborhood and the overwhelming feeling of happiness this season brings. For me the pending celebration of the earthly birth of our glorious Savior lights the whole season. It fills the air with well meaning for mankind and a patience that alludes me most of the remaining year.

Anyhow, as I bask in the joys of the holiday season which for me begins the first of September, my mind is drawn to gift baskets and visits to the neighbors.

Okay so as much as that sounds like Better Homes and Gardens it's not always the case with me. Although I always have well-meaning plans I don't usually work hard enough or early enough to bring those plans to pass. NOT THIS YEAR!! This year I am on program and already looking forward to Thanksgiving.

There is a possibility, for the first time in Croatia that we will have Americans to share the Thanksgiving holiday with, maybe not but maybe yes. Anyhow I'm already searching for recipes and planning the big meal.

Today I made it to my favorite recipe site: All Recipes.com and found a goldmine of Thanksgiving recipes. What's really cool about All Recipes.com is that they feature holiday TOP 20s for all the holidays.

So here are the top 20 Thanksgiving recipes on All Recipes.com. BTW, these recipes were the highest rated recipes, rating 5 out of 5 stars and reviewed by more than 800 cooks each.

1. Banana Sour Cream Bread

2. Awesome Sausage, Apple and Cranberry Stuffing

3. Homestyle Turkey, the Michigander Way

4. Double Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake

5. Grandma Ople's Apple Pie

6. Sugar Coated Pecans

7. Sweet Potato Pie I

8. Pumpkin Bread IV

9. Yummy Sweet Potato Casserole

10. Perfect Turkey

11. Rosemary Roasted Turkey.

12. All Day Apple Butter

13. Pumpkin Gingerbread

14. Turkey Brine

15. Winter Fruit Salad with Lemon Poppyseed Dressing

16. Easy OREO Truffles

17. Chocolate Bar Fondue

18. Pumpkin Cake III

19. Alyson's Broccoli Salad

20. Pumpkin Pie Bread

Hope you find something new to make this year, let me know!!

Missionary Pecan Pie

I found this wonderful pecan pie recipe that takes no corn syrup. I called it "Missionary Pecan Pie" because it doesn't take corn syrup and corn syrup is most times almost impossible to find. Anyhow it had rave reviews and they said it was even better than pecan pie with corn syrup. Oh yea and if you don't like pecan pie...Bless your heart, I'll pray for you to get it right!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 eggs
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup chopped pecans

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, beat eggs until foamy, and stir in melted butter. Stir in the brown sugar, white sugar and the flour; mix well. Last add the milk, vanilla and nuts.
3. Pour into an unbaked 9-in pie shell. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes at 400 degrees, then reduce temperature to 350 degrees and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until done.

***Thanks Arlene, I'm a little blond underneath all this brown hair. No offense to you blondies out there!

Thanks Be to God!

I couldn't even begin to list all the wonderful blessings I have received from the Lord this year. He has been so good to me personally and I just want to acknowledge His goodness!!

I wish all of you out there in bloggerville and very blessed thanksgiving!!! I thought I would post a few poems and pics for your enjoyment. Have a great one!!!!

****************

It's Not About Turkey

Thanksgiving is not about turkey,

Stuffing and pumpkin pie,

Neither holiday hoopla,

Nor parades passing by...

Dare I mention football

With its endless string of games,

Being a couch potato,

Or a day off from work with pay?

Thanksgiving once was set aside

To bless and honor God,

To thank Him for His mercies

And for the land on which we trod.

Thanksgiving is a holy day

Sacred and set apart,

A special day of reverence

With rejoicing from the heart.

Family, food, and fellowship

Most certainly have their place;

But don't forget to bless the Lord

Full of love and grace.

-George Thurlow

*******************

But THANKS BE TO GOD, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ

1 Cor 15:57

*******************

T'was the night of Thanksgiving, But I just couldn't sleep
I tried counting backwards, I tried counting sheep.

The leftovers beckoned The dark meat and white,
But I fought the temptation With all of my might.

Tossing and turning with anticipation,
The thought of a snack became infatuation.

So, I raced to the kitchen, flung open the door,
And gazed at the fridge, full of goodies galore.

Gobbled up turkey and buttered potatoes,
Pickles and carrots, beans and tomatoes.

I felt myself swelling so plump and so round,
'Til all of a sudden, I rose off the ground.

I crashed through the ceiling, Floating into the sky,
With a mouthful of pudding And a handful of pie.

But, I managed to yell as I soared past the trees. . . .
Happy eating to all - pass the cranberries please.

*******************

May your stuffing be tasty,

May your turkey be plump,

May your potatoes 'n gravy

Have nary a lump.

My your yams be delicious,

May your pies take the prize,

May your Thanksgiving dinner

stay off of your thighs.

:0)