A Thanksgiving Thought

With the Thanksgiving weekend rapidly coming to a close, I'd like to leave you with a final thought about thankfulness. I have heard this expressed in a number of different ways, and it always reminds me of how much I take for granted and how often I fail to give thanks.

"If God were to remove everything from your life, that you failed to thank Him for today, what would remain?"

Food for thought, and a little reminder to "give thanks with a grateful heart" this holiday season.

Flying High!

I'm not much of a traveler. The fact that I flew down to visit my daughter last week was very exciting for me.  It's actually been three years since I've been on an airplane. Before that? About fifteen years. So flying isn't something I get to do very often.

Last Saturday, flying home from California, I had a window seat...and I took full advantage of it.  As the plane gained altitude, I peered out that small window and almost laughed at the ridiculousness of what I saw.  Outside the window...BELOW me...were the fluffiest, white clouds.  Yeah, that's right, BELOW me! It was a carpet of white, rather than the normal ceiling of white that I'm used to looking at. 

Mountaintops peeking through the clouds.

Brilliant blue skies above the white clouds.

I was flying...along with a bunch of other people inside this giant bullet of a plane. And everyone just seemed to take it for granted! As we crossed over the vapor trail of another jet, I thought about all the amazing things we do in these modern times, without ever giving them a second thought. It's a little embarrassing how numb we seem to have become to the wonders of our age.

But on Saturday, I was taking in the thrill of it all!  Flying!  Perhaps not soaring as gracefully as the birds that we were sharing the skies with, but it was pretty cool, nonetheless!

Homes Sweet Homes

This past week has been wonderful!  I've had the chance to visit my daughter, Elizabeth, in California while her husband was out of town.  I know that I'm second-best and she's delighted to have her hubby back (after all, they are newlyweds!), but we've had a fantastic time together!

This is the first time I've been able to see Elizabeth in her own home.  Until now, she has either lived in shared dorm rooms, apartments, nanny quarters, or in a flat in St. Petersburg, Russia.   But now, as a new wife, she's finally had the chance to set up a home that is warm and inviting and reflects both herself and her husband, Joel.

As a mother, it's fun to see how your grown children establish their own homes.  Their individual styles and tastes are evident in every piece of furniture, every piece of artwork on the walls, and in the books on the bookshelves.  In a strange way, it feels familiar, yet so very different! It's all so new and just waiting to be filled with memories.

I remember feeling the same way when my son and daughter-in-law were married and I visited their first home together.  It was a sweet experience to see the next generation taking shape right before my eyes!

So, this week has been delightful. Elizabeth and I have done so many things that I'll need to report on in coming posts.  But for now, I'm soaking up my last few hours in this newly established home, so filled with love.  And tomorrow morning, bright and early, I fly back to my own home that is packed full of years of memories that led up this this wonderful week.

Thank You for Your Service!

First, I'd like to say that I didn't forget, I just didn't get to my blog to recognize the fact that yesterday was the Marine Corps' 236th birthday!  As the wife and daughter of Marine Corps veterans, November 10 never passes without a "Happy Birthday" shoutout from me!

Photo Courtesy of Google Images

But today is Veterans' Day and I would like to say "thank you" to the men and women of all branches of the service who have served this country at great cost to themselves and their families.  May we never take for granted the freedoms that we enjoy, for they were purchased at great cost and sacrifice.

So to these countless men and women, I want to express my gratitude and recognize your service to the United States of America and to her people.

Communion

Today was Communion Sunday at church.  With the autumn sun streaming through the windows, I watched as the ushers approached, stopping at each row to offer the elements to those of us waiting to be served.  With a mediative heart, I thought of the countless times I have shared this special moment with my Lord.

In my mind, I could see my dad's hands offering the Communion plate and cup to the congregation as he served as usher to our church for so many years.

I remembered a beautiful Sunday morning, sitting on the beach with fellow college students with whom I had just shared a wonderful weekend retreat.  We passed paper cups and whole loaves of bread to one another as we sat on driftwood logs and re-committed ourselves to God's service.

I thought of the first time for both of my children that I was able to help them partake of Communion because they understood what the elements meant and desired to take part in this most sacred ceremony.

There have been times when I taken Commumion while my heart was breaking and other times when it was bursting with overflowing joy.

So many different Sundays, so many different people with whom I have shared the sacraments.  And always...always, God has met me in those moments. Sweet communion, God's richest blessing for which I am so thankful.