Happy Thanksgiving from our home to all of You!

From Living for the simple things in life

Happy Thanksgiving from my family to all of you!

I pray you all have a Happy and safe Thanksgiving.

I have been very busy getting my house ready to have everyone over tomorrow for Thanksgiving. We will be having 27 guest over tomorrow. My son and my daughter-in-law helped me come up with the menu and they called everyone as to what they should bring.

What a grand day it will be!

This is my our menu unless I think of something else that sounds good when I'm out at the store this morning.
Turkey (Jim, Lori, Bret and Jess)
Mashed Potatoes (Jim and Lori)
Stuffing (Jim and Lori)
Biscuits and gravy (Mom and Dad)
Cheesy Potatoes (Jim and Lori)
Green bean Casserole (Jim and Lori)
Corn Casserole (Bret & Jess)
Green Salad (Jim and Lori)
White Salad (Dad & Mom)
Veggie tray (Grandma H)
Relish tray (Matt & Jen)
Homemade rolls (Bret & Jess)
Lots of deserts
Pumpkin pie (Don and Kim)
Apple pie (Don and Kim)
Cherry pie (Don and Kim)
Pecan pie (Donnie)
Cupcakes (Grandma H and Mike)
cookies (Jim and Lori)
coffee with all the good stuff (Donnie)

I will be very busy the rest of the day and I am sure I won't be able to post tomorrow. I just wanted to wish all of you a safe and Happy Thanksgiving.

I am Thankful for so many things the list could go on forever. I have posted many posts about that this week.

I think the Word sums up what we should be thankful for.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you

My baby girl made it home safely last night! I get to enjoy her for a week. My son Aaron is overseas on his seven month tour in the Navy right now. I am sad he won't be able to be with us tomorrow but I'm so very proud that he was willing to serve our Country. You will be missed Aaron!

This truly will be a great Thanksgiving for me.

Be Thankful as Paul was Thankful

I really want to focus all my thoughts this week on being thankful as Paul was thankful.

We don't hear Paul say, "for health and strength and daily food, we give you thanks, O Lord." Paul makes no reference to the blessings we often speak of when we offer thanks--no mention of friends and family here. Usually we give thanks for something: I am thankful for good health, an education, a loving family, good friends, an autumn maple tree flaming red. We have been taught from childhood to "count our blessings," to be grateful for what we have.

In contrast, Paul invites us to be grateful. Simply be grateful. It doesn't mean we don't rejoice in the blessings we can count, but that our sense of gratitude is not dependent upon these things.

"Rejoice in the Lord always." With these words Paul helps us live into a different understanding of what gratitude is, of who God is and who we are.

Paul invites us to see God in a different way. I want to see "thankfulness" as Paul has seen it. This is a wonderful example for us to follow.

Phillipians 4:4-9:

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

"If the only prayer you ever say in your life is thank you, it will be enough."
- Meister Eckhart, (1260?-1320?)

"Throughout history wise men and women have encouraged us to feel grateful for what we have. Why? Very simply because gratitude makes us feel good. When you're feeling grateful, your mind is clear, and therefore you have access to your greatest wisdom and common sense. You see the big picture."
- Richard Carlson, Ph.D., (1995)

I am thankful that God has given me hands to type my devotion, eyes to see the scriptures and lips to speak to others about what God has done for me.

Being Thankful

With Thanksgiving coming up, I am reminded of God's goodness to me. My daily devotion today is on just that; Giving thanks to God.

I have so many reasons for being thankful to God. He has done so many wonderful things for me. Even if He didn’t do anything here on earth for me, The assurance of my salvation is good enough. Knowing that because of what He did for me on the cross has provided me a place in heaven if I except Him as my Lord and Savior is a good enough reason to give Him many thanks. Giving thanks to God is not an optional thing for the Christian. I am thankful to God for His love, care for me, and His provision.

I have many reasons for giving thanks to God but the scriptures gives many reasons why I should be thankful to God.

Here is a partial list from the Bible:

God's offer of salvation:

Psalms 50:23, 106:47, 118:21, 142:7, Jonah 2:9, 1 Corinthians 15:57, 2 Corinthians 2:14. 4:15, 9:15, Colossians 1:12, 2 Thessalonians 2:13 God's works and deeds:
1 Chronicles 16:8, Psalms 26:7, 75:1, 105:1, 107:22, 139:14, Isaiah 12:4, 25:1, Revelation 11:17

God's help for us:

Psalms 28:7, 107:8, 15, 21, 31, Daniel 2:23, Romans 1:8, 6:17, 1 Corinthians 1:4, 2 Corinthians 9:11, 12, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 3:9, 2 Thessalonians 1:3, 1 Timothy 1:12

God's character: (goodness, loving kindness, righteousness, truth, and faithfulness)

1 Chronicles 16:34, 35, 41, 2 Chronicles 20:21, Jeremiah 33:11, Ezra 3:11, Psalms 7:17, 52:9, 106:1, 107:1 8, 15, 21, 31, 118:1, 29, 119:7, 136:1, 2, 3, 26, 138:2, Isaiah 25:1, 38:18, 19

For believers thankfulness should flow naturally out of our mouths. Jesus suffered the penalty for what He did not deserve (all my sin), then freely offered to me the reward (eternal life) that I did not deserve. What an awesome God!


My goal is to be transformed into the image of Jesus Christ. I want to be more Christ like. As a model for us, Jesus often gave thanks for food and answered prayer.
The Bible does tell us to give thanks in everything. I often complain to God about all the bad things that have happened to me - things I did not deserve, and definitely did not want. How can I be thankful for everything? I need to first remember I have a God that answers prayer, I should never be anxious about any situation. Second, although things may seem to be bad, I am told that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose. Some examples of how God uses "bad" things in our lives can be seen from my personal story about Joshua, my husband's brain tumor and even more recent, my battle with cancer. God used and is using this to work in our lives to better serve Him.


Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth.
Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before Him with joyful singing.
Know that the LORD Himself is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving,
And His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him; bless His name.
For the LORD is good;
His lovingkindness is everlasting,
And His faithfulness to all generations.

I'll be back real Soon!

I'm still cleaning.....I'll be back as soon as I'm done! Hopefully by the end of the week if not sooner!

Cleaning for the Holiday's

I've been busy, busy, busy cleaning up my house. I started my holiday cleaning. I started with my front closet. I donated or threw away two big garbage bags full of clothes and junk. The guest room is all clean and ready for Rebecca's visit. My next stop is my boy's room! I have worked my way around the whole down stair of our house. The basement will be next! I'll make sure I take some before and after pictures.

This is the guest room. All neat and clean and ready for our daughter's visit.This is my front closet that I spent all evening on.
Different shot of the front closet.
This is the front view of my closet.
This is my living room. My husband moved all the furniture for me last night so I could wipe down all the windows and clean under everything. I then took the shop vac and went around baseboard and was able to get all the little things hiding in the cracks.

This is my Kitchen; The colors from the seventies but I love the size of the kitchen. I've been working hard to clean my floors and bookshelves. This is the rest of my kitchen. I'll show you a picture of the dining room when I get my carpet cleaned next week.

I am Thankful for so many Things

Have you let someone know how thankful you are for them today? : )












I love Thanksgiving and the Christmas holiday. I love getting together with family that I might only see once a year. It is that time that I get to see all my nieces and nephews, my sister and brothers, my Dad and mom and adopted sisters. It is always loud and crazy but I have to say I love every minute of it.

Here are a few things that I am thankful for today.

1. I am thankful that I have faith in God; for His sacrifice on the cross for my sins ; for His unselfish act of Love.
2. I am thankful for my Husband, my children and grandchildren and their good health.
3. I am thankful for my church, were I can go and Worship my Lord and Savior.
4. I am thankful that I get to see my daughter soon.
5. I am thankful that step-dad is doing better.
6. I am thankful for all of my friends, church friends, soccer friends and all the friends I have made through blogging.
7. I am thankful for my home, my front porch, were it has a swing that I can sit on to read my Bible and drink my glass of tea. It is a little cold for this right now.
8. I am thankful for all the beauty of nature- I love all the fall colors.
9. I am thankful that God still sits on the Throne regardless as to who are President is.
10. I am thankful for all the people in the Armed Services that help protect our freedoms. (Thank you Aaron and friends)
11. I am even Thankful for my Cancer; Because God is really doing a mighty work in my heart.
12. I am thankful for the jobs that the Lord has provided for me.

What are you Thankful for today?

Lots of Fun!

I've been keeping myself pretty busy lately but I wanted to post these recent pictures of my babies and give a little update on Bo's soccer team plus the Awana Grand Prix.

Boaz' soccer team finished second in his division. The boy's did a great job this year. I think Boaz is going to play indoor soccer starting in January. It has become a year round sport.

Boaz won first place in the Awana grand prix. That is first place in the T & T boy's and first place over all. He beat me by seconds, darn it. I wanted my name on the big trophy. LOL!! I have to get a picture of the trophy next Wednesday. He even wanted my favorite color (RED). I got stuck with green. I wonder if that is why I didn't win? Hmmmmm, there is always next year. Hee, Hee

I'm feeling good. I'm getting more and more energy back every day. YEA!!! Enough said about that.
This is Boaz the Pirate. He doesn't look like a very friendly pirate in the pictures.

This is, Donnie, my daughter-in-law's brother and the one who made the pirate costumes. This is Boaz and his hearty mate Joshua. Ahoy mate! This is my oldest grandson, Joshua. The blond pirate.
Oh no, it's Ba ba ba Batman! You look good, Ethan. This is my middle grandson.
Oh my! Here is my little Bumble bee, Jenna. She is so cute! Buzzzz! When we walked up to the doors, Jenna, would say. "Thanks for the candy". I had so much fun with her and the boy's.

Here is a picture of my lovely daughter and her work mates. They got to decorate their work stations to win a prize. They did walking with the stars! My star is the beautiful, and tallest women, she is the second one in, on the right hand side.

Pumpkin Pasties

I have so much to share about my weekend! BUT no time to share today.

My husband made these yummy little treats last week. I thought I'd share the recipe.



2 eggs, slightly beaten
3/4 cup sugar
1 1 lb. can pumpkin
(or 2 cups fresh, roasted in the oven then pressed
through a strainer to save your Pumpkin Juice to drink!)
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ginger
1/4 tsp. cloves
1 2/3 cups evap. milk (1 can)
1/2 tsp. allspice
9 oz pie crust pastry (enough for two single standard pie crusts)

Bake the pie filling only (no crust) in a large casserole dish in hot oven (425 degrees) for 15 minutes. Keep oven door closed and reduce temp to moderate (350 degrees F/180 degress Celsuis) and continue baking for 45 minutes or until table knife inserted in center of dish comes out clean. Cool on wire rack.

Make or purchase pie crust pastry. Roll thin and cut into circles approx 4" in diameter. Put a spoonful of the cool pumpkin mixture towards one side of the center of the circle. Fold over the crust into a half-circle and firmly crimp the edges closed. Slice three small slits in the top for venting, place on a greased cookie sheet, and bake only until crust is a light golden-brown. Great served at room-temperature, then you don't have to worry about your guests possibly burning their mouths from the steaming hot pumpkin inside! :)