November 24, 2006 9:51 AM
Thanksgiving at our house
Here is our traditional Thanksgiving picture - shot just before we put the food on the table. This year the shaky ladder I've used to mount the camera was replaced by a real tripod! As usual, I set the shot, hit the timer, and ran the length of the table to sit by Tripp - a lot easier now that I've lost 75 pounds. Not to mention how much happier I am with seeing myself in the midst of my family.
Absent from the picture but not from our hearts are Matt - my 21-year-old son who lives about 90 minutes away but just isn't ready to come home for holidays right now - as well as my daughter Jasmine and her family. A new member to the family is Hattie, Josh's wife.
We had a truly wonderful day, including singing Thanksgiving hymns and Tripp telling the story of the first Thanksgiving as well as the story of our family as Pilgrims (since Tripp and I did not grow up as Christians, we feel it's an important part of our family's spiritual heritage to understand how God changed the course of our lives and how that impacts all future generations).
Kip and Samantha brought a DVD of their trip to Guatemala with video and pictures of our 11th grandchild. Until the adoption is final and they bring her home I can't publish any pictures of her. But she is a beautiful girl with huge dark eyes (as one of her new brothers said, "Where are the pupils?") and, thick dark hair and distinctive Mayan features. What a privilege to welcome her into our family! I am so proud of my daughter and son-in-law (it sounds so oddly formal to call him my son-in-law since I've known him since he was 13!) for being open to plans God has for their lives! This baby will receive a vast amount of love from many who are already bonded with and praying for her!
Funny, but when I became a believer I thought my life would become boring as I joined the ranks of born-again Christians - a group I never intended to be part of in any way :) -
And yet, it's been full of adventure and surprises. As soon as I dropped my own plans for my life and began to listen for and follow God's plan, life became richer - full of responsibilities and rewards.
I thank God that after 38 years of having it my way, I was able to surrender my life to him completely. Since then, my greatest asset has been an obedient and teachable heart. If I can give anything to my children and my readers, this is what I would most want to pass on.
As you reflect today on Thanksgiving, why not resolve this year to go deeper in your relationship with your heavenly Father - to be open to surprising things he might want to do with your life? I promise you, you will never regret it.
This blog is just one example of something with which God has surprised me. I give thanks each day for the people who read it and those who comment or email me to let me know that their lives and families have been influenced for the better. We all need all the help and encouragement we can get. My goal is to help you find the joy in being a mother that God intends to see you through each day.
Happy Thanksgiving to all! And blessings to all as we enter the Advent season together!
Posted in Inspiration, Mothering, Thanksgiving | Permalink
Comments
Happy Thanksgiving to you, too! Your family all gathered around that huge table is incredible to behold. You are (and I know you know this) an incredibly blessed woman. But I must know, as my own family outgrows our small table...where did you get such a large one? Is it more than one put together?
Posted by: Jennie C. | November 24, 2006 2:56 PM
Great photo! Happy Thanksgiving to you all.
Posted by: Spunky | November 24, 2006 3:32 PM
Thanks Spunky!
Jennie -
It's really two tables with all their leaves and pushed together. When y other daughter and her family of seven is here, we add a third table!
This is bigger than our dining room, so one day a year we change the furniture around so that we can use the family room and kitchen, which are seperated by an archway. We just run the tables through the arch. Usually this room has a little couch and my children's tables and chairs and learning materials.
Posted by: barbara | November 24, 2006 3:50 PM
just wanted to say that I am thankful for you, Babara and your wise counsel. Thanks for being there for all of us.
Blessings from the Balvanz Family
Posted by: suzanne balvanz | November 24, 2006 4:23 PM
Great photo! Sorry some of your family is not there but it is nice to see Hattie right in the midst of it. Our first year was hard so it is nice to see that they look very happy.
Talk to you soon!
Janet
Posted by: janet | November 24, 2006 6:22 PM
Thanks Barbara, for sharing your Thanksgiving! I can relate to your spiritual journey; I came to Christ late myself. It is always a joy to see the growth of those seeds in my children. Have a great weekend!
Posted by: Christine | November 24, 2006 10:34 PM
I love seeing your wonderful family!!!
Posted by: Miz Booshay | November 24, 2006 11:40 PM
Can we all submit our Thanksgiving photos??? I took one of our "big" family of 9 plus two guests although I didn't get to be in the pic. (I'm the family photographer!) Never thought to set the camera on the tripod! Another great idea from your blog! LOL!
Your family is lovely! You are lovely! Thanks for sharing your life with us! :-)
Posted by: Tara | November 25, 2006 12:24 AM
What a great picture!
I can't wait to see pictures of your new gradbaby, how exciting!
Posted by: Jasmine (not your daughter) | November 25, 2006 10:45 AM
Thank you so much for blessing me with this picture, I absolutely am so blessed by your ministry here. THanks! ~B
Posted by: B | November 25, 2006 3:42 PM
Thanks for a neat post, Barbara. It was fun to see a photo of most of your family!
Posted by: Laura Christianson | November 26, 2006 3:02 AM
Striving for an obedient and teachable heart is certainly something you've given this reader. Your honesty in your writing and your willingness to admit your mistakes have had a big influence on me as a writer, blogger, and person. Thanks!
Posted by: miller_schloss | November 27, 2006 2:36 PM
