Birthday Pie this Thanksgiving Eve

Is this a Thanksgiving pie?  No... and Yes.  It was my birthday pie in September.  I often prefer pie over cake to celebrate my birthday. Following the lead of my 2.5 year old, it transformed from birthday pie into a pie of thanksgiving in a moment of Holiness. ("And a little child shall lead them.")

How fitting, as my little child loves to pretend with magic wands and poof one thing into another thing, transforming the first thing into a second, more awe inspiring thing.  

With delight, and with the help of her Daddy, she placed a birthday pie in front of me.  I took a deep breath, ready to blow out my candles, then paused... "Ummm, I don't know what to wish for!" I said dramatically, for her sake, yet sincerely asking the question in my own heart.  I continued aloud, "In recent years I wished for Samantha. Then I wished for Annabelle.  But I have both Samantha and Annabelle now and I don't know what to wish for now..."  A loaded silence filled the room, Chris, Kellie and Bryce, all witnesses to this scene.

Samantha stared at me thoughtfully for a minute. Then, with an air of sweetness and confidence that only a child can possess, she said, "You have to say thank you."

Jaws all around the room fell open.  Kellie sucked in the dramatic intake of breath representing the awe everyone felt.

I paused for a moment, my flesh struggling for only an instant.  "Do I give up my only opportunity all year to choose one important request in the presence of Whoever makes birthday wishes come true?" I silently asked my heart.  In the next instant, I smiled, the answer peaceful, obvious and wonderful, filling my soul.  "Yes, I said aloud, "My wish, this year, is to simply say Thank You."

And I blew out the candles.

The candle of  want:  GONE... "the Lord is my Shepard, I shall not want."

The candle of  worry:  GONE... "He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside quiet waters." ("Be still and know that I am God.")

The candle of  work:  GONE... "He restores my soul.  He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake."  

The candle of  fear:  GONE... "Yes, even though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me.  Your rod and staff, they comfort me. 

The candle of  hunger, sickness and thirst:  GONE... "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.  You anoint my head with oil.  My cup runs over."

The guiding light of all five candles, gone cold.  Warm darkness envelopes. 

The New Candle, visible only to the Eye of my Soul, comes into focus.  This eye opens, awakens, welcoming my 37th year of life.

Small Thanksgivings - A Delight All It's Own

Scattered all across this land today, my family is celebrating Thanksgiving together in spirit, but not in body.  Gatherings of 20-30 persons, that we all love so much, are dwindled to smaller numbers when life circumstances keep us from traveling.  This year it was going to be 8 of us at my house, but then strep throat struck and our number dwindled down to 4, including the toddler.
But there's actually something special about a Thanksgiving gathering of 4.  After all, "where two or three are gathered..."

Candy Cornucopia

Want a fun, easy food craft to make your Thanksgiving day sparkle?  Try Candy Cornucopia.  

This simple project has cheered me up today, a woman celebrating Thanksgiving away from home and bogged down with too many things to list here.  Sound familiar?  I'm certain most of us could say we feel bogged down with too many things to list.

Our Thanksgiving table is going to be simple by American standards.  Only 5 dishes, including the pie.  But at the last minute I've decided to include this party favor for each place setting.  I've never done this candy craft before, but it took me 15 minutes to assemble 8 plates, and it is delighting me from my fingers to my toes.

You can build this with any variation of candy you prefer.  What's in mine?  Three smarties, a handful of gummy bears, 2 skinny cow dreamy clusters, and a handful of jolly rancher sour bites. All stuffed in a waffle cone and laid on a paper plate.

My daughter and nephews are gonna get big eyes when they see this.  And I'm glad there will be one waiting on my plate too because I kinda feel like I'm 10 years old again at the moment.

Happy Thanksgiving!