I’ll have dinner with my parents, about a thirty minute drive from me, then maybe a nap at home and going for a walk.

My mother-in-law is coming from Kentucky today (we live in Indiana) so she can take our three girls back with her for the weekend after our meal.  Then I’m going to Kentucky, probably on Friday and stay with my dad and spend Saturday with my side of the family before coming back to be ready for Sunday services (my wife works the graveyard shift at the hospital on Saturday, so she won’t be able to go with me.)  It’s still very family oriented, esp. after moving about two hours away from family last year rather than two days away when we lived in Florida.

For the first time in 15 years we are not having Thanksgiving with family in Charleston, SC.  We are doing it ourselves and maybe with a friend in Ambridge, PA where I am attending seminary at Trinity and very thankful for the opportunity, but if anyone is looking for a project for the upcoming year…an Anglican seminary in the Charleston, SC area sounds like a great idea…How about it Kendall?
Go Packers!!

Well, now I’m in England today is a working day. The sum total of Thanksgiving for me has been the one or two Americans around here wishing each other “Happy Thanksgiving.” However, a commercial classical music station has concentrated on American composers for the day!

Neat of RichardKew to check in. 
Spending the day with hubby, 25-yr. old son (who currently resides here), and later 29-yr. old son, his wife, and their toddler who are coming for a late turkey dinner.  And I guess there’s a football game or two on today . . . .
Weather in the Dallas area is cool (42 degrees at 10:00 AM) and partly sunny.  Feels good to have it feel like Thanksgiving!

I spent the morning visiting Marines and Sailors who are standing guard over our nation’s nuclear submarines and strategic weapons.  It is a lonely and often tedious task they perform on behalf of all of us.  I for one am extremely grateful.  This afternoon I will visit another group posted in a secure location.  I will leave them and go to the galley where a Thanksgiving feast is being prepared for all.  The Navy chief in charge of the galley has kindly agreed to provide some meals to go so that I can drive a couple hours south of here to be with my folks.  “Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night…”

Over to my sister’s about 5:00 where I shall probably have to repeat for her kids the story about the time my sister threw a rock at me which hit me in the face, sliced through my nose and sent me to the emergency room.  My sister’s kids love that story since I have to tell it every time I go over there.  Looking back on it, it was an unbelievable throw.  Much more impressive than whatever they did in the hospital.  My sister could bring the heat back in the day.  None of this girl stuff either; we’re talking Bob Gibson high fastball.

We’re hosting Thanksgiving for our combined family.  My side is having its first thanksgiving together for at least 18 years.  Right now, there are 20+ (my dad, two sisters and one brother in law as well as my four nieces and my wife’s mom, her younger brother and his wife and various children and grand-children)  We just finished dinner of two different turkies (one on the charcoal rotisserie outside and one with the Showtime rotisserie inside as well as ham, dressing, sweet potatoes, green beans, and brocolli salad.  There are more desserts than people, it seems.

It was very hectic trying to get the dinner on the table and I am glad it is over.  Now we have to clean up and relax and watch the Cowboys game.

YBIC,
Phil Snyder

At home, just the family.  Traditional Turkey Dinner, then a nap, followed by family time. Tomorrow, BlackFriday expedition!

For the first time ever, I think, the family is not having dinner at one of our homes, because some of us have had to be away for a funeral and others are on the road (coming down from Red Bluff, Ca.  We are having it at the historic Claremont Hotel on the border of Oakland/Berkeley, with a great view of SF and the Golden Gate (if it will be clear).

I led a Thanksgiving Eucharist service—then came home—walked for an hour—took a nap and then spouse and I cooked a steak on the grill!  Some of our grandchildren went home last night—and going to California next week to visit others—so enjoyed time just the two of us! As we are on strict diets and the best part of thanksgiving is the fixins—we skipped the turkey!

We went to the Shanandoah Valley (Woodstock, Virginia) to be with my mom’s extended family in the year of her death.  Dad and my brother were there, as were all five of us, and maybe 200 Frenches of various ages and shapes, etc.  It was a wonderful time of fellowship.

I esepcially enjoyed a conversation with my Mom’s Aunt Marion who took me through what each of her nine children were up to.  I did not know until today that Marion grew up as an only child!

No Thanksgiving where I am, in Cairo, but we did just return from a dinner at the great pyramids of Giza.  Spectacular lit at night.  I’d rather be with our daughters, though.

It’s a sad Thanksgiving for my family, because my aunt died last Saturday—she went for a walk by herself on one of her favorite beaches on the Oregon coast, and must have been knocked off her feet by a sneaker wave and pulled under.  Her funeral mass was yesterday in Salem, so I threw a bunch of clothes into a suitcase and drove down from Seattle.

Now I’m at my mom’s house in Oregon for a small Thanksgiving dinner.  My sister and nephew are up here as well—they flew up for the funeral—and I’m happy to be able to spend the holiday with them although one would wish for a happier reason for it.

This Thanksgiving, I find myself especially thankful for the gift of family; both those on this side of the Resurrection and those on the other.

Ross, my sympathy to you and your family.  May your aunt rest in peace and rise in glory.