The Thankful Season

Have I mentioned that I love the thankful season? I love that there is a time set aside to express gratitude to God for His bountiful blessings.

The weekend before Thanksgiving, my “guys” went pheasant hunting in Kansas (with Mark’s Brittany Spaniel, Bandit). My husband, son, and grandson had a fun time, and Mark brought home a couple of pheasants and a quail.

Every other year, all our kids and their kids gather at our home for Thanksgiving. That is always a special time. On the off-year (like this year), their families spend the holiday with the in-laws. So, we missed our daughter’s family this year. But, since they live close to us, sometimes we get to have our son’s family in our home for Thanksgiving Dinner, even on the off-year. We had our dinner on Wednesday this year.

   

After enjoying Autumn Gold Pumpkin Pie and Pecan Pie, we shared our very meaningful “thankful-for” time.

Mark wrote a new praise song for his family to sing (all of those harmony parts), “Psalm 150.” It was incredible.

Encouragers

Sometimes God reminds me that He knows that I need some encouragement. He has placed several people in my life that are His instruments for delivering that love! Today, my daughter-in-law and granddaughter brought a little gift to church to give me. They had been shopping yesterday, saw this, and thought of me. Note that they didn’t just think about me, but they put their thoughts into action, and I was the recipient of the blessing today.

The Scripture verse on the plaque about FAMILY is especially appropriate. They know that I have been upset about a family member who is very, very ill. They wanted to remind me that GOD really has done great things for our family, despite attempts by the Enemy to draw attention away from that fact!

I do thank the Lord for what He has done for our family, through the years and up to today. I also thank Him for the Encouragers He has given me!

Thanksgiving Dinner Menu

I have always “posted” our menu in the kitchen for major holiday meals. Since I have been experimenting with digital scrapbooking, it has been fun to create the menu on a digital page.

We are thankful for so many blessings, and I love that there is a special day of the year to give special attention to that thankfulness.

Autumn Craftings

Experimenting with some new craft techniques is refreshing. For me, all projects must have an end-game. That is, I create not only for the fun of the process. While I do enjoy the process, it’s the product (or the output) that is my motivation. For me, the purpose for my projects is their ultimate inclusion in my scrapbooks.

I am having fun using Tim Holtz techniques and products. This is new for me. I created my first “tag” today, and will display it on this photo display plaque until such time as I find a place for it on a scrapbook page. This is my first “tag,” and so it looks lonely on the display plaque right now!

I used the Vagabond die cutting/embossing machine and Tim Holtz Tattered Leaves die to cut the leaves from patterned cardstock, and then inked the edges with Walnut Stain. The tag is embossed with a Cuttlebug pumpkin embossing folder. With the Tim Holtz Pumpkin and Acorn die, I cut the pumpkin on the Vagabond, from grungeboard. I then made a collage on the pumpkin with TH Tissue Tape, which I then stained with Spiced Marmalade and Ripe Persimmon. The Distress Ink pads that I used on the tag itself: Walnut Stain, Ripe Persimmon, Spiced Marmalade, and Frayed Burlap. The cardstock with the Thanksgiving words is from Tim Holtz Seasonal Stash. I frayed the edges and then inked it with Walnut Stain. The metal leaf is something I have had on hand for several years. I died the fabric tape with Walnut Stain.

I got some inspiration from tags I found for my Pinterest board.

Happy Veterans Day to My Hubby, et al

 May 25, 1968, Camp Lejeune, NC

My husband’s military service is a special part of his personal history, and as such, an important part of our family history. We were married in 1965, during the height of the Viet Nam War. He graduated from college in May of 1967, and having passed the qualifying test the previous winter, had been sworn in as an Officer Candidate in the United States Marines. He was commissioned as a 2nd LT in the spring of 1968, and after Officer Candidate School and The Basic School, followed by Supply School, he spent a 13-month tour of duty in Viet Nam. While in country, he was promoted to 1st LT. He was honorably discharged as a Captain, USMC.

My pride in his service to our country is only exceeded by my pride in his service to our Lord. But, stronger than either of those sources of pride, and foundational to both, is my pride in who he is. He served because he wanted to serve, because it was an honor to fulfill his patriotic duty.

One day I may write a book. For today, as we celebrate Veterans Day, I’ll just post a few pictures from the “olden days” – the days when military personnel and their loved ones could not even communicate by telephone, much less web cams, Skype, email, chat, etc. We communicated only by letter (real letters) for 10 months. Then we met in Hawaii for R&R. Then another three months of letters-only, before his return home. Yeah, THOSE “olden days.”

 

Nov 1967 Newly-commissioned 2nd LT Quantico, VA

  Training Exercise, Quantico, VA

May 1968, Camp Lejeune, NC

 

Following pictures are from Viet Nam:

    

   

 

Photos below: Having returned from overseas duty, Russell was presented with the Navy Commendation Medal, earned for meritorious service during a wartime situation.

 

Thanks to my honey, and to all who have served through the years, to secure and protect my freedom.