Thursday, November 27, 2008

THANKSGIVING

Yesterday in a phone visit with my sister, Laurel, she reminded me of special "Thanksgiving memories" during our growing up years. She recalled how our mother would teach school all day on Wednesday and then head to the grocery store when school was over so she could purchase the food necessary to begin the meal preparation for the next day. She did so much--including making all the pies--getting up in the wee hours to put the turkey in the oven--and now we think, "How did she do it all?" Thanksgiving is such a treasured time and our families have purposed to keep it that way.
Lest we forget, I believe it is imperative to reflect on those who went before us and were an integral part in our history and therefore our lives. The initial giving of thanks in l621 for God's gracious provision was followed by a time of such scarcity that history reveals everyone was forced to a daily ration of only five kernels of corn.
The first national day of Thanksgiving was declared in 1777--just one year after our Declaration of Independence from Britain. Earlier in the year the colonists had suffered many defeats, but then there was the victory at Saratoga. President Lincoln's 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation during the Civil War is monumental. President Lincoln set aside the last Thursday of November as a day of national "Thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens". The date varied some through the years and finally President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a bill on Novemeber 26, l941 that stated the fourth Thursday of November would be our national holiday.
For me, it is so easy to get got up in "daily events and responsibilities" that I forget what I should remember. May it not be this way today--Psalms 105:1"Oh give thanks to the LORD, call upon HIs name; Make known His deeds among the peoples."

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

MY FAVORITE VETERAN--MY DAD


Veteran's Day has been especially meaningful to me today as I reflected on my gratitude for all the veteran's past and present who have served our country--many serving with the ultimate sacrifice of their lives and others with horrible injuries both physical and psychological. As I was preparing to do this blog, I saw on the internet the heart-rendering account of a WWII veteran who finally, at the age of 84,
broke 60 years of silence on the atrocities that he and others had endured in a Nazi slave camp. It was all that I could do not to cry.
Today, I think especially of my dad who was a WWII veteran in the Army Air Corps--this branch of the service eventually became the Air Force. My dad wouldn't have needed to enlist as he and his father were farming enough acres that he could have received a farm deferment. Yet, he was so compelled to serve and do his part, that he voluntarily enlisted. When he did this, he and my mother were engaged. She was working at the draft board in Abilene and filled out the papers for his entrance into military service. Neither of them had any assurance that he would return--many did not. My sisters and I each have notebooks that chronicle the different segments of his military service. We also have a copy of a note that he wrote during this time that says, "I am happy today because in my pocket I have my New Testament and in my heart I have the love of the sweetest girl on earth."
The photo included is in the Dole building on the KU campus where they honor the WWII veterans. Donneta was so diligent to send this in and then Jason and Marci toured the building and took a picture of their grandfather.
So today I can't appreciate enough or adequately thank the veterans of our country. You are HEROES and my dad will always be MY FAVORITE VETERAN.

Monday, November 10, 2008

The Donut Lady!

A fun thing that I enjoy doing on Saturday mornings is making a "run"--in the car that is-- to Krispy Kreme for donuts. I get a dozen for Tim, Tad, and Tom and a dozen for my mom's assisted living house. This has become somewhat of a tradition and it is a fun way to make so many people happy! Now, when I walk into my mom's house on Saturday mornings, one lady calls out, "The donut lady is here!" They are all so appreciative. Last Saturday morning was especially delightful. One lady who is new at my mom's house said that it had been a long time since she'd had a Krispy Kreme; another told me how she looks forward to Saturday a.m.'s for the donut lady! My mom gets so happy and it is another chance for me to tell her how much I love her. (One Saturday when I had a schedule conflict and didn't get by, the caregiver told me that one of the ladies sat at the breakfast table for the longest time waiting for me to come.) I always say to them, "Happy Saturday"! and then explain that "The Donut Lady" needs to get back in her van and head north as her 3 sons are waiting, too! As I walked out of my mom's assisted living home last Saturday, I thanked the Lord for such a happy event. It has been so sad seeing the effects of Alzheimer's Disease in my mom's life, but my sisters and I have purposed that we will maximize this chapter in our mother's life with happiness and a "museum of memories". I'm thankful that I've had the delight and the privilege of being "The Donut Lady".