Unusual Thanksgiving Day

We didn't have the traditional Thanksgiving Day. I didn't even fix a turkey.

Our 2 older kids were in Arkansas and Mindy was working, so we went to the Community Thanksgiving Feast, a first for us. A couple churches put this on every year for anyone in the community that doesn't have plans. We went with my parents and Aunt Millie. (I was going to take a picture. Took the camera but forgot the SD card. Oh well.) It was a very good dinner!

Al thought it would be fun to go on a road trip. So we got our binoculars and maps and took off west.

We were surprised how many police were out and about - radaring. Wouldn't that be such a bummer to get a ticket on Thanksgiving??! Where is their heart of compassion on a day that is supposed to be a thankful one anyway? I mean, wouldn't a $200 ticket just rob you of thankfulness? Luckily, Al drove wisely and we didn't get stopped.

Here the sun was just behind the clouds. A very cold, crisp day, but not much breeze or it would have been miserable.

Here was our destination.




"Quivira National Wildlife Refuge is 22,135 acres of prairie grass, saltwater marshes, sand dunes, canals, dikes, and timber. Quivera attracts thousands of migratory waterfowl (including the American white pelican), providing them with food, cover, and a place to rest during exhausting flights between breeding and wintering areas.

During spring migration, Quivira is a staging area for over 500,000 birds. From September to December, up to 1.5 million Canada Geese, Ducks and Sandhill Cranes pass through Quivira on their way to wintering grounds along the Gulf Coast and in Mexico."



There were thousands of ducks migrating this weekend.

Endangered Whooping Cranes were there yesterday. We could only see them from a distance unfortunately. We couldn't get to the other side of the lake.

Blue heron

Prairie dog homes

It was too cold for them - they wouldn't come out to greet us.

We talked as we left Quivera. Wouldn't it be fun to plan a Kansas Day trip once a month? Where should we plan to go? I know we want to go to Gove county and also Barber county. We are open to suggestions for where to go. Kansas is just a state with so much beauty!

We went back to Hutch to grab a bite to eat. We were so surprised to see no restaurants open!! We were getting hungry! Finally we saw that Burger King and IHOP were open. We chose IHOP since we don't have one of those in our town. After a yummy meal, we drove to Pretty Prairie to spend the evening with Al's dad.

It was such a wonderful, although not traditional, Thanksgiving Day.

"It is good to give thanks to the Lord."

Psalm 92:1

Thanksgiving isn't just about being thankful.

No, it is about giving thanks to the One from whom these things come!

Back in 1863 Abraham Lincoln gave the famous Thanksgiving Proclamation. As one person wrote "You know, the one where he said that, despite the ravages of the Civil War, we should be grateful for those killer sales that soon will usher in a glorious holiday shopping season and kick-start the lagging economy." Ok, he didn't say that. That is a modern interpretation.

Lincoln's proclamation listed all the things for which Americans should give thanks to God, barely mentioning the civil war that was going on at the time. Instead, he spoke of blessings he said "are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the SOURCE from which they come …"

This past month, my friend, Debbie, gave me this book. I have been reading a page of it every day. I have been so blessed! The author writes "Giving thanks to God is a good thing, and we have so many things to be thankful for, don't we? The list is truly endless. And yet so often, just like you, I can get side tracked by the fast pace of everyday life or bogged down by the struggles I face, that I forget to stop and give thanks to God who has blessed me beyond measure."

This book has encouraged me to thank Him for all things. Have you ever given thanks for the person who picked the tea leaves so you could savor the flavor of your favorite brew (or in my case, the person who picks coffee beans! (yay Starbucks coffee pickers!) - or what about thanking Him for the factory worker who paints the pretty design on your pretty teacups? It is so easy to take people for granted. So thank Him for the people He has put into your life - those you know well, and those you don't.

Thank Him for the 5 senses He gave you. The touch of textiles, the taste of pumpkin pie, sounds of music and laughter, watching a sunset, the smell of homebaked bread.

Thank Him for His Word that teaches us His will and His way, that counsels us and strengthens us. For the joy He brings to us despite circumstances. His comfort when we are hurting. That He listens to our cry.

Lights

I really like our Lamb teachers at church(2-3 year olds)! Bobby and Jennifer are such fun! They love the kids and they love the Lord! (Bobby is at the far right) Jennifer told me last week that Bobby was doing some extra work hanging Christmas lights. Today Bobby came over and hung lights for us!

Allen was quite grateful. It is NOT his favorite thing to do.

We will wait to decorate for Christmas after
we celebrate Thanksgiving with the family on Sunday.

Speaking of lights - have you seen the sky the past couple of nights (if you live around Newton)

WOW!

What a creator is our God!!

Jesus said "I am the Light of the world.
Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness
but will have the light of life."
John 8:12