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Post Turkey Days

Five pounds and 3 days later, the wonderful smells of Thanksgiving dinner have left our house and the raunchy smell of leftover turkey has overtaken the fridge! I am done w/ turkey for a few months.. BBQ ribs or steaks for Christmas dinner is my vote!!! We have a lot to be thankful for. As we went around the table the most prominent word that came up was "family". We are very thankful for family.

Most of the days activities: watching football, eating, resting, eating, playing games, eating, family football, eating, and then thanksgiving dinner, rest, dessert.

OK, the alarm was set for 4:30AM for Friday morning..... Time out of the house 9:30AM..... Yes we slept in, just couldn't see getting in lines that early. We gave it a good thought but NO GO. Still got some great deals and had fun.

Got to spend some time w/ great friends and staff over the holiday. We all love competitive games, so it makes for a really great time.

OK, I have to tell a quick story about shopping. We purchased some gifts at a local store. As we were leaving, the door greeter asked us to stop and look at our receipt. (at this particular store, they don't check them often) and so we obliged the greeters. I was a little curious, so I asked what the special occasion was? Why are they stopping us? She said it was because I had a "beanie" on. (honest lady) People, it was about 25 degrees outside and I have a bald head. She was straight up judging me by what I had on my head! Sadly, in this ladies eyes, all people w/ beanies must be thieves or be up to no good. I just smiled and laughed inside...... and a little out. Poor lady......

* Anticipating great things tomorrow morning!!!

* Quote of the week..... Swing for the fence or go back to the dugout!!

-Peace

A Few Random Thanksgiving Eve Thoughts

WOW! The Feast of Turkey is drawing near, I can smell it already.

* Its really the first day of cold weather in GJ today (45/21) and it feels great. Last thanksgiving in SoCal I think it was about 85 degrees.

* I came home to my lovely wife baking my hugmongous birthday cake. Twenty inches in diameter, double stacked w/ mouth watering homemade chocolate butter frosting!! YES!

* Londy made my other favorite, "fruity crispy's".... she knows how to get to my heart...

* Dray made "puppy chow" ... chex mix, covered in chocolate and coated w/ powdered sugar.. way to go Dray!

* Went ahead and winterized the swamp cooler today. Thought I should get it done since it is going to freeze tonight.

I was able to brainstorm w/ a couple of friends and fellow pastors today... I really love getting together w/ these guys and picking each others brain and challenging each other. I can see the sparks flying and wheels turning in each of us. God is good all the time.

* Tomorrow will be a lot about the rest.. just like this verse...

* Quote of the week... Swing for the fence or go back to the dugout!

* We played a new game called Buzz Word tonight, of course the men dominated!!

* Look forward to the food, football games, parades and family!

-Peace

Getting Thanksgiving Back

I visited our new Focus college group that meets on Wednesdays @ 7pm last night. Pastor Glenn did a great job creating a worship atmosphere. Dim lights and an acoustic guitar, set the perfect atmosphere for praise and thanksgiving.

I wanted to hit on a few points of his topic "Getting Thanksgiving Back!"

Key verses were Psalm 69:30 and Philippians 4:4 w/ both verses emphasizing on "thanksgiving" of course.

* Winter comes in our life from time to time, are we ready to thank God in the winter times. Will we let old man winter steal our thanksgiving? Will we be strong enough to stand and "Thank God" when the winter storms come? Will YOU be strong enough to stand?

* Thanksgiving is a renewable resource

* Reciprocal Thanksgiving

* Have a spirit of Thanksgiving daily

* Invest our Thanksgiving to God

* Don't be caught in the "neutral zone" of Thanks

* Actively give Thanks

* Praise and Thank your way through it

Don't look at it as just another "food day", get your Thanksgiving back!

Great job Glenn!!

Great job Tyler B!!!

Peace-