I hope you enjoy my new “facelift”! You can teach an old dog new tricks! Sharing from our survey a few weeks back and would love for YOU to share your desires for the New Year in the comments too! Blessed Thanksgiving friends…

“Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.”

Psalm 106:1

Thankful for those who took the time yesterday to leave their testimonies of praise! 2013 may not have been our best year ever but we are still a blessed people. We have much to be thankful for. If we have a roof over our head, food on our table and clothes on our back (yes I know it is cliché; but it’s true) we are blessed!

Kicking off today’s testimonies with some senseless Thanksgiving facts! Most of them you are aware of but it’s fun to reminisce. Maybe one or two will surprise you.

Apart from turkey and stuffing, football and parades are the biggest Thanksgiving traditions.

The first Thanksgiving Day football championship was played between the Detroit Lions and the Chicago Bears in 1934…26,000 seats sold and broadcast nationally, by NBC…on the RADIO! But the American Intercollegiate Football Association held its first championship game way back in 1876 on Thanksgiving Day! Then the sport kind of resembled something between rugby and what we think of as football today. Who knew?

A ripe cranberry will bounce.

All turkeys & chickens have wishbones. (duh!)

Did you know one year in the United States we actually had TWO Thanksgivings? On Thanksgiving Day, November 23, 1939, Franklin D. Roosevelt carved the turkey at the annual Thanksgiving Dinner in Warm Springs Georgia. But many Americans were not celebrating with him. They were having their Thanksgiving the following day, which was actually the designated Thanksgiving holiday. You can read this story, which was all about retailers and Christmas shopping, here.

So blessed to share some of YOUR hopes and dreams for the upcoming year from my survey several weeks ago.

What do you want to accomplish in your spiritual walk in 2014?

To continue to grow in the image of Christ. “…as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.” 1 Peter 2:2 NKJV.

For my spiritual walk this year I am looking forward to my relationship with God being deeper and stronger than ever before. I also am praying that I will have the courage to use the gifts that He has given me in a new way. “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” 1 Peter 4:10 NKJV.

I would love to be less concerned about what people think of me and CONSUMED with Christ and staying focused on Him no matter what’s going on around me! “But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.” 1 Thessalonians 2:4 NKJV.

I want to grow more in His word. I want to memorize, utilize and understand the scriptures so that I can help build His kingdom to the best of my ability. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15.

Continue growing in my walk; continue encouraging the children to grow closer as well. More daily Bible studies with the children, plus we are learning Hebrew this school year! “You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” Deuteronomy 11:19 ESV.

This is from Joseph in Kenya: In 2014, we’re trusting God to be a busy year for us. We know He wants us to expand and be in the region He desires for us to reach here in our country and possibly even beyond. It is our prayer that He’ll give us the energy, strength and all the needs He requires of us to put this mission on its feet. Also, that He would send more teachers of the Gospel of Grace to His people that His work may smoothly progress under His guidance. Of course, all the other programs He has for us to be manifested to the glory of His name! “So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:9.

Read the Bible through in a year, and have a more consistent intimate time with the Lord each day. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105 ESV.

I want to see my daughter and her husband in the church so they will take my grand baby faithfully in 2014. “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6. NKJV.

I would like to find contentment in 2014, both in where I’m living and what I’m doing. I would also love the Lord to grace me with contentment as I grow older. 2014 will commemorate my 60th – yikes! “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” 1 Timothy 6:6,7,8.

I hope that I will be bolder in 2014 to share His truth in whatever way He leads. “Because of Christ and our faith in him,we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.” Ephesians 3:12 NLT.

Better time management so I always have my morning quiet time.  ^“So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.” Ephesians 5:15,16 NLT.

I want to be stronger in my faith.  I want to not be afraid of accepting and embracing the blessings that are being given to me. “The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him.” Psalm 28:7.

Do you see what I see?

Thankfulness.

Desire for growth.

Hope for tomorrow.

Reading the Word.

Contentment, boldness, faith, strength, prayers for loved ones, time management in order to draw closer to the One who makes it all possible!

No complaints! No grumbles! No judgment for others!

He is worthy of our praise and our Thanksgiving!

Most everyone is spending their day tomorrow with their loved ones in one way or another. Some with small gatherings, some with larger ones. Some are cooking their very first Thanksgiving meal, good luck with that. You know who you are!

Elisabeth is a nurse and most always has to work on Thanksgiving. Thank you for your sacrifice Elisabeth! When she does get to sit down with her family for their Thanksgiving meal, they open a jar that they have been contributing to the entire month of November, full of notes of thankfulness. They pass them around and read them out loud. Love this! We do something similar for Christmas before opening gifts but this is awesome Elisabeth!

Amy gets the award for Queen for a Day on Thanksgiving. She only has to bring the cups, forks, plates & napkins. How wrong is that?! (Love ya, Amy!)

Joan and Sue get the most envied award for the holiday. Joan is blessed to get to spend it with her son in a little house on the Columbia River Gorge on the Washington side! Doesn’t that sound beautiful! I have never been there but I am sure the views are amazing! Enjoy your family Joan!

My friend Sue took off into the wild blue yonder yesterday heading for Hawaii to celebrate Thanksgiving with her in-laws! Her MIL blessed them all with a wonderful trip to the island for this family holiday. Can we all be a little jealous? Soak a little sun for us Sue!

Wishing you all a blessed Thanksgiving friends. I will have a super short post tomorrow but know most of you will be too busy to stop by! I will be too! I have two turkeys and a ham I am responsible for plus the stuffing for 24 people, two pumpkin pies, coconut cream pie, seven layer salad, and My Three Sons’ requested Corn Cake. The rest of the family has much more to add to it! Thankfully I have four “chefs” who are better cooks than I am who will be here tonight to help. Love my kids.

One reader summed it up for all of us: “Traditional Thanksgiving is very low key in my family.  Just time spent together. Nothing big, no big feast or anything like that.  This year though, I have so much to be thankful for and have been celebrating my “Thanksgiving” every day.”

Wonderful.

Now how are you celebrating tomorrow? And what are your desires for 2014? Share with us!

Enjoy your families!

 Sharing with Homemaking Party, Women Living Well