Thanksgiving is less than a week away and the questions are in full swing, "So, what are you doing for Thanksgiving?" The question is really two-fold...do you have plans for the long weekend, and with whom are you gathering for the feast on Thursday? As a matter of fact, we do have plans for the weekend. ON Friday, we're meeting my family in Orlando (after most of them have spent 5 days on a cruise ship). It'll be a day of story-telling...most true...and catching up on each other. I can't wait. OF course, Elaine, has once again spear-headed this by securing restaurant reservations and hotel reservations for Friday night...all near the airport for the Saturday flights home. I can't wait for Friday. The only downside is that not everyone can stay after the cruise for lots of socializing, as a few have Friday flights home. Alas, we all have our own lives and obligations away from our extended family.
As to our Thanksgiving Dinner? Well, Thanksgiving is a 'weird' holiday in our home. We've rarely had anyone other than the 4 of us, and my children don't like turkey. Two years ago we were actually painting the outside of our house on Thanksgiving. The last few years the Imp has been invited to spend Thanksgiving day with a friend of hers. (Her friend is the only teenager in her extended family and having a friend helps the friend and the friend's parents). The Imp is invited because she's the only one who doesn't have 'family' plans of her own that day.
I'd inviting my little brother and his family for Thursday dinner on their way to Orlando, but their kids want downtown Disney, instead. I totally understand that. In fact, it will take pressure off me for dinner on Thursday. The Imp is asking for steak, the Singer wants shrimp. Hubby and I just want a day to relax and give thanks. I'm sure we'll play some family games...Mario Cart on Gamecube as well as some board games. I sometimes wonder if having so few traditions on Thanksgiving has deprived my girls of something. I don't think so. And we more than make up for it with our overabundance of Christmas traditions. I figure, whoever marries my girls will be able to dictate how Thanksgiving is celebrated, as my girls won't care. Getting them to cook a traditional turkey will be difficult, so I see them going to the in-laws.
Before Thanksgiving, we've got to get through this weekend. Tonight is our Marriage Ministry group meeting. And we go straight from there to presenting at an Engaged Encounter weekend. We've not presented at a weekend in over a year. It's always invigorating to 'do' a weekend, but I think this is our swan song. We're called to minister to married couples now, and as there is only so much of us to go around, something's gotta give. We'll miss it, and we value what EE has done for our own relationship. As is so often the case, ministering to others has actually been a ministry to ourselves. We spent months preparing our talks, under the guidance of another couple. We learned a great deal about ourselves. Every time we present our talks, we're reminded of our love for each other and how we've managed through hard times. We always feel closer to each other after a weekend.
The Imp is off on a homeless retreat this weekend. Her youth group goes to the homeless center and starts by feeding dinner to the homeless and then they themselves 'dine' on the same food. Then they 'camp out' on the enclosed grounds for the night. They're allowed to bring 3 items with them. Then in the morning they get up and prepare and serve breakfast to the homeless. This year the kids are lucky as the weather is unseasonably warm and they won't get real cold during the night, but it will still be colder than they are use to. It is always an eye-opening experience. The are so surprised to hear stories of the homeless, many who once lived nice suburbia lives.
Wednesday night we met with Sr. MaryAnn, who's taking the group to World Youth Day in 2011. I'm so excited for my girls. The best thing she said was that this is not a vacation or sightseeing tour but a spiritual pilgrimage. The girls will be meeting with the group once a month and completing spiritual exercises. So when they take off for Spain, even though they don't all know each other now, they will be a cohesive group that already has shared experiences. And better yet, both girls seemed excited at the prospect, too.
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