Thanksgiving and November's end

My husband hunted this year for the first time in over 30 years. He was able to get his two deer that he had licenses for. So I will be cooking venison again after many years. People have been helpful telling me how they fix it so we'll see how we like the different recipes.

Thanksgiving has come and gone. This was a hard one for me because of things I am struggling with and some things that happened right before our dinner. I did enjoy having the family members here that could come. Some things are such a tradition (being together with certain people at the same place and having some of the same foods) that I'm sure we would miss them terribly as they are part of the fabric of our being. I know that I have many many things to be thankful for and I need to begin showing my gratitude to God more often.

God is still "trying" to teach me things--like that He is in control; I am not. There are many things that I can't do anything about. Those are the things that are hard to just let be and wait for God to work.

A verse in our Sunday School class today spoke to me from Psalm 112:7--"He shall not be afraid of evil tidings his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord." I think I will start reading the Psalms daily--maybe in The Message. Maybe God can speak to this heart that seems so sad lately.

Deer Day

Tomorrow is November 15--deer day. It is like a holiday here in Michigan. This one falls on a Sunday but during the week often school is cancelled so people can hunt. This has been a beautiful sunny week but I have been sick and spent most of it in bed. I didn't worry about my work. I didn't worry about my worries. I just slept away the sickness--it was refreshing to not think about problems and tasks. Of course, it is not fun to be sick but a relief from other things.

Soon it will be Thanksgiving Day and then the season of parties, gifts, plans begins. Everyone stays busy until after Christmas and then you can't wait until January to just rest and get caught up on things you neglected during the holiday season.

I haven't planned anything yet for Thanksgiving or Christmas. I think I will be slow this year. Maybe all my presents will be money or gift cards. Those are quite easy and everyone seems to like them. I love to shop for grandchildren but they are getting older and harder to buy for. This year may be different.

I am directing the show It's a Wonderful Life. It is a great story and helps us to remember to be grateful for what we have and the opportunities that we all have to be a positive influence in other peoples lives. I have had a difficult time the last couple of months and pray that the next few will be easier and that I will learn whatever lessons God has had for me to learn in the recent weeks.