Category Archives: Thanksgivings

Thankful Thursdays #61: my wonderfully dysfunctional family

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Veronica

The last Davis family portrait (1999): Danielle, Lacey, me, and Mom and Dad in front

It’s been several weeks since I’ve written a Thankful Thursday post, but it’s about time I came back to my top ten list and gushed about #4. Admittedly, I ranked my friends as #4 and family as #5 on the official list, and I’m not going to edit it, but I feel that I’m actually more thankful for my family. We have no say as to what kind of family we are born into, and when we end up with a good one, I think that’s something worth giving thanks for. (Perhaps it’s not a bad idea to find something to be thankful for even if we end up in a bad family, because I’ve noticed that out of something bad often comes something good.)

Just like most families, mine has no shortage of issues. There have been and still are substance abuse problems, mental illness, verbal and physical fights, bad habits, cruelties administered and/or said in anger. But overall, I come from a loving family and one of the best things about us is that we do not hold grudges. We give each other plenty of reasons to hold grudges, but we always forgive each other and have just as much fun at our next family gathering as we did during the last one. We hurt each other, we drive one another crazy, but we don’t even have to say we’re sorry in order to move on. We just do.

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The Miller family 2007 (back): Al (FIL), Lance (nephew), Richard (BIL), Joan (SIL), (front) Phyllis (MIL), Carson (nephew), Dennis and me.

While Dennis got the raw end of the deal with his crazy in-laws, I got an unexpected blessing. I married into the “plastic family.” That’s what I used to call his family (behind their backs, of course-lol) because they were so perfect (like Barbie and Ken with their children in my childhood dream world), I couldn’t see how they could be real. A real family had deep and major issues, they yelled at each other at the top of their lungs, threw glasses across the room and pulled hair, the Moms threw their daughters through walls and had nervous breakdowns every summer, the daughters got arrested for marijuana possession and suffered from anorexia and binge-eating, the Dads were alcoholics, and every so often a 300-lb steel desk in the home of a real family would get thrown down the stairs. Only a “plastic family” could be so gentle, so understanding, so soft-spoken and happy all the time.

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Me holding my baby sister, Lacey...with a knife. Do you question the dysfunction?

I thank God for my new plastic family. :) Without them, I might have never known that a better sort of “real” could exist. It was in my mother-in-law’s kitchen that I first got the idea to start my Thankful Thursdays feature, while I was overwhelmed with joy to be preparing scalloped potatoes with her (something that will never happen in my mother’s kitchen). She isn’t as goofy as Dennis, but I think I can safely say that he got his wonderful sense of humor from her, and I’m thankful for that too. I love spending time with them all because they are not only kind and loving, but fun-loving and the laughter is always plentiful.

Now, that’s another thing my blood family has going for them. The laughter. It has seen us through every battle, and is perhaps our strongest bond. My Dad can find the humor in any situation, and in fact just recently was cracking up, and cracking me up, while telling me about a fight he and Mom had in which she locked him out of the house. He lifted his foot to kick down the door, but lost his balance and fell backwards, then couldn’t get up. Mom unlocked the door in response to his yelling, only to laugh uproariously at him before helping him up and letting him back in. My family isn’t the most functional one on the block, but hey, at least we can laugh about it, forgive each other, and love each other despite ourselves.

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Danielle, Lacey, and me

So what about you? Are you from a real family or a plastic one? And what about yours are you thankful for?

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Thankful Thursdays #60: finding joy in an empty nest

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Veronica

Today I’m so pleased to introduce Gina of At Home My Way, who is guest posting for me today. I almost titled this post, “Ding Dong The Kids Are Gone,” but that’s just my warped sense of humor and isn’t in keeping with the beautiful post Gina wrote about how she has been able to overcome the heartbreak of an empty nest and find joy in it, along with everything else that is happening in this chapter of her life. This is something that I might never know, which is another reason I was so glad to have her fill in for me, because most of the population will go or has gone through this at some point, and I can’t address it from my own experience. Thank you Gina for helping a sister out! :)

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To say I was shocked when Veronica asked me to guest post on her blog is a huge UNDERSTATEMENT! Wow! I was so honored…. ALMOST rendered me speechless (note I said “almost”)… Those who know me know that I am rarely speechless. LOL. I tried to think of something very specific that I am thankful for at this very moment. Of course, I am always thankful for God and my family. But, specifically something that I am particularly thankful for at this very moment is … that I am where I am! Sounds like the beginning of a Dr. Seuss book, huh? But, I AM thankful that I have made it to this point in my life; that I AM WHERE I AM. Let me explain…

At this season of my life (I’m 45), my children are almost grown (well… one is, technically). My husband and I both have good jobs with normal hours. With that comes regular paychecks (need I say more?). In this season of my life, I have all of my immediate family in the same state. I have been blessed with wonderful in-laws. There are just so many things that make me thankful for being who I am at this very moment, living with a mostly empty nest.

That’s not to say I was super happy about seeing these days arrive. Oh no! Upon dropping our younger daughter off at the University two hours from home, I cried like a baby all the way home. Not just weepy – oh no! I mean sobbing, hiccuping, crying like a big baby! I sat in the dark for two days until my husband came in, opened the blinds, and coaxed me out.

The kicker is that I never saw it coming. I have always worked full-time (plus commute time) so my daughters are fairly independent. What I mean is that I had lots of life outside being a mom (or so I THOUGHT! LOL!). But, when THEY LEFT? Both of them? Ickk – it was like a punch to the stomach. In one of my crying jags when I went to start supper one night I told my husband, “bbbb-but, I don’t have anyone to cook for anymore.” He chuckled (trying to calm me down) and said “Hey! Don’t think this means the kitchen is closed. The kitchen is NOT CLOSED!”

After only about five months, I am really warming to this idea of having grown children. My days start out pretty quiet. Days of rushing little ones out of bed, trying to get loads of laundry started or folded (before leaving the house at 7:15AM), finding uniforms, checking backpacks, delivering kids to school or babysitters, checking sports schedules, are gone. My husband and I have only ourselves to get ready. Wow! Yes, I do miss those little ones. I miss making bowls of Fruit Loops and packing Lisa Frank lunch boxes. But man, it was quite chaotic at times and I’ll have to say I enjoy a reprieve from all that it took to be a working Mom.

*I am thankful for calm mornings.

The next thing I am thankful for is my husband’s new job. My husband was always a self-employed contractor/carpenter. He now is a building inspector in the city where I work, which means I no longer have to trek icy roads alone. We ride together each morning (I tell him, he’s “driving Miss Daisy”). There was a time when we hardly had five minutes alone with each other. Now we not only get the commute to and from work, but we get to come home together.

* I am thankful for time alone with the man I still love to hang out with.

My parents always lived 1200 miles from me. I prayed but knew there would never be a solution to how they would come home to me. But, they did! They retired in Missouri. Not long after that, my brother and his wife made the journey back home.

*I am thankful for the time to spend with ALL of my family.

The final thing that I am most grateful for in this season of my life is that I have two bright, beautiful, and GOOD daughters! So many kids are lost these days. They have addictions and motivation problems. There are families I know whose children are just so lost – and I am so very grateful that my girls are motivated, hard working, healthy, and happy!

* I am thankful that my daughters are terrific young women.

When the day comes that you find your own nest empty. Try not to focus on the unwanted change that is thrown upon you, but look around at all that you have accomplished and remember what it is like to be YOU. And if you’re like me, its not long before the texts are chiming and the phones ringing and its one of your children saying, “Mom????? I know its 9PM and you are in your PJ’s, but I don’t want to go grocery shopping alone. Will you go with me?” (Sigh)… a mother’s work is never done.

Blessed is what I am – I have much to be thankful for!

Gina

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Thankful Thursdays #59: Looking back with thankfulness, and forward with hope

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Veronica

I’m so thrilled to introduce my guest blogger today, Jenna from Jenna’s Everything Blog. I really have no clue how I first found her, but I do remember the first post I read, an endearing & hilarious poem to her then-pregnant sister, and I’ve been hooked ever since.

As you may have guessed from the title of her blog, Jenna writes about pretty much anything and everything, including food and recipes, her family, her music gigs, photography, books, and her faith. Jenna is a rare and precious soul that is kind, carefree, positive, and loving. We share a love for food and family, and also a bond as sisters in Christ. Needless to say, this gal is pretty special to me. I hope you love her as much as I do.

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Hi everyone!

I’m excited to be here, and I love you all already. Why? Because you read Veronica’s blog, so you must therefore a) have good taste, b) share her great sense of humor, and c) love food.

I have been a faithful reader of Veronica’s blog for quite a while now, and I’m glad she’s getting her beauty rest from blogging this month so that she can recover and continue her mission of entertaining us, encouraging us, and giving us delicious recipes in the months to come! Blogging burnout is NOT something I wish on her, so even though I miss her daily posts, I’m thankful that she’s taking care of herself.

Which brings me to the topic of today—thankfulness.

I don’t know about you, but I love Veronica’s Thankful Thursdays posts. They remind me to keep my perspective on everything that happens in life—not just because I’m an optimist, or a generally happy-go-lucky gal (which I am, with a streak of melancholy to balance me out)—but because I believe the truth that everything works together for good for those who love God. He will use my circumstances, my skills, even my sins, for my benefit. Just like a loving parent, who will use their child’s mistakes and sins as a learning experience to help shape them into a better person and teach them something valuable for the future, God isn’t going to let anything—good or bad—go to waste. And that is surely something to be thankful for!

At the end of every year and the beginning of a new one, I like to look back and think about all the things that have happened, good and bad alike, try to see the big picture, evaluate lessons learned, and allow myself to imagine what God may have in store for me in the coming year. This exercise for many of us, with its writing down of resolutions and cataloguing of the previous year’s events, can sometimes be discouraging. For me, it involved reviewing last year’s resolutions, many of which I didn’t accomplish—or even attempt! For example, I was supposed to make this Sugar Cream Pie recipe. My husband’s Aunt Laura gave me her mom’s original recipe card, and I thought it would be meaningful to make it, since my husband had such a special relationship with his grandma. The pie is simple enough—but I never got around to it, dangit. (Please tell me I’m not alone in totally dropping the ball on something so simple!)

I also made a lengthy list of things to do this year, which includes some big projects and goals I have no idea if I will complete to my satisfaction. Honestly, when I look at my list I feel a little inkling of dread, like maybe I’m doomed before I even start.

The things that have been keeping me in check while processing all this are two: thankfulness for the past, and hope for the future. I look at last year, and while I’m disappointed that I didn’t get as much done as I could have, that’s not what I want to dwell on. There’s nothing wrong with going back and evaluating, but dwelling in disappointment isn’t going to get me anywhere. Colossians says we’re supposed to be “overflowing with thankfulness.” And the big-picture perspective that I engage in during my end-of-the-year musings is a perfect place for that to happen. I may not have made that sugar cream pie, but I am so thankful that I’ve had the money to make so many other meals for my husband, myself, our families and friends. I may not have blogged every single business day all year long—but that pales in my thankfulness for the wonderful connections I’ve made through blogging, the lovely Veronica being one of them, and the encouragement that each thoughtful comment has given my heart. God doesn’t remove his blessing when we fail—instead, he weaves it through our entire lives, through failure and success alike.

And with regards to the future and the newly minted 2012? Hebrews encourages us to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” And what motivates the runner into that perseverance but hope? Hope of finishing well. Runners don’t run looking back—they run looking ahead, towards the prize. For me, this year, the ‘prizes’ I seek are many, and I’ll be blogging about that in my own space at some point. But I want to get rid of my dread and look ahead with hope.

So anyway, I’d just like to encourage you all to look at the past year with thankfulness—and look at the coming year with hope. Go back to your list of New Year’s resolutions with those lenses, and see how it changes things for you.

Love you guys!

Jenna

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Thankful Thursdays #58: Guest Post from Kathy Hadley, Life Coach

Posted on January 5, 2012 by Veronica

Thank you so much for the comments on my husband’s first post, it meant a lot to both of us! Today my friend, Kathy, volunteered to fill in for the Thankful Thursday feature, and I gladly took her up on her offer, knowing how positive of a person she is, and how well suited she was for it. We have known each other for years and she has always been an entrepreneur, has owned and ran businesses nationwide, and is always ready for something new and challenging, which ultimately led her to becoming a life coach. That’s right, Kathy’s so good at life, she coaches others on how to make theirs better! Thank you, Kathy, for filling in!

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Don’t you just love this blog? I’m sure like me, you enjoy how educational, entertaining and fun it is–so I jumped at the chance to help Veronica out by doing a little guest blogging while she is taking her hiatus. I am honored that she is allowing me to share a little of my musings.

I am especially happy to be posting on Thankful Thursday. My view of life for most of us is we have so very much to be thankful for. I constantly feel so grateful, that one day cannot contain my great appreciation for all the blessings that have been bestowed on me. Therefore, I start and end every day just saying thanks for everything wonderful in my life.

Every day of Thanks for me always includes my wonderful family, all my great friends, all the many gifts that were just given to me at birth that have allowed me to achieve so much in my life. But for me, that isn’t enough. I am thankful for even the smallest things, like a new skillet, shower curtain, a smile from a stranger, the wind, so many little things—-and actually, I always have been.

Today, I am especially grateful for cultural difference in foods and people. All these differences allow me the joyful adventure of tasting so many different flavors and learning about so many different lives. I find people fascinating. They all have a story to tell and I am thankful to share in those stories. And these stories are more accessible to me now because of the internet.

The internet with its blogs and social networks has many wonderful features that I am very thankful for. It is because of it, we can easily get these engaging posts from Veronica and what allows me to be able to reach you now. Also, I come from a very large family and I doubt I would be able to be in such daily contact with my family without these advances.

There is so much to be thankful for, I could write on endlessly, however, I will just end with one more thing from this week: the warmer than usual weather.

Have a great week and remember, there is much to appreciate every day. Take some time and recall it often.

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Kathy Hadley is number 5 of 9 children from the same parents. Her parents have been married for 57 years. She has founded, owned and operated several businesses and is currently a member of the International Organization, CEO Space and is a Life Coach. You can find out more at http://kathyhadleylifecoach.com and are invited to her Facebook page http://facebook.com/kathyhadley22 and her Facebook Fan Page http://www.facebook.com/kathyhadleylifecoach

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Thankful Thursdays #57: my itty bitty sweetie

Posted on December 29, 2011 by Veronica

Continuing with my top ten thanksgivings, this one is expanding on #3:

“Here is where I would likely list my children if I had them, but my Jessie girl takes the number three spot because she is my only child. A dog-hater my entire life, it’s hard to believe how quickly she turned me around with those puppy grunts and her tiny tongue and tiny, dime-sized paws. Now, it is such a joyful thing to come home to her enthusiastic greeting every day. The big smile, the wagging tail, the soft panting as I pet her. I now fully comprehend the saying “dogs are a man’s best friend” because I have experienced firsthand how well-suited they are as human companions. Their devotion and unconditional love is something that we’d do well to learn from and apply to our own relationships!”

OK, as the title of this blog suggests, I call Jessie my “itty bitty sweetie,” but the truth is, she hasn’t been “itty bitty” for a long time. She’s a larger mixed-breed dog, and according to the vet, is about 10 lbs. overweight. Most dog parents are probably aghast that we have overfed our dog to this degree, but I’m kinda proud she’s not any heavier. It is really hard for me to say no to this face.

There is a song called “God Gave Me You” by Dave Barnes that Blake Shelton remade after hearing it during a low point in his relationship with his wife, Miranda Lambert. The chorus goes, “God gave me you for the ups and downs. God gave me you for the days of doubt. For when I think I’ve lost my way, there are no words here left to say, it’s true. God gave me you.” The song really is meant for a partner, but the music video applies it to other relationships (like mother-daughter), and to other random people God puts in our paths to help us through life (like an EMT at the scene of an accident). And that’s how I feel about my Bitty. God gave her to me, to us, because we really, desperately needed her. And we didn’t even know it!

Jessie was born on June 4, 2004, on our fourth wedding anniversary. It was a year after we’d been trying to get pregnant, and at that point we weren’t very concerned that it hadn’t happened. But God saw there would be a need to fill a hole, and helped fill it before we even realized there was going to be one, and Jessie certainly has.

My youngest sister, Lacey, rescued the last surviving puppy from a litter in a bad home, where they were starving the Mom and she had eaten all her other puppies to survive. Dad wouldn’t let Lacey keep her, and she asked us if we would take her since we had just bought our own home. Well, I had been an avowed dog-hater my entire life because I thought they were stupid and ugly, dirty and smelly, and worst of all, they barked at everything. But when I saw Jessie, who was rescued at just three weeks and was so young she couldn’t walk without falling over, I couldn’t say no. I couldn’t see the last surviving puppy go to the pound and possibly be killed there. So we took her home, and I’m so glad we did.

When we got her, Jessie was covered in fleas, and when she got sick a week later, we discovered that she also had worms. We got rid of her fleas and worms and gave her the nourishment she’d been lacking. (Her pot belly in the above picture is due to the worms, not fat.) I really became this fur baby’s mother, and would even wake up in the middle of the night if I heard her get up–once falling out of bed in my rush to go to her. She wasn’t fully housebroken until a month later, and I can’t tell you how many times I had to spot-clean the carpet and shampoo it.

She became the most horrible little hellion, biting, biting, biting, biting, BITING! She drove me to tears one night because she had been so nice to my sister while she was visiting, and then bit me bloody after Danielle was gone. She had so much energy, and we simply couldn’t walk/run, or play with her enough to diminish it. And she would. not. listen. Jessie chewed on the baseboards, ate our shoes, and our once clean carpets and floors turned into stained messes with dog fur in the corners.

I tell you what, this dog taught me patience, and to let go of my “clean house standards.” If I ever have a child, whether of my own or adopted, I can tell you right now that I will be a much better mother because I first raised Jessie. Marker & crayon all over the walls? I wouldn’t bat an eyelash. You should see what Jessie has done to our front door! (Dirt and claw marks out the wazoo.) It will never recover. And here she is, pretending to be so innocent!

Besides teaching me patience, her energy also whipped us into physical shape because we had to walk her an hour a day, minimum, or suffer the consequences (i.e. come home to a house that looked like a Tasmanian devil had spun through it a couple dozen times). Coming home from work became something I looked forward to, because I knew I’d have a puppy spazzing out with glee on the other side of the door as soon as she heard me pull into the driveway. There was something about her huge smile and heavy panting (something I’ve come to recognize as almost the dog version of laughter or an expression of deep-seated contentedness) that could fix anything and everything. Just her presence made me feel whole, even through all the tears of frustration as hopes of becoming pregnant were crushed month after month. In addition to my relationship with God, I really feel her presence helped me come to terms with our infertility a lot easier and faster than if we hadn’t had her as a “child” already. (You can read my sob story about our childless-ness here if you care to.) There is nothing like a dog head resting on your lap to make you feel better. :)

It has taken Jessie almost eight years, but her energy has finally diminished to what I would consider a “normal” level and she has turned into the dog I had hoped we were getting when we took her in. She is kind, loving, and best of all listens and obeys! I really never thought there would be a day when I would call her and she would come to me, even for a treat. But it’s here. And Dennis is glad that she no longer pulls his arm out of socket every time we take her on a walk. She walks at our pace now–a miracle!

Recently, Jessie was attacked by another dog at our vet’s office and her knee cap has been out of place ever since, about a month. She is on pain medication and glucosamine to rebuild the cartilage and we hope that it will go back in place on it’s own because otherwise she might need a surgery we can’t afford yet. Seeing her limping around gave me a preview of what it will be like when she is old, and has left me more aware than ever of how short a time we will have with her. At best, another eight or so years. I do not look forward to the day when I will have to say good bye, but I do relish every day we have with her. She is my sunshine and makes me happy when skies are gray. She not only fills the hole where children would be, but fills in every hole where sadness might lurk.

Jessie does this thing when she can tell I’m mad (well, it’s obvious, I start to get loud). She comes into the room I’m in and gives me a worried look with her tail wagging cautiously. Sometimes she’ll come up and put her head underneath my hand to make me pet her instead of yelling. She knows that her presence will instantly change my mood and it works every time. She is the magic cure. It doesn’t matter how mad I am, as soon as I see her expression and that tail, as soon as she puts her head under my hand or reaches out to me with her paw and pushes on my leg, everything bad in my heart flies away in an instant and I apologize and comfort her so she knows I’m not really that mad. What a gift!

I know I said Dennis completes me a couple weeks ago, but honestly, Jessie does too. Life wouldn’t be the same without her and I thank God for her. She is such a blessing.

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Thankful Thursdays #56: taking time to slow dance

Posted on December 22, 2011 by Veronica

Several weeks ago, I gave a list of my top ten thanksgivings. Week by week, I’m taking on each thanksgiving and expounding upon it, starting with God, then my husband. This should have been the week I told you all about my fur baby, Jessie, and why I’m so thankful for her, but I’m going to interrupt the regularly scheduled programming with something unplanned. Since I completed my year-long resolution to find something to be thankful for every day and report those thanksgivings weekly, I’m going to take advantage of the freedom I now have with Thankful Thursdays and give you something that wasn’t on the “schedule,” and hopefully I’ll see you back next week for Jessie’s time in the spotlight!

Slow Dance

by David L. Weatherford

Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round,
or listened to rain slapping the ground?

Ever followed a butterfly’s erratic flight,
or gazed at the sun fading into the night?

You better slow down, don’t dance so fast,
time is short, the music won’t last.

Do you run through each day on the fly,
when you ask “How are you?”, do you hear the reply?

When the day is done, do you lie in your bed,
with the next hundred chores running through your head?

You better slow down, don’t dance so fast,
time is short, the music won’t last.

Ever told your child, we’ll do it tomorrow,
and in your haste, not see his sorrow?

Ever lost touch, let a friendship die,
’cause you never had time to call and say hi?

You better slow down, don’t dance so fast,
time is short, the music won’t last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere,
you miss half the fun of getting there.

When you worry and hurry through your day,
it’s like an unopened gift thrown away.

Life isn’t a race, so take it slower,
hear the music before your song is over.

When I read this poem, I thought about how I’m always in a hurry to get where I’m going and deplore the ride. I hate driving, so Dennis always drives if we’re going together, and he then drives me crazy by observing everything around him instead of watching the road and going the speed limit. In an on-going battle with myself to be a better wife, I try to hold my tongue, but I’m still on edge, wishing he’d just hurry up and drive and stop reading the signs or pointing out things he sees along the way.

The poem is right-on. Life is so short, why am I in such a hurry that I can’t enjoy every part of the ride?

So last night, when we were both home together, which is a rare and joyful thing, and we were both getting ready to take Jessie for a walk, Dennis happened to push “play” on the CD that was in the stereo. I had put in Shania Twain’s Come on Over CD in earlier to find a song on it for a specific reason. I had meant to remove the CD and forgot, so when I heard Shania blasting from the speakers, I knew this was the perfect time to enact my plan that the “Slow Dance” poem inspired, even if Dennis was half-clothed and Jessie was waiting for her walk.

I skipped the track to “From This Moment On” and joined him in the office, where he was sitting and ready to slip on his shoes. I took his hands and brought him to stand in front of me. He was smiling at me but I could tell he was wondering what I was up to. “This was the first song we were supposed to dance to as husband and wife, remember?” I asked. We had both loved the song, but forgot the CD and our DJ ended up choosing a different song for us (Truly, Madly, Deeply by Savage Garden). We had never gotten the opportunity to dance to the song we had picked out.

Dennis laughed, and we embraced, and made a slow circle in the cramped & messy office as Shania Twain and Bryan White crooned in beautiful harmony. We stepped on each others feet, we laughed, we kissed, and we cried together, knowing how blessed we are to have each other.

It was probably the most romantic thing we’ve ever done, and I’m so glad I took the time to slow dance with my husband to that song for the first time in our lives, eleven years after we married. Though this speeding through life thing has become pretty engrained in me, I’m thankful for the poem that inspired me to slow down and take time to slow dance, and hope that I will keep it in mind next time Dennis almost swerves off the road while pointing out a hawk sitting on a fence post. :)

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Thankful Thursdays #55: true romance

Posted on December 15, 2011 by Veronica

Last week, I embarked on a new adventure in my Thankful Thursdays feature by taking the first of my top ten thanksgivings, and fleshing it out a little by sharing my testimony. Continuing the adventure, I’m now moving on to the second thanksgiving on my list:

2. My wonderful, most perfect husband. I always tell him he is perfect to me, because although he’s obviously not literally perfect, he is everything I need him to be and honestly, I don’t think there is anyone in the world I could love as much. I feel that I have been blessed far beyond what I deserve, and I’m so thankful for it. He completes me.

I was corrupted by romance novels at the tender age of twelve. (Is that a funny way to start telling you why I’m so thankful for Dennis? Bear with me! lol) My Dad has always had a hobby of buying and selling, well, pretty much everything, and I found a bookshelf lined with romance novels in our basement that he had been selling at the flea market. I snuck them away one at a time, devouring them and wondering if I’d ever find a man as wonderful as the ones in the novels. (I was corrupted, I tell you!) They captivated me because they depicted such colorful and passionate people, and relationships (and details I really didn’t need to be reading!) that were so much different than the ones I observed in real life.

The men and women were gorgeous, of course. Physically perfect. The men were tall and strong, bold, brave, always stepping forward to defend or rescue their woman when necessary (which was alarmingly often), serious, brooding, forceful in a take-charge sort of way, and passionate. Without realizing it, I came to believe that these men and these relationships were normal and what everyone had (except my parents, who I always knew weren’t normal-lol). I decided I had to have this too.

Dennis with his cousin Mike and friend Coz

The first time I laid eye on Dennis, I was seventeen years old (he was 30, total cradle-robber! haha) and had just started taking a class called “Personal Efficiency” at the Church of Scientology. Dennis was on staff as the Promotions I/C (in-charge) at the time, and we passed each other one day while I was exiting the church to go to the classroom behind it, and he was passing me to go into the door I had exited. I smiled at him as I walked down the stairs to go to the classroom, trying not to let my eyes devour him and reveal how cute I thought he was, and then looked back over my shoulder to check out his butt as he ascended the stairs and I remember being impressed with what I saw. It was pretty much lust at first sight for me! LOL!

Dennis and his friend Jack, the one who just got baptized!

At this point, I had never had a boyfriend, never been kissed by anyone other than my cousin when we were six years old, and was utterly convinced that I was going to die an old maid. I was desperate, and thus began a relationship with someone who was very ill-suited to me (picture a gothic emo dude that cries to Phantom of the Opera while screaming his ex-girlfriend’s name), simply because he asked me on a date. I was absolutely miserable in the relationship but was unsuccessful in my feeble attempts at breaking up.

Dennis, front left, with his band, Zencraft in 1992

Dennis worked with my boyfriend, let’s call him Dragon, and he started coming over for Dragon’s “Mage” fests. Mage is a role-playing game like Dungeons and Dragons, and neither Dennis nor I was very much into it (OK, so I wasn’t into it AT ALL), so we very innocently started hanging out together instead of at the Mage parties, with no ulterior motive other than escaping Dragon’s crowd. Dragon trusted Dennis and thought nothing of it when Dennis whisked me off to the movies every week.

Although the only time we had to talk was during the ride to and from the theater, I was absolutely thrilled and astounded that communication between a man and a woman could be so easy. So relaxed and comfortable. Dennis didn’t make me feel like I was an idiot, he actually considered what I said, and didn’t judge me. I found myself able to speak my mind rather than keeping quiet for fear of sounding stupid, as I did with Dragon. The exchange of ideas and thoughts was free and effortless, and just so…wonderful.

Dennis and I doing target practice (at my foot, apparently) in his parents' backyard, 1998. I want to make lots of excuses for this horrible photo, but I'll let it be. :)

After only a few weeks, my growing affection for Dennis, and the realization of how lacking my current relationship was, gave me the the strength I needed to end things with Dragon for good. But what I got with Dennis wasn’t exactly the story-book romance I had always thought I wanted.

Dennis took me to my senior prom, 1999

Let me tell you, if you have been corrupted by romance novels like I was, please do not let the men in them be your standard for potential suitors! If I had done that, I would never have married the most wonderful man I’ve ever known. Dennis is strong, sure. He has practiced martial arts since high school (check out his fab nunchuk skills–promise I didn’t speed it up–and part of his staff form in this video). He also plays the guitar, so he’s got the sexy musician thing going for him too. :) He’s intelligent, witty, and kind. But Dennis isn’t particularly tall, and although I find him very attractive, he’s not one of the tall-dark-and-handsome super-studs that parade through romance novels. He’s easy-going and probably wouldn’t recognize if I ever needed to be defended or rescued until I’d already been slaughtered. He’s a complete and utter goofball (you’ll also see evidence of that in the video), he snores to beat the band, is missing a tooth, tries to kill us every time he gets behind the wheel (or so I’m convinced), he lifts his pinky off his spoon when he eats soup, looks like Shrek when he wakes up in the morning, and his hair is thinning and going gray. Where was that in my romance novels?

What I found instead was something real, and with time I’ve come to realize it’s so much better than fiction. You won’t find any man in the romance novels suffering from food poisoning and curled around a toilet when his woman calls him and asks if he can bring her insulin to work because she forgot it. And him have to change his pants twice before leaving the house to bring it to her, because, well, you know, accidents happen when you’re suffering from food poisoning. (For the record, I did not know he had food poisoning when I called him! I would never have asked him if I had known. But he came anyway!) No man in the romance novels ever whined like a baby at the suggestion that he try a new food, or threw back the shower curtain and started doing kickboxing while wet to air dry, or tried to pee without using his hands so he wouldn’t have to wash them afterward, and ended up making a huge mess instead (that he most definitely cleaned up himself, thank you very much). I had no warning for what I got with Dennis, but my journey with him has been a complete joy.

Sometimes, as in the case of the Pioneer Woman (if you haven’t read her book, From Black Heels to Tractor Wheels, I recommend it highly!), real-life romance does live up to the novel and you get your beefy hunk that is so masculine that testosterone oozes from his pores and your knees go weak if you even sense he might be within 500 miles. Dennis and I did, and do even more so now, have a strong physical passion for each other, but it was never the driving force behind our love, like it seems to be in the romance novels. It’s more like our souls are linked together and I need him in my life to be complete. I crave him and relish our time together, no matter how it is spent.

What I got with Dennis is true romance. I really feel I took the most perfect man alive away from every other more eligible woman, but I don’t regret it one bit! He’s all mine, and I’m keeping him! :) And I really hope that every person reading this feels the same way about their partner. Or that, if not, you will follow Jesus’ advice that I have to repeat to myself when Dennis is about to push me over the edge with his antics (believe me, they’re not all funny or adorable): take the log out of my own eye so I can see the speck in his better to help remove it. (Matthew 7:1-5) So far, I’ve kept myself so busy pulling logs out of my eyes that I haven’t had much time to try to remove any specks from his, and I’m pretty sure those specks I’m seeing are just splinters left behind from the logs in my own eyes!

So there you have it, the concise “story of us,” and why I feel such gratitude for the man in my life. He proved to me that reality can be stranger (we’re an odd couple, all right!), and much better than fiction. I thank God every day for him.

Dennis putting the finishing touches on a coconut cake he made for me. :)

At The Flying Pig before this back room was turned into the massage room.

Paddle boating on the Arkansas river

Dennis was doing some Kung Fu moves with this bat'leth (Clingon weapon for you non-Trekkies like me) before I snapped the shot.

Us today! :)

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Posted in Dennis, Thanksgivings and tagged Church of Scientology, husband, love, romance, Romance novel, thankful. Bookmark the permalink.

Thankful Thursdays # 54: My Testimony

Posted on December 8, 2011 by Veronica

For the next five Thursdays, I’m going to be fleshing out the first five thanksgivings from my “top 10” list I posted last week, taking a deeper look into each and exploring them with you.

Starting with the first, I said…

1. God and his son, Jesus the Christ. I’m thankful for and to God for creating this beautiful world we live in, and for my life. For His immense love for His children, and for the salvation He provided to us through the sacrifice of His son. And I’m so thankful for and to Jesus who suffered so greatly and died for my sins so that I might have the hope of a heavenly afterlife. Before I was a Christian, John 3:16-17 was meaningless words to me, but now every one of them fills my soul with love and gratitude.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Hallelujah, praise Jehovah!

***

I recently got into a conversation with my friend, Jenna, about how she became a Christian and I ended up sharing the testimony I wrote on Myspace with her. Afterward, I thought I really should share it on this blog too! And this seems like the perfect time to do it. I warn you that this is long, and I know that not very many people will have the patience to read to the end, but I know it will reach those who it is meant to reach. To help reduce reading time, you can skip my uncle’s letter and go straight to the next bold heading to read my reply to him.

February 18, 2009

My testimony

My Uncle Robert sent me the following email, and my response comes after. I started my testimony, intending only to share it with him in response to his request, but realized I needed to share it with all my family and friends. And I invite you to share your story as well.
Love, Veronica
__________________
From: Robert Walters
To: ..
Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 1:54:56 AM
Subject: What happened to you ?

“There’s A wideness in God’s mercy I cannot find in my heart. But He keeps His fire burn’n to melt this heart of mine. Keeps me aching with the yearning, keeps me glad to have been caught in the reckless raging fury , they call the Love of God.”

No. I didn’t write that. It is the 1st vrs. of Rich Mullin’s song ‘The Love of God.’ When I first heard it I related so well to it I played it over & over…But why did Rich describe the love of God as reckless , raging fury? A glance at his life revealed that it was A bit unusual for A top christian artist of the 80’s & 90’s…..Yet, my experience with God was more like ‘peace, comfort & guidance…I.was puzzled, so I set out on an investigative journey to see how others who knew God might describe His love.

I came across A man, A rancher & farmer, who in answering the call of God , moved his wife & workers from their homeland not knowing where they wre going. They lived in tents & roamed from place to place. A pretty uncertain life, huh. His wife had A baby in her old age. One day the father and his son went up on A mountain to worship God.What happened there was probably one of the most awesome & moving worship experiences.ever recorded in history….Then, there was this woman, who sold her body to pleasure seeking men.I thought, what could A woman like THAT teach ME about the love of God? None the less, I continued my research. Much to my surprise, I found that at A crucial moment in her life , She stood taller and with more faith than any man who had ever paid for her company. In A city of thousands she alone turned from idols and chose to serve the God of Israel. She laid her life on the line to protect and to further the mission of the God’s chosen people..How quick I had been to judge this woman. She had experienced God’s love in ways I probably never will……I followed A soldier through the snow as he chased A lion into A pit. Then he jumped into the pit & killed the lion. He lived his life beyond the call and became the chief bodyguard for A mighty king of Israel…………I discovered A teenage girl, single, who became pregnant. She & her fiancée chose to keep the baby and raised their son in A small town where the father taught the son his trade of carpentry. One day the son did A marvelous work with wood & nails that many have tried to equal but have found they cannot….I heard of A tent maker who lived his entire life with A thorn he could not remove. He became blind for A while and during that time he was able to see more than he had before. Regaining his sight, he spent the rest of his life helping people, teaching them and starting churches. Sadly he was mistreated by many……Then A fisherman ‘caught my eye’ .His life was A whirlwind of ups & downs.One moment he was literally walking on water and the next he was sitting around A campfire denying over & over that he had ever known his best friend… What kind of man would act that way, I thought. A quiet voice answered, ” A man not too different from you. “……….

I sat back and pondered all that I had discovered on my journey when an alarming truth struck me. The kind that stings you in the heart… Could it be , that I would never understand God’s love in radical terms until I had first made A habit of giving His love away…. I have grown some, but still I find that I am reluctant to chase lions in the snow or to have the courage to stand up at A campfire and shout, “This is my best friend!” However, I can testify about the great things my friend has done for me, regardless of how I have treated Him. How about you ? I know God has done A mighty work in each of you, I have seen it and your story deserves to be told . When Christ delivers us, we become A song of redemption. I would love to read about your description of God’s Grace in your life. There is someone near you who needs to hear your story of redemption & deliverance——– so—– why not practice on me ? You & I….Are we so different from Abraham or Sarah, Rahab or Beniah, Mary or Joseph , Paul or Peter ? I don’t think so…..I love you all…….A A S G ……..Bob…………( anxiously awaiting your stories of Grace)

________….________

Here’s my reply to everyone. :)

My Mother raised me as a Jehovah’s Witness, but without Dad’s help, I didn’t flourish in it. He always was the more favorited parent b/c he was “nicer,” and I usually took his side in their arguments and agreed with him on most everything. So since he had no interest in religion, or at least Mom’s religion, neither did I.

I hated going to Church three times a week, hated being the only child who couldn’t eat birthday cake in school, hated having to sit through the National Anthem and endure curious stares. I didn’t want to miss TV shows that were on in the evening during the week and didn’t want to wake up on Sunday to get ready for Church. I disliked so many parts of being a Jehovah’s Witness that I lived eighteen years in “The Truth” as they call it and didn’t really know what the truth was.

Although they do have differences because of interpretations, a lot of what they teach is what other Christian churches teach, because they teach from the Bible. But I didn’t even know some of the most basic Bible stories after leaving the church (once I moved out of the house) and I didn’t know God. I knew he existed, but turned away from Him.

I immediately turned to another controversial “religion” and began worshiping my own power as a Scientologist. I didn’t need God, because I was the creator of the universe now. Scientology helped me come out of my shell and helped me with some fundamental problems like communication, but it wasn’t fulfilling, and what it mostly taught me was how to say “no.” Because I didn’t say it the entire time I was there and I was used and used and used. That left a scar that still hasn’t healed.

After escaping the Church of Scientology, for I really did have to run and hide for a while, I gave up on religion for many years. Little did I know, God was determined to finally find his way into my heart.

It started with a financial book I borrowed from the library that was written by a pastor. He told stories of how he helped couples with their finances and I was struck by his approach with them and how in using God’s word, he not only straightened them out financially but with their relationships as well. I was astounded by the changes in the couples and how loving they were to each other and the amount of respect they showed to one another. I wanted to know what he knew.

After reading a book by a man of God that had nothing to do with the Bible, I opened my eyes to the world around me, remembering a time when I recognized a creator. I realized that he was still there and had been all along. How could I have ignored it for so long? He was evident in all the green and all babies and all the living creatures. So I started praying to God, but still was a bit uneasy about going to church. I had never been to a “normal” Church and the prospect scared me, because I didn’t want to get trapped again, as I had felt in Scientology.

A year or so later, Dennis started listening to a Christian radio station while on his Krispy Kreme route (he is now in Quality at Convergys) and he got really fired up about God, realizing that after chasing after the secrets of the universe for so long (involving himself in witchcraft, new age religions, Dianetics & Scientology), he had finally found the same answer he had known as a child: God was the answer and He wasn’t such a secret.

At that point I had given up on God because I had prayed for a child and blamed Him when I never became pregnant. I knew this was silly and wrong (I didn’t realize it at the time, but I never had FAITH God would give me a child! Plus, I didn’t realize that God does everything in his OWN time but only if it is his will), and when I saw how excited Dennis was about what he was listening to, I suggested we start looking for a church. My separation from God was now something that I felt, and I didn’t like it. I had tried finding Him on my own but now knew that I would need some help.

A friend recommended I listen to Word of Promise, which is the New Testament on CD done with a full acting cast and with sound effects and music so you feel like you’re really there. As I sat at work with my ear buds in, listening to Jesus’ sermon on the mount, the tears began to flow.

“Do not judge lest you be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. And why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” Jesus, Matthew 7:1-5

Jesus has a way of pricking the heart, doesn’t he? I cried more and more, recognizing everything I needed to change about myself, and more importantly, recognizing how much I needed God and His word in my life.

I had read all this before at the Kingdom Hall (the Jehovah’s Witness church) but had never really READ it. As I listened to the story of Jesus and listened to him preach, I realized how wrong I had been to separate myself from a God that would do something so incredible to save me. To sacrifice his son so that I might have the chance for salvation. For said son to go so willingly, even while he was “deeply grieved, to the point of death,” (Matthew 16:38) because of it. Jesus had prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Thy will be done,” (Matthew 27: 42), and then when Peter cut the ear from one of the soldiers that came to get Jesus before his crucifixion, he said, “Put your sword back into its place, for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? How then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled, that is must happen this way?” (Matthew 26:52-54) Jesus had a choice, and he chose to follow the will of his father, so that we might be saved.

I finally fully understood the deep love both God and Jesus had for us, and how could I turn away from that?

After making a New Year’s Resolution in 2008 to find a Church, we set out on our journey. We knew we wanted a church that was nondenominational (although at that point, I didn’t even realize WHY that’s what I wanted but am now so pleased that God planted that desire in my heart), and that taught directly from the Bible with lots of Bible reading and references. Strangely enough, we didn’t find a Church that fit the bill until April–after four months of searching. But when we found it, I knew I was home. I still struggled with myself, scared that if I went to this church every week that I would become trapped again but I reasoned with myself, knowing it wouldn’t be a such a tragedy to be trapped in THIS place. :) I felt God’s presence for the first time in a long time. And I knew He had seen the desire in my heart and had led me here. Despite my fear of becoming trapped, the feeling I got being in the church of Christ was so much different than the feeling I got in the other churches. I learned from the Bible and felt love and harmony, understanding and forgiveness. I felt relief.

After starting a home Bible study with our minister, Jerry Blount, Dennis and I confessed Jesus, repented of our sins, and were baptized on June 10, 2008–six days after our eighth wedding anniversary. I cried, not understanding why at the time and feeling kind of silly, but I was overwhelmed with joy and knew that this was the biggest and best decision I had ever made in my life.

God has helped me through many things in just the short time I’ve come to know Him. He was with me through a difficult half-marathon, through financial trials and comforted me as no other could when my Dad was in the hospital. When I heard the news that he’d had a stroke, my world collapsed and I sobbed and cried out to God, praying for my father’s survival and for the strength to bear whatever was to come. After a good hour-long cry, I found the strength that I had asked for and was able to go to the hospital and be with my father, facing the wretchedness of his condition without breaking down again.

My sister was absolutely beside herself, unable to be comforted and though I was grief-stricken and bereft, I knew the reason I was holding it together was that I had someone more powerful than me to turn to and I was leaning on His strength. I knew that God would help me through whatever happened, and I prayed fervently for Dad along with the rest of our congregation and family and friends. And Dad has come out of it so much better than he had a right to. Without any permanent physical setbacks and only a minor speech impediment (his only deficit being the inability to read), those that do not know he had a stroke don’t notice anything different about him. And that is a miracle, especially considering that he had the stroke–a major one–seven hours before he was taken to the hospital.

Nothing I’ve ever done could make me deserve all the blessings God has given me–particularly the peace of mind amidst so much turmoil in this world. (Don’t get me wrong, I get upset just like everybody else, but I have now built a foundation on a rock instead of sand (Matthew 7:24-27), and God keeps me grounded.) And nothing I could do could earn a place his kingdom. Nevertheless, he sent His son as a sacrifice so that I might do so. It is incredible and astounding that He loves us THAT much. And I am determined to take advantage of the opportunity He provided for salvation by following His word, which includes sharing my personal story of His grace with you. (“Everyone therefore who shall confess Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 10:32)

I’ve defied and denied God, I’ve blamed Him for my troubles. I have done terrible things to people I love that will likely haunt me until I die. And yet He still forgave me and I feel His mercy and love throughout my days. He will always forgive us if we only seek Him and repent. His grace is an incredible thing.

If you are not a child of God, I know that He wants you so dearly, and we both hope you will become one. His love for you is written all over His word, which is the place to start if you are interested in learning about Him, and what you must do to become His child. Are you ready to accept God’s grace? Please email me at vraklis@yahoo.com if you have any questions or if there is any way I can help you in finding your way to God.

Love, Veronica

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Thankful Thursdays #53: my top ten

Posted on December 1, 2011 by Veronica

I started this feature over a year ago, and now that I’ve fulfilled my resolution to find something to be thankful for every day of the year (you can see all my past Thankful Thursdays here), I’m going to do something a little different this week and list my current top ten thanksgivings.

I remember when I was a little girl, I’d often consider my biggest priorities in life and it always went like this:

1. Food.

2. God.

Food was always the biggest thing in my life, even over God, and I never even considered my family or anything else. The mind of a child! While I’m still thankful for both those things, my priorities seem to have changed with the progression of time.

My top ten thanksgivings:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Hallelujah, praise Jehovah!

2. My wonderful, most perfect husband. I always tell him he is perfect to me, because although he’s obviously not literally perfect, he is everything I need him to be and honestly, I don’t think there is anyone in the world I could love as much. I feel that I have been blessed far beyond what I deserve, and I’m so thankful for it. He completes me.

3. Here is where I would likely list my children if I had them, but my Jessie girl takes the number three spot because she is my only child. A dog-hater my entire life, it’s hard to believe how quickly she turned me around with those puppy grunts and her tiny tongue and tiny, dime-sized paws. Now, it is such a joyful thing to come home to her enthusiastic greeting every day. The big smile, the wagging tail, the soft panting as I pet her. I now fully comprehend the saying “dogs are a man’s best friend” because I have experienced firsthand how well-suited they are as human companions. Their devotion and unconditional love is something that we’d do well to learn from and apply to our own relationships!

4. My friends. I had a hard time deciding if I was more thankful for my friends or my family and in the end, I think it’s about equal but for different reasons. I’m thankful for my friends because I had the freedom to choose them (as opposed to being born into a family), and/or we share a common faith which gives us a very deep bond. A single sentence or smile from any of these friends is enough to brighten my day, and that’s pretty fantastic.

5. My family. We have our differences, but family is always there for you and no matter how bad we hurt each other, we always forgive and forget. I don’t know how well that works in relationships, but somehow it seems to work with families. Or at least in mine! I’m thankful to have a family that doesn’t hold grudges because I’d probably be disowned by now. ;)

With my Dad and sisters, Lacey (back) and Danielle (front)

6. For the country I live in. I usually live in self-inflicted ignorance of the horrible things going on in other parts of the world, but some have come across my radar lately and it makes me even more grateful to live in this land of freedom and opportunity.

Two happy American girls: Danielle & her friend Margo in their high school days. Danielle really dressed like this every day! Only in America? lol

7. Jobs. My job, my husband’s job, and for the job of everyone I know. Not all of us may love what we do, but what a blessing to have a way to support our families! I’m especially thankful for mine because I am one of the lucky ones who love what I do…or at least I love that I can listen to audiobooks while I do it. :)

Pardon the ugly. And the crazy. :)

8. My health! My husband’s health! Jessie’s health! Everyone’s health! For the most part, everyone close to me is doing great health-wise, and it’s such a blessing not to have the stress of an illness in our lives right now. Well, other than my diabetes, but I’m also thankful I have a manageable disease! (I’m so singing “I’ve still got my health, so what do I care?” in my head right now.)

At one point my doctor marked “uncontrolled” on my chart, so this is a good sign! :)

9. Clean water and plentiful food. These basic things we need to survive and get so much enjoyment from, but not everyone has them.

10. My humble home. Small and in need of work it may be, but it shelters us through the storms, keeps us warm in the winter, and cool in the summer. It provides us constant access to running water, has conveniences like a toilet (remember outhouses?) and a refrigerator to preserve our food. It not only is everything we need in a shelter to survive, but more, and I’m so thankful for it.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalms 100:4

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Thanksgiving 2011 and No Recipes For You!

Posted on November 28, 2011 by Veronica

As an homage to the soup Nazi, there will be “no recipes for you!” this week. That’s right, I’m going to do an entire week of non-recipe posts. I love posting recipes and usually give them first priority, but I have several non-recipe posts to share and I thought I’d get through them before I get to all the December goodies I want to share with you. (Oh goodness, now I’m wondering if I can really handle this. I might have to cop out but I’m going to try!)

Let’s start with the Miller family Thanksgiving!

As we have every year since we started dating, Dennis and I headed north to spend the holiday with his family in Abilene, Kansas (Eisenhower’s birth place, the end of the Oregon trail, and the original “sin city” back in cowboy days*). Usually we stay over the night before so I’m there to help Phyllis, my mother-in-law, with all the cooking, but I couldn’t this year due to my work schedule. She still pulled off an amazing dinner, with some side-dishes and desserts help from everyone who came!

*You know, a long time ago, when the original cowboys freely roamed the Earth.

When I first started coming to Thanksgiving in Abilene, all of the extended family came to the Miller house for lunch, but the count has now dwindled as each family has decided to have their own separate celebration. What used to be utter insanity in the Miller house is now manageable thanks to smaller numbers. See our happy hostess below? That’s my MIL, Phyllis.

Dennis got his sense of humor from her. Here’s what I found when I went to reach for a plate. Bob is her brother, our Uncle.

Only a candy mouse for you!

The Thanksgiving ritual at the Miller home is to wait until everyone arrives, doing the final food preparations (cutting the pies, putting servings spoons in all the dishes, etc.) & chatting with one another while trying to pretend we’re not starving and ready to eat the person’s head off that we’re talking to. When everyone is present, including those that told us not to wait, Uncle Robert, of the mouse plate fame, leads us in a prayer of thanksgiving. This is Robert and his wife, Becky (they are parents to the four beautiful young women throughout my photos, three of them in the background of this one):

We then let the elderly and the youngest go through the kitchen first to fill their plates. The rest of us continue to play nice and pretend we’re not eying the forearms of our family members and envisioning them as turkey legs.

And then the glorious moment arrives when we all sit down and eat!

That's Dennis' Dad, Al, who had to be censored! LOL!

This year I brought praline sweet potato pie and pumpkin pie…

pumpkin pie truffles…

corn pudding…

and broccoli-cauliflower bake, which I didn’t photograph separately, but there’s a bit of it on the back center-left of my loaded plate.

I forgot to take a picture of my dessert plate, but I was overjoyed that cousin Jessica (the one helping her two little boys with their plates above) brought pecan pie. It’s my favorite but I never make it for that reason, so I always hope to find it at Thanksgiving, the one time a year I allow myself to eat this evil, but delicious, pie. I also didn’t photograph the Thanksgiving staples (turkey, ham, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, rolls, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, creamed corn) except the ones that made it to my plate, but I did get the other side dishes:

Jessica brought this rad turkey vegetable tray!

After we eat, the men continue watching their football game…

the children divide and conquer playing fields of their own creating…

and the adults continue to chat. Katerina amused us for a while with her Smartphone as we looked up music videos on it.

Loved this photo of Katerina, Tessa, and their nephew Greyson! He’s such a cutie!

While most of the young adults eventually moved outside to do sports-like activities, I followed them outdoors and exercised my forefinger taking pictures instead. I’m pretty sure if I had tried to join them in volleying balls and whatever other sports-like nonsense they were up to, I would have broken my eyebrow or something, and I’m kind of fond of my eyebrows.

Here’s a photo I shot outside of Robert and Becky’s girls while they weren’t busy flinging balls or Frisbees or other various and sundry things in the air. Left to right: Andrea, Tessa, Katerina, and Jessica. Andrea and Jessica are responsible for all the kiddos at our gathering.

I loved this photo so much I had a little Thanksgiving-themed fun with it!

I managed to pass the camera off to get a photo with my TALL and handsome nephews, Carson (left) and Lance:

and with their Mom, the best sister-in-law in the world, Joan:

You can tell how much fun she is by her smile! :) Oh, and if you’re wondering about my shirt, the front says “How do you mail a turkey?”

“Bird” class mail, of course! Hardy har har! :) Working for the postal service, I couldn’t resist, even if it is super lame.

I took this photo right inside the door at an Abilene restaurant called Joe Snuffy’s the day after Thanksgiving. I thought it quite fitting for this holiday, which is mainly spent with family around a table.

I know that we love to use Thanksgiving as an excuse to pig out, but when it comes down to it, most of us aren’t thinking about food when we think of what we’re truly thankful for. Usually it’s the people surrounding us during this holiday that we’re most thankful for.

I happened to catch the Thanksgiving episode of “The Middle” where the wife was flipping because everyone was cancelling their travel plans to join hers on Thanksgiving. “Thanksgiving without family is just overeating!” she exclaimed, and I had to laugh. It’s so true. We love Thanksgiving because of the plentiful food, but we love it even more because it gives us a reason to gather together with the ones we love.

Thank God for so many reasons to be thankful. :)