Thanksgiving: a Mary sort of day

I was so busy yesterday that I hardly took any pictures. But I like to believe that I was more busy in a "Mary" sort of way than a "Martha" sort of way. Last Friday I gave a talk to my MOPS group about hospitality. The basis of my talk was Luke 10:38-42, the story of Martha & Mary:

"As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

So in preparation for Thanksgiving, I really tried to practice the truths that I taught at MOPS:

1) Prepare to spend time with your guests

2) Relationships are more important than tasks

3) Focus on Jesus, and make it first priority to do the "one thing that is needed" (spend time with Him)

I started my Thanksgiving Day by having some quiet time in God's word and prayer. My time with Jesus gave me a peaceful heart, even with all of the preparations that needed to be done.

We were blessed to have 27 friends and family members join us throughout the day! I was so glad that my mom, dad, and two of my sisters (Lori & Kristy) and their families could join us, as well as Eric's mom, the Rochester Connor brothers and some good friends. It was a fun and joy-filled day. We have so much to be thankful for!

Of the few pictures that I did take, I have two favorites:

Above is a picture of Avery eating fruit loops for breakfast on Thanksgiving morning. Of all of the good (and I mean really delicious!) food that we had for our Thanksgiving feast, she told me that the fruit loops were her favorite :) I never buy sugar cereal, but since cousins were sleeping over we got it for a special treat. She was so excited!

This is Ella (age 7) sitting on the shoulders of her biggest cousin, Jake (age 17). Ella told me that she LOVED playing with her big boy cousins. The girls are fun too, but the boy cousins are really special to Ella :)

"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever." Psalm 136:1

Mix 'n' Match Day

One crazy kid...

... in a tye dye tee and striped sweater...

... with two different socks. And she wore it to school!

Isn't she cute?!

I Love Grandma (and I like her stuff)

This weekend we headed to my hometown (or "homestead", a word that Avery learned in school just this week!). We spent two nights with Mom & Dad Tillis and got to visit with my sister, Coleen, and her family, as well as my cousin, Mary, and her baby. One of the purposes of our trip was to spend some time with my Grandma. Grandma has been in assisted living for two years now, and, in spite of some major health concerns, she continues to enjoy life (or complain, depending on the day!). I told her that God must have some purposes for her life that haven't yet been carried out. Not sure if she believes that, but I'm certain it's the truth.

Mom and Dad have been really busy, cleaning out Grandma's house -- clothes, dishes, jewelry, valuables and keepsakes. I spent some time with Mom, looking through boxes and choosing some items that I can use, as well as things that bring back memories. One of the favorite things that I brought home is Grandma's recipe box. I can't wait to go through it! I love to experiment with new recipes, and I'm sure that many of the cards in this box will be familiar dishes that I've enjoyed since childhood.

I also got to keep several shawls and knitted/crocheted items that Grandma made. It will be fun to wear them and remember where they came from.

I love Grandma and pray that she will know the true, everlasting love of Jesus. Psalm 139 says that God "created her inmost being" and "knit her together in her mother's womb", 97 years ago. He knows the number of hairs on her head (Matthew 10:30) -- a number that is decreasing daily :) Grandma is "fearfully and wonderfully made" and all of her days have been ordained by God -- "they were written in His book before one of them came to be" (Psalm 139:14, 16). Thoughts about Grandma are precious to God -- He thinks about her all the time! (Ps. 139:16)

Thank You, O LORD, that even in the final years of her life, You continue to search Grandma's heart and You know her. You know when she sits and when she rises; you perceive her thoughts from afar. You discern her going out and her lying down; you are familiar with all her ways. Thank you, Jesus that she can't hide from your Spirit, and she can't flee from your presence. I pray today, that she would know you personally, and that You would lead her in the way everlasting. Amen