Don’t forget THANKSGIVING!

We gather together to ask the LORD’s blessings…

The countdown to Thanksgiving Day marches on here in the great U.S. of A. Yet the closer we get to the fourth Thursday of November, the visible traces of the upcoming holiday become fewer.

The fall/thanksgiving décor and supplies in many stores has already been downsized or put away all together to make room for items of an entirely different color scheme. A few items in all their brown/orange/earth tones glory grace the bottom of the clearance cart and, despite my sadness that Thanksgiving doesn’t get the attention it deserves, I happily snatch them up. Because Thanksgiving is in full swing at our house.

Come, ye thankful people, come, raise the song of harvest home; All is safely gathered in, ere the winter storms begin.

On Saturday I rearranged the pumpkins adorning the front of the house in an effort to make them look more prominent and well… nicer. A few have showcased our landscraping just shy of seven weeks while the rest have stood guard for at least a month. Their bright hues have faded a bit. Some are riddled with the holes of rottenness—only visible from the back, of course. Several deemed too far gone found their way into the garbage. Those remaining, now dusted liberally with snow, will faithfully execute their duties until November 28—the day after Thanksgiving—at which time they will be relieved of their assignment.

Okay, okay, that’s a bit much, I know. But seriously, it seems every year Thanksgiving gets less thought and consideration. So for quite a while now, in protest of this chronic and worsening malady, Christmas is banned from our home until after we thoroughly celebrate and enjoy Thanksgiving.

Now please understand, we love Christmas too. Oh, boy do we! The decorating, the cooking and baking, shopping for gifts, and of course our annual Christmas picture and letter—the one my kids would weep endlessly about should we decide to skip it. Mmm, hmm. We go all out in celebration of the awesome gift of the Christ child—but not until Thanksgiving’s over.

The excitement of combing through recipes, planning menus and preparing shopping lists has begun for the three Thanksgiving Dinners we’ll share first with our church family then at two extended family gatherings. But tonight were feasting on all the fall-sprinkled pumpkin and leaf shaped sugar cookies our tummys can hold. No need for “DO NOT TOUCH” signs as this time these favorites are just for us—no special event or dinner or gift—just us. Yummmm…

I challenge you and your family to not skim over Thanksgiving in the rush to get the next, very worthy holiday. Savor the time with family and friends. Throw yourself into the celebration and take time to be thankful.

What’s your very best Thanksgiving memory?