Thanksgiving – Long walks and dark chocolate

When ‘Someday’ Becomes ‘I Did It

November 10, 2025 3 Comments

With God’s help and the support and encouragement from my husband, family and friends, I finally published a book. It’s a short, funny children’s book based on a poem that I wrote and posted right here, many years ago. It’s titled, “If I Were a Turkey“

I’ve learned that sometimes you just need to finish something, not because it’s perfect, but because it’s real. I had talked about this idea for so long that it became easy to stay in that safe space of “someday.” But there’s something deeply satisfying about crossing that line, seeing the final product, and realizing it’s yours. It’s proof that you followed through and that you can do it again.

The fear of failure can quietly hold us back from the very things God is calling us to do. Yesterday after church, I spoke with my granddaughter Cali about her lesson on Moses and the burning bush. It reminded me how God can call us in many different ways—often when we feel the most unprepared.

Granted, publishing a book isn’t anything like what Moses faced, but learning new software programs certainly wasn’t my idea of fun either. I had to figure out Canva, BookBrush, Kindle Publishing, and several other tools that were completely new to me. There were moments I felt overwhelmed and frustrated, but with prayer and encouragement, each task was slowly accomplished.

Moses had a profound fear of failure and a daunting task before him. Yet God’s response was simple and reassuring: I will be with you. Moses didn’t need to be perfect or confident; he just needed to be willing.

Each of us has been given gifts and talents by God. They are not meant to be hidden away in fear but used in faith. When we trust that He will equip us for what He asks us to do, our fear becomes smaller and His strength becomes greater.

Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.” Exodus 4:12

Filed Under: Christian, Inspirational, Poetry Tagged With: Bible, Christianity, Daily Post, encouragement, faith, faith journey, Family, God, Jesus, love, Thanksgiving

Come, Elegant Autumn

September 8, 2016 4 Comments

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I’ve said before that God created seasons because He knew we were fickle creatures who would get bored easily. My favorite one is Autumn so when I saw that the Daily Prompt was Elegant, I thought about the distinct beauty and grace of the season and wrote down a few of my very passionate feelings about the coming of Fall.

Come, elegant autumn and show off your style. I have been eager for your dignified arrival for months now.

Envelop me like a comfortable sweater and display for me the beautiful foggy nights by your harvest moon.

Tantalize me with the classic aroma of pumpkin and spice and not just on Thanksgiving Day.

Surprise me with briskly changing foliage before the colorful leaves are poised to plunge gracefully to the cool earthy ground at the first windy day.

Bring on your slight chill so we can forage in our closets for the stylish leggings, cozy boots and colorful scarves.

Let my eyes feast on the beautiful cornucopias, pine cones and amber colored candles smelling like apple cinnamon.

And be content to stay for a good long visit, you wondrous golden visitor.

Related stories: Come Autumn and especially October and Goodbye July

Filed Under: Family and Home, Uncategorized Tagged With: Autumn, cinnamon, Daily Prompt, fall, leaves, pumpkin, Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving

November 25, 2015 Leave a Comment

Sincere wishes for a beautiful Thanksgiving!

SONY DSC

Filed Under: Family and Home, Uncategorized Tagged With: Comfort food, Cooking, Thanksgiving

Share the burdens by loving

November 21, 2015 2 Comments

Everglades sunset

On this twenty-first day of November, I have noticed many “what I’m thankful for” posts and memes on social media. Since November is the month of Thanksgiving, we are reminded of all the things that we sometimes take for granted. It’s encouraging and uplifting to see so many people thoughtfully posting their thanks throughout the month of November.

We are a blessed nation, even in the midst of some of our current circumstances. However, I want to encourage all of you, my friends, that as we express our gratefulness we would be mindful that this is a difficult season for many. As the holidays approach, there are those without family, those who are estranged from their families and those who aren’t feeling too particularly thankful at this time in their life. They’ve lost loved ones, find themselves immersed in financial difficulty, they may be going through a separation or divorce, going through debilitating illness or watching someone they love fade away. You may know someone that just doesn’t have anyone else. This is life, and we see this year-round, but holidays can make these situations particularly painful.

I pray that we make it our business to search out, to find out who these people are in our neighborhoods. My hope is that as part of the demonstration of our thankfulness, we would reach out and somehow provide that feeling of home and comfort to the aged, the lonely and the downcast.

Many of us will bake and decorate, and our homes will smell of cinnamon and spices; we will surround ourselves with family and friends and feel that “thankful” spirit for our fellowship. Let’s spread it around; let’s be mindful of those less fortunate.
We can do this by our prayers and by giving, but it’s also in the simple knock on the door of a shut-in or a hot apple pie delivered to someone who might not be able to see well enough to do all the baking they once enjoyed.

Please feel free to share what your plans are to give back or things that you and your family have done in years past to share the love. If we all just reach one, there would be hundreds of smiles that might not be possible otherwise.

Love, Prayers and Happy November!

Filed Under: Family and Home, Uncategorized Tagged With: helping hand, love for people, sharing, showing love, Thanksgiving

Turkey Troubles

November 19, 2015 3 Comments

thanksgiving_turkey_pilgrim_hat

I wrote this a couple of years ago and I hope I have not misrepresented all the turkeys out there!

IF I WERE A TURKEY
If I were a turkey I’d start training in April
to keep from becoming a Thanksgiving staple
In May you would catch me honing my skill
on how to avoid those missiles that kill
There’d be classes on dodging a sharpshooter’s aim
and how to outrun those arrows that maim
In June I would learn how to camo my feathers
and to quickly blend in no matter terrain or weather
In July and August under hot scorching sun,
the training would continue, none of it fun.
In September things would get really hard
this is the month I am banned from the yard
Any fat has to go, that fact remains,
No more picking at insects or gorging on grains.
October would bring full starvation mode for me
I can’t afford to look at all healthy you see
When the dreaded month arrives, if I’ve escaped the fate of many,
you would think I could relax and enjoy and eat plenty
But no! December looms as dark as the winter,
and there are some who would have me for their Christmas dinner.
So still I’ll lie low and eat less than I desire,
to keep myself, another year from of the fire.
In January I will gobble and let down my guard
and enjoy my dinner and prance through the yard.

Written By: Lisa

Filed Under: Family and Home, Uncategorized Tagged With: Christmas, Dinner, funny, Thanksgiving, turkey

Pieces that fit just right

November 4, 2014 1 Comment

The Prompt: What is your favorite holiday memory?

My favorite holidays are definitely Thanksgiving and Christmas, but I have so many glorious memories! As I was trying to remember my favorite holiday memory, I searched the recesses of my brain for that favorite gift or that one special memory, but to place one above another just doesn’t seem right.

The memories all fit together like pieces of one big jigsaw puzzle. One piece brings me to another and without some, others wouldn’t have fit. They are all different, yet together they create a beautiful picture. Some lay the framework so that all the pieces in the middle will have a nice snug border. Some are in muted tones and others share vibrant colors.

I have memories from early childhood of opening that easy bake oven on Christmas and feeling like the whole world had been handed to me on a silver platter. A few years later, that Ultima 2 makeup set would rock my world. Somewhere between teenage years and adulthood, the giving became more fun than the getting and it was about finding that special something. With my own children came teaching them the true meaning of Christmas and baking together and surprising them with that one thing they just had to have.

Thanksgiving always reminds me of cooking with my Mom, with the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade playing in the background. After losing her, I had to learn to cook from her recipes and carry on the family traditions. Sharing the food and fellowship at Thanksgiving has always warmed my heart and the season reminds me more than ever of how much I have to be thankful for.

We are truly blessed and I am grateful for each and every memory and looking forward to making more in a few short weeks.

Filed Under: Family and Home Tagged With: Christmas, Gratitude, Holidays, thanks, Thanksgiving

Grateful always

November 28, 2013 Leave a Comment

The sun will soon rise, on this Thanksgiving Day

I’m up with my coffee, to read and to pray

The oven is buzzing, time to take out the yams

Next on my list, replace them with the ham

Ham is now cooking, time to start fudge

On Mom’s recipe card, an old chocolate smudge

This makes me smile and happy memories recall

Family cooking, playing, laughing and having a ball

The fudge turns out nicely, you never can tell

About half the time, my fudge is a fail

My phone begins ringing, my girls on the line

They will be missed this year, those daughters of mine

Topping fudge with pecans and peeking through oven door

My fuzzy socks dancing on my kitchen floor

Dancing with joy, Macy’s parade on t.v.

For all this and more, I am thankful you see

Green bean casserole is next and then my part is done

Then, it’s off to my sisters for more family and fun

This day a reminder to show gratitude always

Every day of the year, not just on Thanksgiving day

Filed Under: Family and Home, Poetry Tagged With: Children and Youth, Family, food, fun, Holiday, Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade, poetry, Thanksgiving

If I were a turkey

November 23, 2013 Leave a Comment

Turkey Lurkey says… (Photo credit: jelene)

If I were a turkey I’d start training in April

to keep from becoming a Thanksgiving staple

In May you would catch me honing my skill

on how to avoid those missiles that kill

There’d be classes on dodging a sharpshooter’s aim

and how to outrun those arrows that maim

In June I would learn how to camo my feathers

and to quickly blend in no matter terrain or weather

In July and August under hot scorching sun,

the training would continue, none of it fun.

In September things would get really hard

This is the month I am banned from the yard

Any fat has to go, that fact remains,

No more picking at insects or gorging on grains.

October would bring full starvation mode for me

I can’t afford to look at all healthy you see

When the dreaded month arrives, if I’ve escaped the fate of many,

you would think I could relax and enjoy and eat plenty

But no! December looms as dark as the winter,

and there are some who would have me for their Christmas dinner.

So still I’ll lie low and eat less than I desire,

to keep myself, another year from the fire.

In January I will gobble and let down my guard

and enjoy my dinner and prance through the yard.

~Yes! Another Turkey! (Photo credit: ~Sage~)

By Lisa

Filed Under: Poetry Tagged With: humor, hunting, poetry, Thanksgiving, turkey

Thankfulness in forward motion

November 3, 2013 Leave a Comment

On this third day of November, I have already noticed all of the “what I’m thankful for” posts on Facebook. I surmise that because November is the month of Thanksgiving, we are reminded of all the things that we sometimes take for granted. It’s encouraging and uplifting to see so many people thoughtfully posting their thanks throughout the month of November.

We are a blessed nation, even in the midst of some of our circumstances. However, I want to encourage all of you, my friends, that as we are thankful, as we express our gratefulness we would be mindful that this is a difficult month for many. As the holidays approach, there are those without family, those who are estranged from their families and those who aren’t feeling too particularly thankful at this time in their life.

We can do this by our prayers and by giving, but it’s also in the simple knock on the door of a shut-in or a hot apple pie delivered to someone who might not be able to see well enough to do all the baking they once enjoyed.

Please feel free to share what your plans are to give back or things that you and your family have done in years past to share the love.

If we all just reach one, there would be hundreds of smiles that might not be possible otherwise.

Love, Prayers and Happy November!

Filed Under: Family and Home Tagged With: Apple pie, Children and Youth, Facebook, Gratitude, Holidays, Home, nablopomo, November, postaday, Thanksgiving

Make a memory!

November 22, 2012 2 Comments

Good Morning! What is everyone up to? Some of you have been up since before daybreak cooking, cleaning, mixing, chopping; all to make sure that those families of yours have a sumptuous meal. Me? Well, I get off somewhat easy this year as I’m only responsible for about 3 dishes and a dessert.

I just wanted to remind everyone of a few things as we busy ourselves in the kitchen and wish we had 30 minutes to do our makeup before everyone shows up. It’s worth it…..it really is.

My mom was the quintessential Susie home maker, her nickname of Susie was very fitting. She labored over the stove for days before and the day of Thanksgiving, but boy, did she put out a spread. My sis and I are still more than satisfying our families with those same recipes today.

My love for all things Thanksgiving, is largely due to the time and effort she put forth to make great holiday memories and for that I am very grateful.

For all of you who are already tired, your back aches, you wish you’d had another hour to sleep, your manicure is ruined and the hot flashes are rearing their ugly head about the same time you have to check something in the oven, Well, you rock! You are amazing and you are helping to make memories.

Let’s remember to thank those today who put so much effort into pleasing their families and even those who just keep a spot on the sofa warm. Let’s be thankful for families and friends and do our best today to share moments, not things.

And above all, love, love, love. We never know what tomorrow holds, but we can act today. We can make someone feel special and loved. Check on your neighbors, take someone a plate, invite a new guest who doesn’t have anyone.

Have a beautiful, blessed Thanksgiving!