BLACK FRIDAY

it was an oh so delectable

THANKSGIVING 

DINNER.

the discomfort of all

the magnificently rich and homecooked

comfort food,

began to be unbearable

step one: undo the pants

or at least change into the expandables

step two: rolaids

step three: lie down

step four: hang the 

"DO NOT DISTURB" sign

naturally, noah did not overeat

and so he was not uncomfortable

and he still has some good ol' energizer bunny in him.

grandma and grandpa

decided to stay a bit longer

and agreed to deliver him to our home.

i was just bordering on comfortable

when noah

burst through the door

"come on...get dressed...it is 

BLACK FRIDAY."

my thoughts:

"what happened to 'DO NOT DISTURB ?'"

what came out of my mouth is

"it is not  BLACK FRIDAY.

it is still thursday

it is still THANKSGIVING

and besides it is dangerous...!"

his argument:

"one day a year EVERYTHING

goes on sale...

things that are $1,000.00 

are $49.00 on this day only."

"noah

it is thursday,

so it can't be  BLACK FRIDAY"

so we watched a movie.

 BLACK FRIDAY

i washed.

i folded.

i paid bills.

i scanned items.

i dressed head to toe
in BLACK 

and called it

 BLACK FRIDAY.

noah thought that was the dumbest thing ever :)

GRAPPY HATITUDE DAY

how many ways can you say

THANKSGIVING?

 the GRATEFUL groendyke family

had an invite

to the ellis family home.

we GRACIOUSLY accepted.

our assignment ,

the appetizers

(THANK goodness)

our kitchen was busy...

but not stressed

we prepared

a cheesy looking turkey

made of a cheeseball

crackers and fruit

chilled shrimp

grape tomatoes

sweet pickles

savory meatballs

muddy buddy snack mix

the ellis home
was decorated
perfect for the season of THANKS

noah REJOICED at the sight of
BOYS and TOYS

the scent of homemade rolls
roasted turkey
and marshmallow topped yams
cascaded through the home

we APPRECIATED 
the hugs,
the visits,
the beautiful prayer,
offered by uncle mike
everyone's efforts
and filled tummies
from the vast buffet of food

jodi had made gorgeous autumn pies
carly came with a clever
hair bow
that she had crafted
but we missed

grandma garff
she took a topple the other day
and sported a magnificent
shiner
that would be the envy of boxers
that fight for a living

aunt linda
had a gigantic get well card
for all to sign
THANK YOU for the thought

certainly we were BLESSED
to be surrounded by
good people,
our family

we felt deep GRATITUDE
for our freedoms
to have food to eat
and the warmth of shelter

we felt APPRECIATION
for testimonies of the gospel
and the love felt
from and for our
Savior, Jesus Christ
PRAISED be his
Holy Name

GRAPPY HATTITUDE

THANKSGIVING SENT TO MISSIONARIES

i love having MISSIONARIES.

i love sending care packages,

especially for the holidays.

it bothers me when i forget.

it bothers me when i remember

 i forgot !

and so the zombie witch

sent an “AIRHEAD”  treat in 

with the “THANKFUL ME” mailer

i put a TURKEY sticker on jerky

and called it the

 “THANKSGIVING BIRD”

i put a CARMEL POPCORN treat

in the shape of corn on the COB

and called it the  “VEGETABLE”

i put a felt PUMPKIN sticker on a sucker

and called it “PUMPKIN DESSERT”

i put a PLACE CARD

where a list of “THANKFULS”

could be written and called it “BLESSED”

and a “HAPPY THANKFUL” card

with my heartfelt wishes

finally,

a DISNEY CHRISTMAS 

ADVENT

CALENDAR

celebrating their love for

disneyland, christmas, and the magic kingdom(s)

i placed the packages on the counter

i wrote the contents and cost of the package

at about $7.00

“I forgot the jesus stickers”

it was confirmed 

jesus stickers are the protocol

i thought, i’ll run next door to smiths

with all the christmas decorations

cards, tags, wrapping paper,

surely

there would be something.

i could not find anything jesus.

i went up and down aisles

i checked the religious secton

how can this be

the reason for the season

and he is no where to be found

no nativity that i could see

and that is another post

jenn is in honduras

i had been informed by my sis

that if you put jesus stickers over

the seal,

the package will be left alone

i was amazed

that a jesus sticker would protect

the contents of the package

and yet i am not.

jesus is my protector

and when i have him

sealed in my heart

and stuck on my countenance,

i too feel that

added measure of protection.

(dialogue)

“and what is the total?”

“do you want it to arrive in time for

THANKSGIVING?”

“that would be nice...”

“okay we can do that for one seventy three.”

“it is only $1.73?”

“no. $173”

“i think not given that the contents are under $10.00

and i do not have jesus stickers to assure 

my package will even make it into jenn's hands...”

he smiled.

i smiled.

i must be more efficient with the

christmas packages.

ABC OF WONDERFUL THANKFULS

i work with the QUEEN of patience

the QUEEN of softness

the QUEEN of work

she brought an adorable 

JUNIE B. JONES book 

to share with the class,

 which inevitably led into our own

honest list of

THANKFULS

each day

a team of students would be assigned a

letter of the ALPHABET.

they would share.

lists would be turned in to be recorded

and then somehow

i would compile them on a page

in which students would later illustrate.

Customize your own free slideshow

the final product

in my biased view,

was too adorable not to share...

too adorable not to duplicate 

and add to my collection

of ALPHABET BOOKS

m & m's AND COKE--PERFECT COMBINATION

the sky was blue

no rain,

no clouds,

just blue.

too nice,

not to be enjoyed.

besides,

before leaving vegas

the groendyke family needed to make

a sweet stop to a 

sweet shop...the

m&m museum.

all those bright and beautiful 

colors by the handfuls were displayed. 

from 1954 - today,

m&m's have been a constant.

the look and design may have changed,

new flavors added,

but still a favorite candy

"that melts in your mouth and

not in your hands."

next, 

a refreshing visit

to "it's the real thing"

coca-cola museum.

a walk along the strip...

well lets to say,

we saw some pretty interesting people

doing some pretty interesting things

in some pretty interesting outfits

(and some pretty missing outfit parts)

noah passed zoltar

the fortune teller.

"please, dad..."

zoltar

did not predict 

that we would spend the next hour

looking for our car...

las vegas?

or

lost vegas?

that old saying

 "what happens in vegas

stays in vegas"

heck...no wonder

everyone is looking for their car

STAY AND PLAY FOR ONE MORE DAY

guests were given a party favor

to remember

this grand celebration

of mom and dad.

good-byes and hugs were shared

which is

never easy.

for the groendyke family

one more DAY OF PLAY

was in order.

the family that cared for noah,

left saturday for california.

las vegas was on the way

and so an exchange was made

at the in-n-out burger.

the shark museum

at mandalay bay

was a must

the colors of the underworld

were brilliant.

i was fascinated

and though my camera was broken somewhat,

the photos were amazing.

from there

we went to the burger bar

supposiviely the best burgers in town.

we browsed and tried on hats

and checked out the candy store

"shoecolate"

tempting,

but i resisted.

back to the suite...

ANNIVERSARY EVENT: DINNER AT ENVY

this night

was

the culminating event,

not just of an

ANNIVERSARY celebration,

but the rewards 

of a lifetime of kindness.

53 years of marriage

ray and joanne

had selected

the restaurant ENVY

at another marriott

in las vegas.

at the door

were

shadowed words:

intriguing

independent

discovery

wonderfully new

indigenous

excitement

which

set the tone

for

the dining experience that awaited.

a few arrived early to greet

the others with smiles.

an elegant room had been reserved 

just for the

ANNIVERSARY party,

 an evening that 

all would ENVY.

the waitress

handed out the personalized menus

a touch of class and

a surprise to mom and dad.

"i was not scheduled to work tonight,

but when i heard your parents were coming in,

i requested this shift and their table..."

a special watermelon slush

began the meal

the chef popped in to say hello

and also said that he would be

staying late to oversee the affair

"i just love your parents."

the manager joined

and all presented mom and dad

with an 

ANNIVERSARYcard...

a booklet 

of the year 1960

which provided the table guests

with entertaining facts.

 

mom recommended the appetizer

an oven roasted tomato

which surpassed any tomato i had ever tasted.

that...was just the beginning.

other favorites:

 mac and four cheese

truffle-regalliano fries
and for my entree
i enjoyed
a pan seared sea bass
indescribable !

the conversation
was centered on mom and dad
and i learned something new
like mom worked 
at a bank in vegas
and then
joined donna in bryce canyon
where she was a cabin maid.

it was amusing to hear
dad tell of his pursuit of mom.
the whole evening
was delightful.

words of love
were expressed.
then dad stood
and gave each couple
two cards

from grandma garff

with generous wishes and sentiments

from mom and dad

and christmas checks.

 then came the
ANNIVERSARY cake...

and it was decorated
with a heart shaped
photo of THEM !

 

light,

simple

and 

delicious.

we presented

the 

KING OF QUEEN OF HEARTS

with a card

and a token of appreciation

but the best gift to us all

was a living testament

and tribute of kindness

that our parents

have demonstrated throughout

their lives.

everywhere we go,

they are treated like royalty.

why?

because of how they make others feel.

i left in awe and with a desire

to be their kind

of people.

PERFECT !