What a beautiful Thanksgiving. The only thing that would have made it better would have been if my Dad had been able to be with us. Nevertheless, I thank God for all his blessings. Now it's time to get ready for Christmas. The tree must go up soon!!

Thanksgiving week. So much to be thankful for. So much to look forward to. The Oklahoma contingency is coming to town minus one major player. Unfortunately Ginger won't be with us. But she will be home taking care of a precious little bundle that we can't wait to welcome to the family. We will miss her. We also won't have my wonderful father around the table with us. He's just not able, it would be far too much for him. This will be the first holiday without him. He loved the holidays. Not a whole lot more to say about that. It kinda leaves me empty just thinking about him not being with us. I find myself wondering what next Thanksgiving will look like. Who will we have said good-bye to, who will we have said hello to. One, maybe two beautiful little girls from Liberia. Yes, as always a year will bring big changes, some I'm sure we don't even expect. So, for now I will enjoy today, this holiday season. May it be blessed.

I waited for you today
But You didn't show
I needed You today
So where did you go?
You told me to call
You said You'd be there
and though I haven't seen You
Are You still there?

I cried out with no reply and
I can't feel You by my side
so I'll hold tight to what I know
You're here and I'm never alone

And though I cannot see You
And I can't explain why
Such a deep reassurance
You've placed in my life
We cannot separate
'Cause You're part of me
And though You're invisible
I'll trust the unseen

You're here and I'm never alone

I have the most beautiful, precious family in the whole wide world!! My father is getting ready to move on to be with Jesus and my daughter and son-in-law are going to be bringing more joy into our family simply by obeying a call God has given them. It seems like we are going through so many emotions right now and I just keep trying to keep everything in God's hands. Help me Lord, to trust in your plan unconditionally. Thank you for using my wonderful grandsons to speak to me in such a beautiful way. I think the following words might be my Dad's testimony:

When I started my journey in fresh childlike trust
I believed that the Lord's way was best
I would read in His Word how He mothered the bird
And grieved when it fell from its nest
How I felt His delight when I chose to do right
And I prayed I would not make Him sad
We would meet on the way in the cool of the day
What a pure sweet communion we had.

The road I have traveled has sometimes been steep
Through wild jagged places of life
Sometimes I've stumbled and fallen so hard
That the stones cut my soul like a knife
But the staff of my Shepherd would reach out for me
And lift me to cool pastures green
With oil of the spirit anointing my wounds
There I'd rest by the clear healing stream

Oh but now more than ever I cherish the cross
More than ever I sit at His feet
All the miles of my journey have proved my Lord true
And He is so precious to me

And because of my Dad's life, these words are my testimony

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ, I stand

No guilt of life, no fear of death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
'til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ, I'll stand