We have been anticipating our Thanksgiving visit from our son Ryan and his family since the beginning of autumn. Not a day passed that I did not think about their coming. Knowing that they would be here for Thanksgiving made my beloved season of autumn even more delightful.
Now those long awaited five days have come and gone...and our hearts are full.
Now those long awaited five days have come and gone...and our hearts are full.
We could not have asked for more. We enjoyed sharing Thanksgiving, all together. We spent some time with extended family, with friends, at our church fellowship. Our sweet friend and photographer came to take some family pictures. The eight cousins and their very slightly older Aunt Bekah played together. We shared leftovers, and leisurely breakfasts, and a little junk food, and lots of coffee. We listened to Bible verses, shared long conversations, enjoyed Christian fellowship...and watched Peter. Peter is delightfully two! He is a handsome little guy whose expressions are priceless and they change by the second...and one really could be entertained by just sitting and watching him!
When they left our driveway this afternoon, there were teary good-byes, but knowing that they are now closer and that we have plans to visit them in the spring made it a sweeter parting than the last few have been. We are so blessed to have been given this time together.
Because I took a blue million pictures, and because my dear friend took some wonderful family shots, and because Kati did a photo shoot with the children, and because our days were full, it's going to take several posts for me to share all that I want to share!
Today I'll share some glimpses of our Thanksgiving Day...
The tables were set, three of them this year for our group of nineteen...
the four of us,
our daughter Kristin's family of seven, and Brian's mother, Yvonne,
our son Ryan's family of five,
and my mom and dad.
Bekah kept watch...
They're here!
Little girls getting reacquainted.
Pilgrim Gavin
Alaine was Grandma's girl that day.
We always sing a Thanksgiving hymn before we pray, this year "For the Beauty of the Earth."
The verse that expresses praise "for the joy of human love: brother, sister, parent, child"
was especially poignant.
Ben was impressed with his leaf place card. :)
Oh how I love all the faces around this table!
As always, Kristin and Kati were the servers.
(Someone called them the slaves. "Not slaves, servants," replied Kristin.)
The servant's table. :)
Do you think we had enough pies?
I will praise the name of God with a song,
and will magnify him with thanksgiving.
Psalm 69:30
How beautiful! "Brother, sister, parent, child...friends on earth", etc.
ReplyDeleteIncidentally, we used the same napkins at OUR thanksgiving dinner :)
What a wonderful time it seems to have been! Love your centerpiece. I think half the fun of something is the time anticipating and preparing .. and now you have the wonderful memories!
ReplyDeleteCheryl, these pictures are all so very wonderful! The love in them brings tears to my eyes. I especially love the one of Bekah at the doorway, watching. Brings back so many memories of doing the very same thing while waiting for dear loved ones to pull into the driveway. That anticipation is so delicious. I'm so thankful you were blessed with such a special Thanksgiving. Indeed, the words from the hymn are so fitting (they brought a tear to my eyes, too) .... "Lord of all, to Thee we raise, this our hymn of grateful praise".
ReplyDeleteOh Cheryl, what wonderful pictures! I can sense the love and excitement! I love the picture of Bekah as she waits with anticipation and excitement! Very happy times!! God is so good!
ReplyDeleteI feel the love of family and of the Lord in your photos! A lovely day at your home!
ReplyDeleteI love that you took so many photos for Thanksgiving, it tells a story, makes me wish I had taken more myself. They were wonderful
ReplyDeleteOh how I enjoyed seeing you all together. You'll live happily on these memories and so sail on to spring. What a beautiful family all the way around...happy smiles, sweet servants' hearts, beautiful children's faces. No wonder your heart is full.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post, beautiful family. Kati is so special......yes, Mama, I know, ALL your children are special! ;-) xo
ReplyDeleteLooks like you had a wonderful day! However, we had y'all beat on the pies! We had 8 (and there were NOT 19 people at our party) ! :-)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, beautiful, beautiful! I have tears in my eyes! What a joyful visit!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful hymn, PERFECT for your Thanksgiving this year.
Those little faces around the table...
Love you!
Deanna
The love in this post makes my heart ache in the very best way - an ache of loveliness. How wonderful. The memories will live on for a long, long, time.
ReplyDeleteOh, and yes, I think there was enough pie - or was there?
ReplyDelete