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If you could have "an Ideal Thanksgiving", what would it be like?

My ideal Thanksgiving would be to have a large serving and dining area, with all the people you would like to invite, each person contributing some dish or know-how, and a movie we would all watch together in the living room, thoughtfully selected, before or after the meal(I guess after).  Also invited would be people who couldn't contribute, or who didn't have any place to go...

While everyone got ready for the meal, I think we'd have music in the background, maybe like what's at this site(this is from "IrishAngel", who use to be here...):

http://www.geocities.com/shellysplace_nb/index2.html


The movie on my mind for sometime, has been "Schindler's List", which I've never seen.   It just seems that a movie like this might go along with "thanksgiving" ...


(or maybe this movie should be seen before the dinner..    :-\)

Oklahoma Howdy to Symphony,

I'm fortunate to have had many what I call "Ideal Thanksgivings", and I hope to have a few more. My family is spread out over great distances, and it's always a good time when a large number of us get together.

We do like to eat, and many in my family are great cooks. We like to all bring something and have a big variety to try and sample. It is always a beautiful time of prayer and thanks to God for the many blessings God has provided. We like to have a time of testimony and hear about special things God has allowed or blessed in our lives. We always love a family singing time for Gospel songs and hymns. Many in the family have beautiful voices. I sing quietly so I don't ruin the harmony.   :D  In between songs, we catch up on what all the kids are doing and just visit.

Love In Christ,
Tom

For me to answer this question, I will tell you about my favorite Thanksgivings.

The whole family is there, and we each take turns creating a special dish to add to the table. When my father was alive, he made a delicious European chestnut dessert. It was made of ground roasted chestuts, sugar, I think it had some cream or some special European family ingredient  ;) and if I could find the recipe I'd make it this year. Plus there was whipped cream on top.

Lemme see now. Everyone is there, including my beloved spouse, who is a fabulous cook, by the way, and usually will not let me do anything. I have to fight to get my dish in there, or even to step foot into the kitchen. Oh, woe is I!

Anyway, there is always a lot of humor at our household. We like to laugh, and my beloved spouse is the riproar of the party usually. Many theology debates. There is no holiday without the liberals lining up on one side, and my spouse and I on the other, ever working to overcome the sea of heresy! And then we all turn a good movie onto the television. Something epic. My mother will want to watch Road to Avonlea videos while the rest of us howl and look for something a little more adventurous. We've all seen the Road to Avonlea videos a gazillion times and my brother will probably be the only one who would even consider it. But, we do watch a few just to honor her, and then we look for something like Ransom or something good like that.

Then everyone will have me put their names into a hat and we will draw names for Christmas presents, and then the tree goes up. The magic fairy puts the tree up. The same magic fairy that has put it up for the last twenty years. The same, worn-out, sick of being the only person to wrestle with lights fairy, the one who always puts the tree up, while everyone watches. The magic tree fairy will do that. Again.  ;D

And then we will eat lots of Chinese dishes, for we are definitely an American family which is just another way of saying we are from everywhere but America. We've got most the continents covered in our family. Now that I think of it, that includes America.

And then we will thank the Lord that we have survived being in our family for another year, and turn to eat the most delicious collection of dishes you can imagine. One will fall asleep on the sofa, another will take a nap, and I will post at CU while my beloved spouse gnaws a hand off watching video-taped political debates. And I will be able to tell all the way from the study what the topic is about.

And we'll love every minute of it.  ;D

Mmmmm, I wuv Chinese.   8)  Do you use chopsticks too?  I've learned that one, so it's sort of a treat.  I like plenty of soy sauce around.   :)


Those sound like wuvwee times, bep and WH.  Sounds wike you and spouse, Whitehorse, are outnumbered by the liberals.  Are they *Christian* liberals, or just liberals(hehe)?


All, or most, of mine are *Christian* liberals.  

If needed, I'll drive people to where ever it will be held this year(I don't know yet  :-[).  It's unlikely I'll participate though.  If it's far away, I'll find some restuarant.  Most likely it'll be close enought to home, I'll just return.  I really like those Banquet frozen pot pies.  So I'll probably just have one or two of those until it's time to go pick up people.  It's usually pretty peaceful--not too bad, actually.  


I did the whole turkey thing last year, and fix'ns.   :P


Most of the conversation is liberal stuff, plus they all work in liberal type pursuits.  It's strange, they all go to church, of various sorts, and some of them read their Bibles.  It took me a while, but I learned either to heel, shuddup, or not go.  

*sigh*  Next year in Jerusalem.

(http://www.angelfire.com/falcon/joysong/rofl.gif)

Symphony, I'm so sorry your Thanksgivings are uncomfortable. To spend it away from your family-that hurts. Do you spend it alone? That would be a terrible way to spend it. (I know-I've done it before.)

Oklahoma Howdy to Symphony,

I feel bad about your family situation. Maybe I shouldn't say anything, but I was simply thinking as a friend and thinking what I might do. Here's what ran through my head. I've always had a soft spot in my heart for young men and women in the service being away from home serving their country. If I had your situation, I would probably volunteer at our Christian Service Center or Armed Services YMCA and spend Thanksgiving with them. We've had folks in my family do that anyway. We've also had folks in my family go and have services for the folks in jail. Some of my family also volunteer for activities at the Salvation Army for folks who are too poor for Thanksgiving.

If I shouldn't have said anything, just pull a "Tibby" and tell me I've been slapped with a fish.

Love In Christ,
Tom

What a wonderful idea, BEP! (The thanksgiving, not the fish.)

Boy that sounds great, bep.  Nope, bep, those all sound good.  Thank you. I like participating in those too.  Yep, sometimes I have done that.  In my situation, I sorta have to be on call.  That sounds great.  I'm keeping that in mind.

Thank you WH.  Yes, I've spent quite a few Thanksgivings alone.  It doesn't really bother me.  Actually, it's the only few hours, from about noon to about 5 p.m., on that day, when it's very peaceful, just knowing what everyone else is doing, and just sorta being there quietly.  It's very peaceful--almost serene.  I've been in all kinds of Thanksgivings--with the Salvation Army, in the military, in big settings where we all sat around a ping pong table, etc.

It's no big deal.  But my ideal would be to "do it right".  Someday maybe I'll get to...(hehe).

I heard of one lady who in her rush to get the dinner ready, accidentally scooped up the potato peelings in the sink, putting them into the turkey.   ;D

But the really funny part is, everybody thought it was delicious!    :-X

     ::)

Oklahoma Howdy to Symphony,

You had to mention that "on call" term. I did that for almost 25 years, sometimes with a cell phone, a radio, and a beeper going all at once. I'm retired now and don't even like to wear a watch.   ;D

I think the important thing is to do what makes you happy and gives you satisfaction. Life is just too short. Speaking of that, I really shouldn't have complained about being on call since I really did love that job and would still be doing it if my health was good.

Let me tell you a toddler story and put a grin on your face. My daughter has been teaching my almost 3 year old grandson about Thanksgiving, praying and giving thanks to the Lord, telling him about pilgrims, and hoping he knows a little bit for our family get together. She thought that he was really doing good and understanding quite a bit. So, she waited until her husband got home and asked Logan to tell daddy all about the pilgrims. He hesitated and she asked him "what are pilgrims?" He said, "turkeys."  ;D I think he has it all down pat and is ready to go.

In Christ,
Tom

 ;D I like your grandson's willingness to share his opinions!

And Symphony, I'll be praying for you this Thanksgiving, if you're going to be alone; and, hey, you could always get on the forum and "pretend" you're sharing the moment with us!  :-X

BEP, that is great!! ;D

Symphony, I'll be here-you can chat with me if you like. It sounds like you'll enjoy having a few minutes to yourself, but just in case you get bored, I can check in.

hehe, "turkeys".  Pretty good, bep.  Thanks.  ;D

Thank you, willowburch.  Yes, I'll enjoy sitting here listening to everyone tell me how delicious their punkin pie is.   ::)


Thank you, WH.  I'll be fine(sniff, sniff... :'().  8)

had to comment on this....I love Road to Avonlea! LOL  I make my mom and brother watch it with me all the time, and (like you probably do) have them memorized.  tell your mom she has great taste  ;D

happy thanksgiving to all the Americans.  we Canadians had our thanksgiving in October.  it's my favourite holiday!

Thanks, Elizabeth...


    :)

The ideal Thanksgiving for me is the one I'm about to enjoy!  I get to spend it with my wife, my two daughters, my wife's dad, stepmom and step brother, my brother in-law who's been my best friend since the 8th grade, my sister in-law who I have to like 'cause she's married to him (I jest!  She's cool), my niece and my other brother in-law.  Oh, and the two dogs.   ;D  To boot, my wife's dad is making MEAT[/b]!  Aarrraaarrraaarrrrr!  We'll watch football, play games on the step brother's Playstation2, talk, relax and just have a good time.  Such things are nice.  God is good.  And giving Him thanks every day would be even better if I'd just remember to do it! :)

Elisabeth, yep-the whole nine. I have Anne of Green Gables memorized, as well as Anne of Avonlea, and the series-I like the one when Felicity finally finds out Gus is alive.

Allinall, that sounds wonderful. It surely does. A real family get-together!

I wish my father were alive, but I will be making his chestnut pate for the first time since his passing! Cool, huh? And plum dumplings. And of course the Chinese food and the turkey and a couple of American faves as well. But the chestnut pate has got to be the best. I lo-o-o-o-ve that. Tradition is something I'm grateful for as well.

All, I love your new coffee cup thingy.  Perfect.  ;D

I've only read "Green Gables".  Never seen the movie(s).


Tigerlily here, if she ever checks back in, is from New Brunswick, near the setting of Gables, Prince Edward Island.

She said there's a whole place there commemorating the story.   :)

me too!  my favourite episode is the last one when they get married :)

sorry for being kinda O/T....

hope everyone had a good holiday

Also, in Indiana they have preserved Gene Stratton-Porter's house and property as a museum, it is beautiful. You can go for a platoon ride and see the whole river, and there are nature trails, crafts, and even Gene's tomb (its pretty, not spooky.)

Oh, I like that one, too. I'm always so glad she doesn't marry Stewart, but I feel bad for Stewart, too. Talk about getting your chain yanked! He was building her a house with his own hands. She wasn't crazy about him, but he certainly was about her. But I'm glad she finds Gus again. Do you think it was fair of him to tell Jimmy to tell her he had drowned?

I'm sorry-I don't know who that is. It sounds like a really neat place, though. Have you been there?

Symphony, that sounds cool. It must be nice to be close to something so neat.

:P Oops, I had a brain-frizz. I was linking "Anne of Green gables" with the writer Gene Stratton-Porter, and it don't quite work. (And yes, I've been there.)
 ;D