Golden Day

When the day ends here, the sun goes down over the little woods at the west end of our property. It casts a golden glow that transports the scene to a timeless place of precious contentment. Yesterday, our family (well, most of it -- our son and his wife and baby girl live in mid-Tennessee) and extended family gathered to thank the Lord for His bountiful blessings and mercies, upon us and our nation.

The older granddaughters had come over early to help get everything ready. They love to dig out Grandmother's seasonal goodies and transform the house. Our oldest daughter, B (the men of the family have not decided if it is wise to share names on the Internet) and her family (7 children), our middle daughter M, and her family (5 children, one more in May), and the youngest daugher K's family (8 children) filled the tables. M brought her mother-in-law, who now lives with them, and her father-in-law and step-MIL. In addition, my precious mother joined us for a while before going to visit my father in the VA hospital.

Food was plentiful -- a nice all natural turkey, and the usual accompaniments to a wonderful Southern feast: buttery mashed potatoes and gravy, cornbread dressing, collard and turnip greens, green salad. In addition, we added baked butternut squash, Hoosier-style homemade noodles, green bean casserole, "angeled" eggs (from our chickens), homemade rolls (made by granddaughter), and all kinds of pies. Of course, iced tea and some herb teas Yummm . .

My husband shared some non-revisionist Thanksgiving history and we sang the Doxology before bowing to ask the Lord's blessing. Afterward, the men took the older grandchildren shooting in the pasture, the little ones played and played outside, and the ladies fellowshipped inside. That evening, we played board games and had a ball. My husband sat with the grandchildren and watched "The Real Mayflower Story", which he says was mostly fair and accurate (mostly). After a wonderful day of fellowship and reflection, sleepy families drifted home, and dh and I snuggled in front of a rare fire in the fireplace.

It was a golden day.