A Cook's Diary

Thanksgiving dinner seemed to be a rousing success this year. Actually it felt a little blah all that planning and cooking devoured in sixty minutes? No worries though, we had plenty of leftovers. I've already made two different turkey dishes. Just for fun here is a little run down on my preparations for Thanksgiving day.

Wednesday Afternoon
Accomplishments for the day were making the #10 of potatoes. A sweet potato dish, 2 pies and gravy. I also cleaned house and made peppernuts with my cousin. At 4:30 I'm feeling very thankful that mom is bringing pizza for supper. Five o'clock, I'm reflecting on the glorious sunset. I feel filled with peace. Later that evening after the Thanksgiving service my brother Ben is home for the holiday's. He compliment's on my outfit. Yes I know he's the best.

Thanksgiving morning.

I rise and drink my protein smoothie, must have energy today! I exercise on my trampoline while watching how to cook turkeys on Good morning America. This was important. The exercise part that is, who knows how many calories I consumed on turkey day. By now the time has come to put our eighteen pound bird in the oven. Wednesday morning I had soaked it in a salt brine to ensure juiciness. I put two gallons of brine over the bird I estimated to my brother that it weighed forty pounds. I implored him to carry it to the kitchen from the basement fridge. He muttered that it was very heavy. As I'm preparing the turkey for the oven I'm struck by the thought that garlic would be a lovely edition. Mom picks it fresh from the garden in Martha Stewart style. My dear brother washes and minces it for me. Twenty minutes later the kitchen smells very Italian. Ben reminds me that he told me not to put on too much garlic.

I spend the rest of the morning lounging around and plugging in crackpots. Everyone is eating and passing out compliments by twelve thirty. I feel thankful for such a gracious family:) Everyone found room for at least two pieces of pie (small of course).

No one has complained yet about the abundance of turkey dishes I'm serving. Interestingly enough mom and I found a turkey on sale. So the dishes won't be ending anytime soon!

My Thoughts, Someone else's Words

I stood unmoving watching the glorious sunset. Many thoughts floated through my mind, I could write them for you here. Instead though I will direct to you another young lady that watched the same sunset. She was in another state hundreds of miles away. She is living a journey far different than mine. However we both are pressing toward the same goal, glorifying our Lord and Savior. Reflect on your own life as you read her reflections.

Praise God from Whom all Blessings Flow

Today is Thanksgiving, the day to count your blessings. While I see so many blessings often I find it hard to Thank God for everything. I choose today to thank God for all His blessings even the hard one's.

I will see the twenty 3rd grader's that are always talking, who I teach Bible class to as blessing because I'm one the only link they have to the God.

I will see the house that is so clean now but will be dirty so quickly as a blessing because I have family to dirty it.

I will see the pile of dirty dishes as a blessing because they testify that we had food to eat.

I will see the busyness of life that threatens to wear me down as a blessing because it means I have opportunities to minister.

I will see the burned bread as a blessing because we had wheat to make bread.

I will see every hardship as a blessing because it only brings me closer to God.

Praise God from Whom all Blessings Flow!

My Lover

Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Just a few days before my favorite holiday I will be 18 for 6 months. Oh what a momentous 6 months it has been. Had I known the trials and growing pains I would have spiritually I might have been tempted to denounce my birthday. However I turned 18 and the rough times came. I'm so thankful to God that they did. I praise for His loving kindness in giving me those hard times.

I knew God loved me...
When I was overwhelmed and thought nothing would get done, God gave me the energy to press on.
When I struggled with a very deep emotional thing important to only me and He showed me it was important.
When He gave me a sister
When I had no physical strength and God gave me just what I needed.
When others saw my pain and showed they cared
When every night the sunset displayed His awesome glory
When I cried the tears of desperation felt utter hopelessness and doubted His love. God loved me.

Tough times are still coming my story isn't over yet. And God hasn't stopped loving me.

The Family Nobody Wanted; Revisited

Note, I wrote this positive review based on my feelings from the book. However I realized there is more to the story. Thus I'm adding a disclaimer to the book I so eagerly recommended earlier. I have now added to my positive review of the book a negative one as well. Please read both.

Funny, sad, compelling, urging; is what best describes this heart warming story of "The Family Nobody Wanted".

You will find in this true story a poor young married couple. She desperately wants a child, doctors give little hope for that happening. So they adopted a little boy. Of course the little boy needed a brother but three sisters came instead. When finally a little brother came it just wasn't the right "size of me" so they adopted some more. Before the Dosses knew it they had adopted 11 children. While the unsocial grace of having so many children contributed to their title as "the family nobody wanted", there was another reason. Every single one of their children was a different nationality. Most of them were of mixed races. Reverend Doss and raised his family in the 50's where there was the women's, men's and "colored"bathrooms. Understandably many people were horrified at the family.

You will read about the cute antics of the children, their little sayings, the things they did that made their mother nearly tear her hair out. Ladies aid society's that frowned upon their minister's large family. Newspaper reporters always on their doorsteps. All these components make for a very interesting story.

The other side to the story...
Helen Doss as it is very evident in the book lacks a attitude of submission towards her husband. Always is it her idea to adopt one more, dragging her husband into it. Nowhere is prayer between the couple shown as should be done before adopting. Sadly after the last page was written in the book the couple divorced. Many of the children would have been still young, suffering the devastation.

The book paints a loving warm picture. Unfortunately I don't think that was always the case. Especially as the children grew older. Such families who adopt children go through a lot. We must remember to pray for them.

Do I still recommend the book? You have seen my positive and negative view, you may decide whether it is worth your time.