Boy did I have a great Thanksgiving! You may find that funny after I share what all happened. We are here in Kentucky without any immediate family in the area. Our closest friends moved back to California in the summer, so we didn't want to be alone for Thanksgiving.....so we opened the doors and invited some missionary and seminary students and a large number of my husband's co-workers. The final count was somewhere between 20 and 26.

Most of them are quite young and do not have any real domestic skills...so I planned to prepare all the food. Not wanting to run out I really over prepared. A 20 lb. turkey, 6 lbs of ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, (all in restaurant chaffing dish size) 30 whole wheat rolls, 30 sweet rolls (all made by hand), 2 pumpkin pies, 1 apple pie, veggie tray, chips, dips, cranberry sauce, fruit salad, "angeled" eggs......etc.

We removed our couch and love seat from the basement and set up tables and chairs for the group so that we could all eat together. I prepared for 4 days. I was so excited. We were hoping for this to be an opportunity to share the gospel with many of my DH's co-workers. We have many who have questions about the bible and have expressed interest in getting together to talk more.

All was going well! Our student friends arrived early to assist with last minute details. And then....no one. No, not even one of my DH's co-workers came. It was quite disappointing! All that preparation... all that food for 8 people total!!!! But, by the grace of God I was able to get perspective quickly. I could spend my time grumbling about those that were not here, or I could enjoy the blessing of the few believers that the Lord provided to share this time with us!

What a wonderful time we had! Our guests shared about their future ministry plans and blessed us with the company of believers. We laughed, enjoyed way too much food and a few games. Wow! What a difference the Lord can make in our attitudes when we choose to let Him give us perspective instead of wallowing in self pity!!! We were even able to bless three young men (living in the dorms) with tons of leftovers to take home! (They talked about how long it had been since they had had home cooked meals!)

What a joy this Thanksgiving was when I could choose to put away self and sharing in the blessing of what God had provided! It may not have been what I planned but it was just what I needed!

Marcia