Happy Thanksgiving 2018!
- (note: To our friends from other lands enjoy a picture of Thanksgiving from America)
The Twin Boy’s: O’Neill-Kusssmauls 2018
“Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to Him; bless His name!” Psalm 100:4
Many of you may be in a part of the world where Thanksgiving isn’t celebrated. When we lived overseas, introducing Thanksgiving and our American food to the host culture was such a great connector. They in return would often invite us over during their holiday celebrations. Also, it was an opportunity to get to know our colleages better and other ex-pats in the area.
Whoever or however we celebrated Thanksgiving, having others around us brought purpose and joy to the occasion. We were intentional in builting memories, relationships, and meaning into our holiday’s. What are you doing or planning for this year’s Thanksgiving?
After Thanksgiving last year I wrote this article below but never published it. This was the first Thanksgiving having grandkids with us since living in the States. Thought you would enjoy a peep into last year’s Thanksgiving with the extended O’Neill clan.
A few hightlights, as I reminise of our family time together, before I tell you where we will be this year. Hopefully it will inspire you with some ideas as you prepare for a more meaningful Thanksgiving day:
Maybe it is time now to let someone else do some of the cooking.Our son-in-law and our daughter, bought and brought the Turkey and cooked it. They have been married for a little over 6 years now and it was fun seeing them work so well together in the kitchen and with their kids. The turkey turned out more than delicious. Did I mention I didn’t have to cook it! Are you letting others contribute to the meal?
Matt Kussmaul in Kittchen Cooking… 
The Delicious Turkey Delicious! 
Thanksgiving 2017 with O’Neill-Kussmauls
What ways can you get your family involved?Taking time to think through the day beforehand, helps. There was such joy working in the kitchen together preparing the meal for the table. Everyone had their part in serving one another. This was the first holiday meal, I believe, when we all set together to eat where I wasn’t up and down many times serving. Where I didn’t feel exhausted when I finally got to eat. But it didn’t happen over night. All those years of training our family paid off; it was great to see my kids now wanting to serve more intentionally. It is well worth the wait! At least for this Thanksgiving 2017 meal.
Teaching moments are often caught more than taught.As we ate between the noise of little ones and set around the table afterwards the kids ran in, out and around us. Oh, what a heavenly buzz!! As we moved to the kitchen to clean up, my husband remarked: “The kids are learning that this event is not just about them but it is about the whole family. Getting them to help in the midst of us talking and seeing us all working together to clean up, gives them security and a sense of family. It is good for them not to always be the center of attention.” Two boys (twins no less) who happen to be 18 months at the time (now 2 1/2), our “adorable” grandkids cannot help be the center of the attention especially when we don’t get to see them often. For this, we were all full of contentment. It is another opportunity for a teachable moment caught not taught. It was a nice feeling to know they are growing up in a family that loves them. A joy seeing them feeling safe and happy in our midst of the unfamiliar (new place) now becoming familiar (grandparents home where I belong) where they are not always the center of the attention but loved.
The O’Neill-Kussmauls 2018
Opportunity to affirm, listen to one another, and give thanks to God. After the kitchen was cleaned and the kids were put down for the night we all set around reminising about what we were thankful for. What we were thankful about for one another from this past year and/or thankful highlights of the year in hindsight. What a joy to hear the hearts of our kids, what they were feeling, thinking and giving thanks to. Great for us to stop, remember what we were thankful for and then celebrate it in praise to God of what He had done both in and through us; As well as what He has done through others in our lives.
Find ways to make memories and connect. Even though 2 of our kids, their spouses, and 2 of our other grandkids, weren’t able to be here, we were thankful the others were. More memories made. But we did take time to “Zoom” with the others, so we could all be together for a moment at this special season of Thanksgiving. Try a Zoom call next time, it is the next best thing to being together.
Not every year do we get a day like today to be with family but we do try to celebrate it with someone. (This year we will be in Michigan with our other 2 grandkids and oldest daughter’s family)
Thanksgiving 2018 in MI
What are some of your Highlights from your Thanksgiving Day?
What teachable moments or values are your loved ones going to pick-up being around you?
Have you taken time to tell someone you are thankful for them or tell them something they did this year, you are thankful for? Be specific rather than general.
What ways are you going to celebrate and be thankful for this year as you look back in hindsight?
Personal Reflections: Share one of your favorite Thanksgivings and why. Take time to think through the questions above as you prepare for this year’s Thanksgiving. After Thanksgiving please share what some of your Highlights with us here. Would love to hear your thoughts in the comment session “Hope You Have A Blessed Thanksgiving”.
From One Pilgrim to another together on the journey,
“Consider how you may spur one another on towards love and good deeds….. encouraging one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)
