Beautiful November

With one week left in November, I'm being pretty audacious tagging it "beautiful"...after all, what if some craziness erupts and it takes on more of a somber adjective??? or people start to notice that I'm losing my summer glow and I'm not nearly as beautiful when the pastiness of my whitey genes kicks in this time of year and they think , ugly November for that one, poor homely thing?? These are all things that have crossed my mind, but nevertheless, I feel it's a perfect word pertaining to the state of the month...

Last night the Husband and I hosted Thanksgiving Dinner at our home. We invited the entire family, including the rascally ones, the catty ones, the ones with excessive flatulence, and the ones that make bomb food (we figured we'd be nice and let um all partake this year, flaws and all)...We also extended the invite to our Somalian refugee neighbors whom I claim as my own children because I love them so...Word got around and the rest of the neighborhoodlums showed up in search of food too. Let me back up in events for a minute...When morning broke, I arose with a spirit- filled heart, stumbled downstairs, and started my morning devotionals. In prayer and conversation with the Lord, I asked Him to protect the house from any ill-intent, negative attitudes, unseen spiritual battle stuff, and fires of any sort from candles or kitchen chaos. (See Ephesians 6.12) and lo and behold, He delivered. Not surprised, He is faithful... Thankfulness was permeating as the morning began and continued well on into the night. It was a Beautiful November evening and everyone was in good spirits. The food turned out perfectly as the Turkey Chef nurtured that beautiful beast of a bird in the oven; rubbing it tenderly with butter and herbs.
Sis hooked it up with all kinds of sides and sweets, and the layout was almost too much for my starved tummy and beady eyes to behold. We gathered around the table late afternoon, and took it all in. I wanted to settle the kids down and really let it soak in that there was so much to be Thankful for: God has brought us through a tough season and held our family together this past year; blessing us with amazing neighbors, family, and friends. We all drive each other crazy when we are around for long amounts of time, but we are all here for each other and it is Beautiful; our faith has grown and so has our love for one another.
Here are some pictures of our Beautiful November evening:

 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.  And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.~ Colossians 3.15-17