The past four Thanksgivings, we've hosted feasts here for an international contingent of guests. It's been really fun! Some memorable moments: trying to make cornbread without corn meal (try polenta!), heating up my kitchen even more on a summer day, by having the oven on for 5 hours straight, putting the laptop right next to a raw turkey in the kitchen so I could Skype my parents and ask them how to cook it. I didn't know which side to put "up" in the pan. And I've never forgotten my dad's answer: Position it missionary style, he said. Yep. Seared in my memory for all time. Thanks, Dad!
So, no turkey this year for us. We are in the midst of a perfect storm of school events, church happenings, meetings, birthday parties, and preparing to leave for the States in less than two weeks. And five months of fragmented sleep due to the cutest baby EVER is starting to catch up with me. It's all great stuff, but I am realizing that I'm going to have to let some things slide. And Turkey Day, you drew the short straw. Sorry about that.
In the Scripture class I teach at a local high school, we talked recently about Soren Kierkegaard's quote: "To be a saint is to will the one thing." (Moody teenagers love it when you say, "Kierkegaard wrote...". It just sounds cool.) I'm thinking he meant the ability to tune out distractions, to hone in, to know what your "yes" is so that you can say "no" to other things. Yeah, yeah Soren. Still working on that, okay? Sheesh. Bet you were a bundle of fun to be around!
One of my "one things" at the moment is a disgruntled five month old. She is presently requesting the pleasure of my company. Better go meet some needs! Y'all have a great day! Any exciting plans for next week?
Sounds like you made a good decision. You just can't do it all! We drive to FL for Thanksgiving break and have a family get together of one mother-in-law, six grown children and their spouses, one spouse's set of parents, and 12 of 13 grandkids. And that is annually routine.
ReplyDeleteI get no leftovers so usually the weekend we get back I make a turkey and the fixings for us. I just cook the turkey in one of those "Reynolds" brand cooking bags, breast side up and it turns out perfect and in less time.
P.S. I don't get the missionary style description unless we are talking about cooking two turkeys at once. Cuz missionary means there are two bodies involved.
Hey! Are you guys gonna hit California during that trip? And if so, is it possible you might be able to squeeze in coffee with me and Julie at some point?
ReplyDeleteWe totally missed out on Canadian thanksgiving this year. But you know, I really didn't miss it that much. I think you made a good decision to just leave it this year. After all...Christmas isn't that far away is it?
ReplyDeleteLOL Michele R! You are correct. But either way it was a useful illustration. Sounds like a big holiday for you guys! Nice. And you are so good to do a second turkey and everything when you get home. Maybe we should just come to your place.
ReplyDeleteDavid--absolutely! Would love to see y'all. I'll email you.
And Mad Woman--no, Christmas is so close! I think that's why I sorta forgot Thanksgiving. The shops are in full on Christmas mode!
You know what forgetting Thanksgiving means don't you? you are becoming a true blue Aussie!!! :)
ReplyDeleteDo you love my exclamation marks?:)
yea that guy Soren sounds like me. unfortunately, I think i've said no more times than I care to recount - I'm sure I'm not much fun at times:)
Hee hee, missionary style. And you and Jason are like missionaries! And LOL at Michele--cooking two turkeys at once, that would be wrong.
ReplyDeleteOne of the best things about moving back home = someone else cooks Thanksgiving for you without having to travel for it. I am so relieved to NOT have to cook this year!
ReplyDeleteJust cracking up about your dad's comment, though. It is the perfect description.