Thanksgiving week

Many people on FB have been posting a daily report for why/whom/what they are thankful. I did not do that. I got on board too late and so decided I wouldn't even begin. But I am thankful. I have had a wonderful week of organizing/cleaning and then doing absolutely nothing. I feel a little guilty about the "doing nothing part," but school starts back Monday and the holiday busy-ness will be upon us, so I am enjoying these lazy days.

My husband, son, oldest daughter with her 3 kids, and I spent Thanksgiving Day at my sister's home in Stone Mountain GA. We had a lovely day. My sister, her husband and her youngest son were our hosts. My middle child and her husband could not come from OK for Thanksgiving since they will be here for Christmas nor could my sister's oldest son and his wife be there from NY since they are flying down in December. The couples were missed (my oldest daughter's hubby had to miss as well due to work related reasons), but the small intimate group of 10 was still wonderful. My nephew really loves children and my grandkids loved him and his ukelele and piano playing a lot.

He graciously serenaded his mom and me with a song he had written about our mother. My sister called her Mama, I called her (and spelled it as) Momma and my nephew called her Mimi and sometimes Meems. Her name was Martha June Graham Smith - June to her friends and family. His song "Too Soon, June" laments her passing at the early age of 74.

It's our belief that her purpose for living was taken away when my father died just a year and a half before she did. We all still miss her - her death impacted us greatly. My sister and I have a lot of guilt that we still work through about that weekend prior to her death on Monday, January 15, 2007 (but that's another story). My nephew's song was so touching. Thanks, dear boy!

I regret I do not know how to publish photos on this blog. My sister who is quite the photo journalist took a great many picutres of our special day and they would be the perfect ending to my Thanksgiving Day blog. My 3 grandkids were dressed as a Pilgrim Girl (7 yr. old), a Native American boy (4 yr. old) , and a little Pilgrim boy (17 mos.). The food was great, the fellowship sweet, and the only drawback were those missing from the table.

My sister always reads a poem at Thanksgiving which has us all in tears by the end. Her rendition is personalized for our family (collards, biscuits, cornbread for our southern fare although my brother-in-law is a New Englander so mashed potatoes are a mainstay). The reading was especially touching this year. My dad would have celebrated his 87th birthday on November 24.

I pass along this copy that I found. I hope it brings warm Thanksgiving memories to the remainder of your holiday week. Sort of like "leftovers for the soul." God bless!

A Thanksgiving Poem
adapted by Nick Brown from "Meatballs"
a poem by Garrison Keillor (c)1982

O turkey, lovely turkey, that wafts its smell our way!
Another golden turkey on this Thanksgiving Day
Adorns a serving platter upon a walnut stand.
We thank Thee for this bounty from Thine and Grandma's hand.

O lovely mashed potatoes near which the turkey floats
On great brown lakes of gravy poured from the gravy boats.
It speaks to us of richness, of blessing and good cheer.
When spoken to by turkey, I love the words I hear.

O spinach, peas, and onions,
O beets, beet greens, and chard,
Fresh from Grandma's garden beyond the cool green yard.
Pools of green lie steaming in pale blue china bowls
Around a silver wedding vase of yellow marigolds.

O lovely sweet cream butter,
O lovely bread we break
That Grandma made this morning before I was awake.
No recipe, no measure. but made with love and care.
The smell of yeast and flour still lingers in the air.

Oh, cousins, aunts, and uncles, who shares this earthly store,
Gathered round this table in nineteen sixty four.
Eyes closed and hands are folded as Grandpa says the grace.
Mine alone are open, I look in every face.
I see your lovely faces, together on that day
Passing into darkness, the voices fade away.
I close my eyes to hold you, to bring you back to me.
Passing, slowly passing into a memory.

Another fine Thanksgiving, another table set.
Children take the places of folk they never met.
A little boy is sitting in Grandma's old oak chair.
I feel his eyes upon me as I now say the prayer.
At this Thanksgiving table, time is passing by.
Child, I know you see it in our faces.
So do I.

But thank the Lord for giving us this holiday again.
And now, please pass the turkey.
Let's eat.
Amen.

Time change and Mondays always get me down

I rephrased one of Karen Carpenter's songs in my title to say that I was a bit down yesterday. It seems Monday (after a spiritual high on Sunday) is usually a let down. You return to the real world of work and if you don't go in physically prepared, it's so easy to be blindsided. An hour gained doesn't always make the body feel rested. In fact, yesterday felt like it was hours longer than normal. I was so tired. I had also awoken with a sore throat and sinus pressure (again) - something a lot of us in the Middle GA area have been afflicted with this season. So my Monday was not the way I wanted to start my week off especially now since it seems to have leaked over into my Tuesday.

I did have the most blessed time with my grandkids Sunday afternoon and night though. I'd have rather stayed home and seen them off to go to their house Monday morning, but I did not have that luxury this time. Maybe this Tuesday morning after unloading on my blog, I will realize how blessed I am and not live in the "down-ness" of Monday and the ill effects of the time change. There is so much to be thankful for and God's mercies are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness.

November 5 was a very good day!

The wedding was beautiful. What a worship service! I saw a deer leaving the reception, but she was only walking across the street in the subdivision where the Country Club was. No 18-wheelers came near my vehicle. My tires behaved well. Mr. Bill and Miss Joyce followed me out the 40 miles to get to the interstate (and he has GPS). At 12:08 my body needs to get in bed, but that extra hour makes it 11:08 so it's not as late as it could be. The fall colors were beautiful. I am blessed! Thank you, Lord for a wonderful day!

Off to a wedding

I am going to the wedding of a dear friend's son today in Newnan GA. I am going by myself even though I could probably have hitched a ride with some other friends. One of the reasons I am going by myself is because I wanted the luxury of stopping and shopping if the urge hit me (and if I'm on time).

The other reason is I'm carrying a few items to give to a young couple who recently moved to TN. The husband is in the wedding and they left a few things that I could transport to them since they won't be coming home on this trip.

My trip is with a little trepidation. I have three friends who love to take off on solo trips. One loves to drive; one loves to get away; one loves to travel. They are such brave souls! I, on the other hand, think about the 18-wheelers getting too close to me; about that spooked doe who is being pursued and frightened by absolutely nothing running into my car; about the tire that might decide it's had enough fun on the road today (I don't like to change tires); or about getting lost (what if my directions lead me the wrong way - I don't have GPS).

The kids had a favorite book growing up, "The Very Worried Sparrow." This little sparrow was afraid of everything. His favorite expression was, "Meep, meep, oh, dear." A dove (symbolic of the Holy Spirit) encouraged him to trust the Heavenly Father. In the end, he does and his life is so much happier.

That's me - so often - the very worried Danna. I do not want fear to interfere with me having a great time today. I know I am supposed to be at this wedding to lend my support and encouragement to this young couple. So I too will trust my Heavenly Father to get me there and back.

This trust has got to be deeper than just for a trip to a wedding though. We live in very troubled times that have made a few of us very worried sparrows. But our God is Faithful and He is Trustworthy. Here is His promise to all of His children, "Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows." Matthew 10:31

I want to walk in this faith-filled promise that He will take care of me! Oh, and to my brave friends, I long for your spirit of adventure as well! Maybe one day, I'll be soaring with you gals!

It's about time, right?

I just had a whim to blog tonight. I don't really know why. I have enough to do without starting a blog. I have thought about it and have wanted to do it - my very good friend blogs; other friends do; my daughters have blogs (and I think this is the underlying reason I started*); and my husband even has an unfrequented one.
I am not very computer savvy - uploading pictures to make my blog more visually attractive and more informative intimidates me. I've not wanted to start fearing I might quit after a few posts.
But the whim hit me - so here I am. I'm hoping this will actually encourage my girls to blog more. I love to see their thoughts in print. Maybe now I'll see more of their writing (and photos) despite one being a busy mom of three and the other who waits too long between inspirations to write.
Everyone wants something unique for their blog's name. Here's my thinking behind my choice. My nickname from my dad was Bug. He often called my mom June Bug (her name was June) since June is my middle name, we became Big Bug and Little Bug. And as I grew older, it just became Bug.
No one calls me Bug now (my dad is deceased), but my e-mail account is dannabug and I have fond memories of my dad's nickname for me. So I thought maybe I'd use DannaBug. But Danna Bugle with hyphens seemed right. First hyphen to emphasize the 2 "N's" in my name (another post, for sure). Second, to separate bugle so Bug would stand out while keeping the idea of bugle (v: to sound or summon by a call).
My hope is that Danna's Bugle will sound out some encouragement, summon some kindred spirits, bless many, and be an outlet for me as I journal.