thanksgiving thoughts

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of thanksgiving? Football? tons of food? avoiding certain family members? Maybe that is an unfair question. It would be more fair to ask what you are thankful for. Last year, my parents sent me an e-card in honor of this special holiday, and it made me think. But instead of thinking about what I am thankful for, the phrase "bountiful harvest" got my attention. Most people dwell this time of year on the "thanks" part of thanksgiving. And yes, the holiday is about being thankful. But what were the original "givers of thanks" thankful for? A bountiful harvest.

Many families I know hold the tradition of going around sharing what they are thankful for before the big meal. It really doesn't take much to come up with something to be thankful for, especially living in America. It might take a few more minutes to think about what you are harvesting this year.

A harvest takes careful planning, care, and dedication. What did you plant in the spring? How did you water and care for it over the summer? Did you spend time weeding? What type of harvest do you expect?

What is the bounty of your harvest this thanksgiving?


Happy thanksgiving

wondering...

is it harder to be away from a person or place you love, knowing you got to spend some time there or with them, and longing to go back? Or is it harder to have never gone, never gotten to know them, and always wondering where and who it was?

prayer requests

Os and Ps. Everything I have learned (or should have learned) about aviation maintenance, all in one weekend long oral and practical test. November 21-22. We will start Friday afternoon and go till 9pm. Then Saturday morning starts at 8 am and goes till we are done, which is usually mid afternoon.

next semester. I am trying to figure out where the heck I am going, cause I sure am not staying in Longview. I am planning on a mission trip, but I really need to figure out where I am going and who I am going with. I know God is going to provide the right thing, but it needs to happen soon.

Christmas break. I need to figure out how to effectively get all my STUFF back to Oregon. Its not going to be cheap, no matter how we do it. But we really need to figure out how it is all going to work.

thanks everyone!

Ecclesiastes 3 (according to Liz)

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

A time to live and a time to die

A time to fly and a time to stay on the ground

A time to hurt and a time to heal

A time to take down and a time to build up

A time to cry and a time to laugh

A time to fear and a time to be confident

A time to relax and a time to work hard

A time to study and a time to sleep

A time to stand still and a time to dance

A time to sing and a time to be silent

A time to listen and a time to speak

A time to bless and a time to be blessed

A time to take risks and a time to be safe

A time to love and a time to hate

A time to cause trouble and a time for peace

A time to forgive and a time to be harsh

A time to take apart and a time to put together

A time to cook and a time to clean

A time to understand and a time to be confused

A time to encourage and a time to chastise

God has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live.

I am learning to balance. Without balance, we lose sight of who we are, and why we live. We lose sight of eternity. Without balance, we aren’t happy, and can no longer do good while we live. I wish I could go back and re-do some of my college years with these things in mind. What things should you be balancing in your life?