Giving Thanks Again. And Again. And Again....

I often feel that I have so much for which to be thankful I barely know where to begin. And when I do begin, I feel I'm saying the same thing as I've said a hundred times before. I almost feel like God is worthy of thanksgiving that is SO much more glorious than the same-old same-old words I repeat.

Does this ring true for you? Are you nodding and thinking, Yes! I feel like that too!

I was so glad to read something this morning that encouraged me and delighted my soul at the same time, and so I wanted to tell y'all about it.

We were reading 2 Samuel 22, where David's song of praise is recorded for us. In this wonderful song, David recognizes that he owes everything to God's wonderful mercy and His faithfulness. To Him is ALL the glory! He composes, by the Holy Spirit's leading, this outburst of praise and thanksgiving, but it's the note at the end of the chapter in RHB's Study Bible that really warmed my heart.


"David is careful to give the Lord the thanks and praise He deserves. Similarly, we should be conscious of, and sensitive to, all that God does for us in preserving, protecting, and providentially meeting our every need. Like David, we should lift our hearts  and voices in praise and thanksgiving. 


Now, listen to this next bit:


"God does not grow weary of the praise of His people, even when they are praising Him for the same things over and over again."


Oh, that is so precious! Do you, like me, feel like today's thanksgivings are so like yesterday's were? So often I feel like a broken record, repeating my thanks for repeated blessings. But ...

God does not grow weary of the praise of His people!

The comment goes on:


"That David's song in this chapter is virtually the same as Psalm 18 directs us never to forget the Lord's benefits to us and never to cease praising Him for them. It is quite acceptable to repeat; God is not looking for originality so much as He desires genuineness and sincerity."


I found this so encouraging, and like all the wonderful encouragements of Scripture, it speaks more of who and what GOD is, rather than anything good in us. All His kindnesses to us speak of His goodness. His daily mercies to us speak of His faithfulness. And His delight in hearing our praises - even our poor, oft-repeated, poorly worded praises - speaks of His nature of love rather than anything lovely in our worship.

And so I am encouraged to repeat my prayers of thankfulness. Yes, even the same faltering, repetitions, because HE delights to hear the voice of His child. 

Yet another reason for never-ending thankfulness.

Memories, part I

Following on from my last post, where I posted lots (and lots!) of photos I'd taken from this house - yes, this house that will soon no longer be our house - our home - this post will not concentrate on what I can see from my window, but rather on some of the memories that have been created over our years here.

Of course, they are so much more precious than even the most stunning of sunsets. Wouldn't you agree?

(When I actually began to write this post, I realised I have far too many memories for just one post. This one will specifically look at specific annual events. In another post, we'll look back at some of the memories that stem from folk who've stayed with us. And in yet another post, well, we'll take a wander down memory lane at some of the memories made simply because this was our home.)

*     *     *

On the Saturday closest to the 5th of November each year, our kids and The Cousins would begin to build a bonfire.

Normally, as much fun was had in the building of the fire, as in the burning of it.

Poor Guy .... erm, or .... maybe not!

There is no doubt that one of best aspects of our kids living here has been the proximity of these cousins.

This kinda sums it up:

*      *      *

 Some of our homeschool get-togethers have made wonderful memories for me. Because there are so few of us homeschooling on the island, the bonds between us are strong.

At times, we celebrated British events, like Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee.

(Aye, you Americans can kid us all you like, but we know you love our Queen, and would swap her for most of the Presidents you've had over the 63 years she's been our Head of State. Go on... admit it!)

The preparation was always fun

the looking back at history was always fascinating,

the making, and especially the eating of food was pretty good too,

but the people is always what made the day special. On this particular day, the sunshine made us abandon the house and head to 'our beach'.

Definitely a good choice :)

*     *     *

We also, as y'all know, celebrated some American events. 

And sometimes, we were even privileged to have Americans join us!

And we would end the day with the signing of the Constitution. Aye, for all the fun involved, we never forgot we were homeschoolers. 

Or something like that ;)

Sometimes, during our (fairly frequent) American celebration, Jackson would forget himself, and would appear to be supporting the wrong side.

Or ... right side?

*     *     *

DR's birthday falls in July, and the way in which we celebrated his 18th birthday became a bit on an annual event.

Of course, we had cake ...

and food ...

And of course ... people!

Lots of people always make for a fun time,

but sometimes it only takes a pair of ... well, you know the kind of folks ... 

*     *     * 

Thanskgiving Day became another excuse reason for us homeschoolers to get together.

We can surely say these words from Psalm 136: "Give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good". 

The children always had fun filling the tree with 'thankful for...' leaves.

And treasure hunts for letters to make up a sentence went down a treat too.

Stories of the Mayflower, of the first Thanksgiving, and placing the tail on the turkey made up part of a very happy and fun homeschoolers' get-together.

*     *     *

Boxing Day family get-togethers were also an annual event, with the Builder's side of the family gathering for much merriment and laughter.

This past Boxing Day saw all the aunts and uncles and all the cousins together. Given the way our lives are going, we were keenly aware that such a gathering may not happen again for quite some time. 

My advice to y'all? Get together! 

Just do it. Make excuses. Or feel the need for no excuse - even better!

*     *     *

Get-togethers like the one photographed here had no real reason. Just kids deciding to go ten-pin bowling, come back here for a buffet, and then spend some time playing Articulate, blethering, and then worshipping God together.

See ... no event needed!

But plenty memories made.

A Heart Transformed with Thanksgiving

At the beginning of yesterday's homeschooling get-together, our 'Thankfulness Tree' looked like this:

Bare.

It doesn't look too good, does it?

By the end of the day, this is what we had.

Yes, a few leaves of 'things for which I am thankful', and our tree is transformed. 

I couldn't but think our tree was a picture of our heart. How often our heart is empty, cold and barren. Would it not do us good at times like these to stop and fill our prayers with thanksgiving. If we added leaf after leaf of 'What I am Thankful For' to our prayers, would our hearts not soon blossom like the tree on our wall blossomed?

Let's try it. This coming week, let's set aside time to pray prayers of thanksgiving only. Let's do what the song suggested: 

Count your blessings, name them one by one. 

And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

David, the Psalmist had lots going on in his life. He had heartaches involving his children; he had wars to fight and a nation to keep. He had sin to confess; and the consequences of sin to bear. And yet when we read the Book of Psalms, we see that David - inspired by the Holy Spirit - has written psalms of thanksgiving and praise over and over again.

Yes, we may have busy lives. We may have our fair share of ups and downs; of heartaches and trials. But surely we can spend time each day consciously counting our blessings and thanking God, the Giver of all good and perfect gifts, for all He has done for us and is doing for us.

We began yesterday's Thanksgiving get-together by singing the first two verses of Psalm 92. (Scottish Metrical)

To render thanks unto the Lord

it is a comely thing,

And to Thy name, O thou most High

due praise aloud to sing.

Thy loving-kindness to shew forth

when shines the morning light;

And to declare Thy faithfulness

with pleasure every night.

David also says in Psalm 34: "I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth". I truly believe that my own heart will be transformed from cold, barren and dull .... to being fruitful, attractive and warm, if only I take my own advice and THANK my God for my innumerable and immeasurable blessings.

Giving Thanks ... Beginning at my Childhood

I hardly know where to begin in my list of 'Things for which I am Thankful' ... I can begin, but where would it ever end. My blessings are innumerable, and seem immeasurable. For this post, I'm going to concentrate on my past and on some of the blessings I enjoyed in my childhood years.


1. I am thankful for the parents God gave me. 

My childhood was one of total love and security. I took it completely for granted, and it simply didn't occur to me that this was not the norm for everyone else. It's only now, as I've become much older, that I realize how amazingly blessed my childhood was. 

I read the horrors of the hundreds of thousands of baby girls who are killed in the womb before they ever see the light of day - simply because they are girls. And I begin to grasp the blessing of growing up in a family, in an era, and in a culture where I was never, ever made to feel inferior because I was a girl. 

I become aware of what some children have to suffer because of parents who have addictions and who are violent and abusive, and I begin to grasp the amazing blessing of growing up not even knowing such lives existed.

I read of so many devastatingly sad lives, and I can only praise God for the wonderfully happy childhood with which He blessed me.

I am thankful for my Mum:

... who was at home every single day when I came home from school;

... who did all the household 'chores' much more efficiently than I do, and who did them all - as far as I could see - with joy in her heart;

... who always let us know that school holidays were her favourite time of the year, and who always dreaded the end of holidays and the beginning of a new term. She was happiest when we were all at home, and for the sense of security that brought, I will always be thankful;

... who loved to have an open door. I have wonderful memories of lots of aunts, uncles and cousins with us for Christmas or New Year dinners; I knew as I got older that I could invite any friends to our home, whether for a meal or to stay for a while; and I know it was easy for my childhood friends to come into my home any time.


I am thankful for my Dad:

... who worked so hard, often six days each week, and without complaining. I never, ever heard my Dad moan about 'another day at work'. Not ever.

... who, despite his long working hours, spent many evenings playing Monopoly with us kids. Now that the Builder and I are at the stage of life at which he then was, I see more and more how much of a labour of love these Monopoly games were.

... who, along with Mum, thought nothing of taking us off school on Wednesdays in May or in August so we could all go for a day trip to Harris. When he had a day off, it was on a Wednesday - not ideal when Saturday was our day off school. These 'unofficial' days off sorted that. I'm not aware that our education suffered significantly, but I am aware that precious memories were made - memories of picnic baskets, of fishing rods, or long sunny days roaming Harris hills. 

... and one more thing: my Dad was not at all concerned for what other people thought or may have said about his family. I remember him saying on a number of occasions that 'what other people do is not our business, and what other people say about what we do isn't our worry. What God thinks of what we do is all that matters'. This attitude made a deep, deep impression on me, and I am very thankful for it.

Yes, I'm very thankful to God for the parents He gave me.


2. I am thankful for the place in which we live, and where I grew up.

In a similar way to my home life, life in the wider community was also blessed. In my naivety, I thought all boys and girls could wander home from school, taking hours to meander the mile between school and home. I had no idea that it wasn't the norm not to fear anyone, and not to learn not to talk to strangers. When my friends and I walked home from school each afternoon, we would stop for a game of football on an empty patch of land beside the river. We'd stand at the bridge and throw stones into the water and then we'd find a stone to kick all the way home, following it into its numerous digressions into the ditches. We'd saunter down the road as if we had all the time in the world - after all, we did, didn't we? We'd stop off to say Hi to an old cailleach who may have happened to be at her door as we passed. We'd accept sweets or biscuits from anyone who offered them, and we didn't know that other children lived totally different lives.

I didn't know there was such a thing as fear. For that, I truly give thanks to God.


3. I am thankful for the people who were my neighbours.

The Builder often laughs at me because I know so few people on the island and even in our district. He says this: 'If they weren't in Taigh Stingear or in Taigh a' Mhinisteir, Anne will have no clue who they are'.  These two houses were next door to our home, and he's not far wrong! I really knew very few people by name - remember what I said about my Dad? He never spoke about people and what they were doing (I don't mean just gossiping, but even in general chit-chat). But these two homes that I mentioned have such warm and happy memories for me. I don't want to mention names on the blog without people's permission, but Taigh Stingear was always such a warm home for me. The kitchen always seemed to smell of scones and of strong tea - oh, this is bringing so many memories flooding into my mind, making me smile, laugh and yes, cry! And Taigh a' Mhinisteir was the same: warm and loving, it felt to me like an extension of my own home. To this day it reminds me of my Grandpa and the people he loved, and that fills me with joyful sadness. These 'extensions' to our home allowed for a neighbourliness that is fast becoming a thing of the past. I am thankful to have grown up during a time when wandering into my neighbour's home for a cuppa was considered normal. And I'm thankful for bonds that were created then and that last a lifetime.

My darling Grandpa, front right, with three of his nephews.

Preparing for Thanksgiving

Tomorrow, we will have our Thanksgiving dinner. Today, I went out to the plot to lift some of the vegetables we'll eat.

Yet another cause of thanksgiving...

Along with the turkey, we'll have roasted carrots, parsnips and red onion...

... and brussel sprouts, which I par-boiled today and tomorrow I'll stir-fry them with butter and bacon.

The turkey is swimming in Nigella Lawson's brine, awaiting tomorrow's roasting.

I made a couple of Apple and Raspberry crumbles today, and (in the interests of my guests, of course) tested one of them tonight. I've never made it before, so can't really tell whether it tasted like it ought to taste or not.

I liked it, but I'm no crumble connoisseur. 

I hope y'all had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day.

Tomorrow, I'll keep all of you who are on Homeschool's Facebook page up to date with how the cooking's going.

Tomorrow, whilst I slave over a hot stove, you Americans will be either:

a) eating left-over-turkey sandwiches

b) washing dishes you didn't have the energy to wash tonight

c) groaning over how much you ate today

or

d) pushing and shoving your way through Black Friday sales (that will bring out the best in y'all....ahem).

Pre-Thanksgiving on Patrice's Porch

Good morning, Patrice. And a Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends here on the porch! Us Brits don't do Thanksgiving like you folks do, but because so much of our reading  materials and curriculum materials are American, we feel like we're part of your celebration.


It's blowing a hoolie here today. The ferry was cancelled last night, and has already been cancelled for the end of the week. I'm so glad I'm not having to cross today. I feel Bleugh! just thinking of it!


And so on to your first question...


1. What are you thankful for?


Oh boy, where do I begin? Those of you've visited me on my blog for some time will know of the countless blessings I have, and you will know there are too many to write here. So, just for something different, I am going to say that I am thankful for the internet.


Yes, I know the internet gets a bad press, and on many occasions, it's with good reason. But I don't know where I'd be without it. All my schooling materials are either downloaded, bought online, or are at least discovered online. 


I have so many encouraging 'friends' online: some of them don't know I even exist! I also have online friends with whom I am in touch frequently. I am so thankful I've 'met' them. They have been of such blessing to me. I hope we meet this side of eternity, but if we don't, we'll meet in endless praise to our Saviour.


And despite a lot of my blog-life, whether writing or reading, being not-strictly-necessary to my life, I am thankful for my daily light relief.


So, all in all, warts an' all, I am thankful for this place we call the internet.


2. Jellied cranberry or whole berry cranberry?


Say, wha'?? 


3. How many will sit at your dinner table Thursday?


Let me first point out that here, in the UK, in English we'd say 'on Thursday'. Got it? We do things on days. We don't do things...days. Get it? We'd have people sitting at our table on Thursday.


You guys care? No, thought not. Still, I thought it my civic duty to let y'all know.


Oh, and by the way, we don't in Gaelic. 


Don't do things on days. We just do things..days.


Is this clear? Crystal clear?


What was the question? Oh yes, dinner table and numbers. Well, our Thanksgiving day, here in Lewis, is on Thursday, but we don't do Thanksgiving like you guys over there. We have Thanksgiving services, but we've never developed a family-get-together type tradition. However, me being me, and me always looking for an excuse for a good scoff, we are having a Thanksgiving turkey on Friday. (Did you notice that?.... on Friday). Aye, I'll make English scholars of all you Americans yet. So, on Friday, we plan to have eleven around our table. 


Man alive. That was a long answer, just to say: 11


4. Would anyone who visits the porch be interested in some type of Christmas card or small gift exchange?


Well, I think it would be a lovely idea if you're in the same country. Postage would probably be prohibitive for sending and receiving to and from here. But I'd say to y'all to Go for It! I think you'll love it.


5. Do you venture out on Black Friday?


Er... wrong country again. Does it have something to do with the cranberries in Question 2? 


Actually, I know what it is, and it's probably akin to our Boxing Day sales. What can I say? I'm in Lewis... and linking back to the first question, I'm thankful I can shop online. Phew! All that rushing, and stamping, and grabbing, and bargains, and.... er, hang on... I'm beginning to think I'm missing out on something here.


Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day tomorrow, all you Americans. Like you, we have so very, very much to be thankful for.

"Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever." Ps 106v1

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends!

Tomorrow, we have a thanksgiving service at our church too, although our thanksgiving day bears no resemblance to your one.


I remember hearing of an old lady who lived on our island when things were very different to the way they are now. She was poor. I mean, really poor.


She sat at her table one day and all she had on her plate was a chunk of bread. She bowed her head to give thanks, and was heard to say these words:

"All this, and Christ besides"

If only Christ had the place in our hearts He had in this woman's heart!


She needed nothing more. Pray we would have this spirit too. After all, if we have Christ as our Saviour, we have everything.


Everything! 


God bless y'all as you spend time with family and loved ones.


Enjoy your meal. Enjoy each other. Enjoy the day off. Just don't forget the One who has given us all that we have.


Love y'all.  

17th Century for the Wee Guy

As we approached the American Thanksgiving last year, we were reading this book.

The Wee Guy was also studying 17th Century History. It was a fascinating time - both the 17th century and our time of studying it.


We had a lapbook from A Journey Through Learning, and we had a great time learning about King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I; about King James (I of England; VI of Scotland) and the Separatists

about the Mayflower, the Mayflower Compact and about the First Americans.

We went on to learn the amazing story of Squanto and of the First Thanksgiving

and decorated our walls.

We had a great time studying this period of history, and the fascination with it has never left the Wee Guy.

This year, we are moving further West. We're loving the Little House books, and the insight into this period of American history.