We were all gathered round doing our devotions and sipping coffee, giving thanks to the One who had created this day. 8 o clock came around and found the family once again gathered. This time, we were together at the bottom of the driveway, foot to asphalt on Raphine Road.
Daniel took a rock from the gravel driveway and drew a line across the road: this was to be both our starting and finishing line. Greg grabbed the same rock and underneath the line he wrote: 10k. We were about to begin our first annual Deer Dash. (Because of different circumstances, we had to pull out of the Richmond Turkey Trot in which we were going to participate. So, we created our own course and race and named it the Raphine Deer Dash!)
Renee quickly took the lead, even though she was burdened with pushing Tirzah in her stroller. Greg easily fell into second place. Daniel and I held third position (Daniel was also burdened with an extra 50 pounds in his ruck sack!), and Marlene, in all of her athleticism, brought up the rear. The course traversed farms and bubbling brooks. We ran alongside cows grinding their morning's portion and hay bales which had been rolled to perfection. The sunshine was just magnificent as it melted the ground's frosted diamonds. Not a cloud was to be found in the sky.
The whole family finished the course in running Thanksgiving style. What a gift and what a memory!
The afternoon heralded in many more moments of Giving Thanks. Once again, due to different circumstances, (namely Aunt Debbie's new lungs!), the location of Thanksgiving was changed from a home to a beautiful park. The setup was just perfect. Two picnic tables bookended one another and were overlaid with festive table cloths. The delicious portions of food were set out in buffet style underneath the covering and the family sat together at the set tables. Children swung high in their swings and crossed quickly through the monkey bars. Perhaps every Thanksgiving from now one will be held in a park?
The evening ended with the Giving of Thanks as well during the traditional time of Thanksgiving Beans. The tradition begins with each family member receiving a bean or two. These beans will signify what that person is thankful for, in that moment. Beans from this year included:
New life for Aunt Debbie
Moments spent with Nana
Overall a good year
Uncle Mike's presence here during his R&R of deployment
4 generations gathered to break bread and give thanks
Indeed the day began with the Giving of Thanks and it ended with the Giving of Thanks. O Lord may it be so that each day begins and ends with our sacrifice of Thanksgiving.
(PS: DANIEL GOT HIS FIRST DEER TODAY!!! Story to come soon: we are SO proud of him! And a whole post of pictures to come as soon as we have an adequate internet connection)
Hello Fawn.
ReplyDeleteI stumbled upon your blog earlier this evening - actually while googling what others wore to their husbands' blue cord ceremony - and have been so encouraged by your posts! Your love for the Lord, your husband, and precious baby girl inspires me. I have also been incredibly encouraged by your many posts on Ranger School (my husband starts January 1) and just shared the link to your blog with the other wives in my husband's company at IBOLC.
I so wish we could have met while you were still at Fort Benning, but hope that your move to Fort Lewis goes very smoothly. Thank you so much for sharing!