Giving Thanks

Most don't know this, but my brother moved to Minnesota at the end of June this past year.

He didn't just move to MN...he moved to our same city, where his company (which is what brought him here), is located.  After 10 years, I can only say God completely and utterly made that one happen!

We've been enjoying lots of dinners together as he has gotten settled into a rental property, finding a church, and just adjusting to living in the upper Midwest again.

Thanksgiving was a first holiday we have gotten to celebrate together here.  And that bird, friends, is a 23 pounder.  Turned out DELICIOUS!

Emalyn made the place cards and chose where people would sit.  

And this little one got to try some mashed potatoes...which he loved by the way.

One of my favorite things, besides having more family close by, is the chance we had to give Thanksgiving dinner to our neighbor.

About three years ago, right around this time of year, our elderly neighbor lost his wife to an infection after a routine hip replacement surgery.  Needless to say it was quite unexpected for him an their two sons.  

They were married 60+ years, and I just discovered a few months ago, he has really only been eating canned foods for meals since she passed, when he doesn't go out to a restaurant.

If you know me and how much I love food...that's just wrong.

I've been trying to get him meals once a week or so...but I gotta tell you it hasn't been easy on top of adjusting to the third baby in our own lives!

So, we made him, and his two sons, a full on Thanksgiving Dinner.

And all I can say about that is how incredibly good it feels to give something like that to someone who truly cannot do it for themselves.

So wonderful.  And his heart is so thankful.  Which makes giving to him even more beautiful.

Now that I have tears in my eyes...I have to end this post on a lighthearted note.

The photo below shows off the other perk of having my brother close by.  The kids enjoy his humor.

I'm thankful they're building a relationship with him.

God is so good.  I'm so thankful to Him, for His salvation, and how He chooses to bless me.