Turkey w/ Cornbread Dressing

My grandmother, oh, how I loved her and how much I still miss her terribly! 

She was the only one in our family to make dressing, no one else would attempt it, so I decided, I CAN DO IT!  And I did!  It is so very good, and mom even gave me grandma's own recipe written by her as well.  Love it and cherish it...

So, I decided to share it with you.  I may make a couple little changes, such as, add more broth because we like it a bit more moist, and sometimes we saute the onions and celery, and other times, I simply chop and throw them in.  It's up to you.

I had a very sweet friend take Grandmother's recipe and put it on a plate for me!  Love it!!!

I hope you will try it and then make it your own.  It is so good!  Enjoy!!!

What is a favorite Thanksgiving recipe of yours?

Are you hosting or going somewhere for your Thanksgiving?

Be grateful in all things...

Always Experiencing Him,
Jody

ThanksGiving

This was last year's Thanksgiving, but you might get ideas for your own "Thanksgiving Tree" that we did.  It was great!  It will be here soon!  Are you thankful each and every day?  God is so good!!!

Our ThanksGiving Day dinner with Steve's family and my parents.  Steve's older brother, Gary, cutting the turkey. Wow!  Doesn't this look like a spread?  Talk about stuffed, we were be-yond stuffed!

My parents are on the left and Steve's parents on the right next to him.  They have been lifelong friends.  So very blessed.

As a family we read each verse and wrote what we were thankful for on the back of each leaf of The ThanksGiving Tree,  from Ann Voskamp, then hung the leaves on the beautiful branches to create our own thanks Giving tree.

Print out your own for next year, or make a ThanksGiving Tree every day and see how much you have to be grateful for at the end of the year.  Sarah has a quote from my mother on her blog that my mom loves, 

                    "What if, when we wake up in the morning, all we have was what we thanked God for today." 

(unknown) 

Think about that when making your ThanksGiving Tree...or writing your 1000 gifts.  Yes, I'm still writing and recording mine, there is so very much I am grateful for.

What are you thankful for this ThanksGiving?

Always Experiencing Him,

Jody

What are You Thankful For?

(Photo by Jenny Dake)

Life on the farm is nothing short of AMAZING!!!  Is it work?  Oh, yes, it is...more so for my parents still than us, as they still farm wholeheartedly.  

                              I would not take anything for my upbringing and my children's raising and teaching from the farm.  The life lessons instilled, from a baby in a playpen in the dairy barn, (which I don't remember :) ) to learning to work together and loving it, are invaluable.  

             Priceless...

Give thanks for where you are today as we enter this Thanks-Giving season; it is the reason for joy, True joy, from our God and Creator.

On the farm, and out of doors, you get to really see God's handiwork ALL around. 

"You are my God, and I give thanks to You;

You are my God, I extol You.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;

For His lovingkindness is everlasting."

Psalm 118:28-29

Do you live on a farm, in the city, America, other countries?

Where do you see Jesus at work today?

What are 3 things you are grateful for this day?

Always Experiencing Him,

Jody

Our ThanksGiving Home

Always giving thanks...let God be your true joy and there is nothing He cannot pull you out of, the deepest pit, the hardest sorrow, the most anxious heart, stop where you are.Right.Now.and just give thanks.  Say 3 things you are thankful for.  Do it, now.  Then, write them down, and when stress comes, a bad thought, a hard word, a vengeful attitude, say 3 more things, oh, God is so good to us, even, yes, even in the hard times, those days when you simply cannot force yourself to go on.  He Is There.  

                                Jesus is the real reason for our joy, so rejoice.  In Him.  Rejoice.

Ann Voskamp's words today included an excerpt from an old theologian, William Law, 1686-1761.

If anyone would tell you the shortest, surest way to all happiness—

he must tell you to make it a rule to yourself to thank and praise God for everything that happens to you.

For it is certain that whatever seeming calamity happens to you, if you thank and praise God for it, you turn it into a blessing.

Could you therefore work miracles, you could not do more for yourself than by this thankful spirit, for it heals with a word speaking, and turns all that it touches into happiness.

… it be the noblest sacrifice that the greatest Saint can offer unto God.”

~ William Law, A Serious Call to a Devout & Holy Life

"Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name;

Make known His deeds among the peoples.

Sing to Him, sing praises to Him;

Speak of all His wonders.

Glory in His holy name;

Let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad.

Seek the Lord and His strength;

Seek His face continually.

Remember His wonders which He has done,

His marvels and the judgments uttered by His mouth."

Psalm 105:1-5

What are three things you are thankful for today?

          Our family holding hands in prayer.

          My husband and son together in town.

          Cooking together...many, many more.

(from the archives)

Always Experiencing Him,

Jody

A Happy Thanksgiving

I am backing up one holiday to finally put our Thanksgiving Day meal on.  My brother-in-law and his wife had us over to their home because they have a totally open basement that is big enough for a still ever growing family.  We wanted to have a "traditional" meal with ALL sitting around one table and ALL the food being passed.  We did it!  We had 9 tables together and decorated it and even used REAL dishes.  It was wonderful and so much fun!  There were 25 present and that included my parents as well.  I am the only in-law with still living parents and both our parents' have been lifelong friends.  My sis and family as you recall are in AZ, so since Steve's family is bigger and all are here, we include my parents.  

Steve's parents are on this end and mine at the other end.  Wish I had taken pics of the decorations, they were so pretty and the dessert table, oh the dessert table!  Sorry you missed out!  Enjoy!

My parents on this end.

My dad has a poem he found and enjoys reading it every Thanksgiving, and so with Julia playing softly on the dulcimer, he read, "My Cup Overflows."

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and always give thanks, always giving thanks.

Always Experiencing Him,
Jody

Faithful Fridays

"Have faith in God"

Mark 11:22

C. H. Spurgeon says, "Faith is that which enables the soul to march victoriously along the road of the commandments.  Love can make the soul move more swiftly, but it's faith that carries it.   With faith you can do all things, without faith you will neither have the inclination nor the power to do anything in the service of God.  If you would find the people who serve God the best, you must look for those with the most faith. 

Would you be comfortable and happy?  

Would you enjoy Christianity?  

Would you be a cheerful Christian and not a gloomy one?  

Then 'have faith in God.'"

Still counting beyond "1000 Gifts."

My #1375 - #1435

fear * Faith * What really is there to fear? * strong winds coarsing by * autoimmune? * RA? * grateful THROUGH it all * for insulin pumps * continuous glucose monitors * sound of the mighty rushing wind * wrap around porches * new grass bursting forth from the ground * a new life in Christ * God using a daughter in a new life * willing hearts * hearts longing for Him * turkeys on the hill * cow coming to watering trough * deer running across the road * sharing pictures with a friend * husband home from work * warmth of a sunny day * son seeing 1st butterfly of this year * ooh, I saw MY 1st butterfly * gentle walk to the spring * daughter taking pics of a newly budding red maple * geese flying overhead in a perfect V * calves grazing near creek * water rushing out of the tile * sun dancing on the water * can hear turkeys down the road * tractor in the distance * the bugs are out - sign of spring * grass is getting greener * I won a book from a blog! * John MacArthur's book Found: God's Will - an eye opening read *  I have His grace * I have enough strength * I am full of His Spirit *  I can love all I need to * He is ALL * when tests are good & there really isn't a reason * the sun - the perfect distance away * son working on math * prescription vitamin D * daughters having a wonderful time in AZ * my sister loving the assistance * the cool at the end of the day * husband taking off couple extra days * owls calling from the ridge * windows open for the day * clothes hanging in the sun * chicken, rice, & steamed broccoli * discussing movie for literature * ordering pure maple syrup from a friend * sleeping, curled up kitty-Nala * Nala chasing her tail & rolling * new pillows - cheap but fluffy * trying to find new tennis shoes to fit my feet * a new morning * safe from tornadoes which touched down elsewhere near us

Join me again next week for Faithful Fridays, and start counting your own 1000 gifts.  Simply buy a journal and start counting.

Always Experiencing Him, 

Jody

Give Thanks

Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart

Take the time today, to-day, 

to be grateful for everything;

for those God has put in your life, 

the trials you may be facing

that are making you stronger than ever;

for your cup that overflows,

for life and breath,

Him who gives Salvation,

who IS Salvation.

I bow my head in silence;

My glad heart hums a tune;

I give God back His morning-

He hands me afternoon.  

Always Experiencing Him,
Jody

It Was Good

"Then God said, 'Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth'; and it was so.  God made the two

 great lights, the greater light to govern the day, and the lesser light to govern the night; He made the stars also.  God placed them in the expanse of the the heavens to give light on the earth, and to govern the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness; and God saw that it was good.  There was evening and there was morning, a fourth day."

Genesis 1:14-19

These pictures were taken on a very bright and sunshiny day!

The "greater light" on this particular day came after some very gloomy, dreary days.

"...and God saw that it was good."

We needed to see this great light.  Sitting on the front porch, looking out at the farm, inhaling the fresh "farm" air, was what we needed!  

We love clouds, but the dreariness almost had us down.

We said, as God did, "it was good."

I know the pictures do NOT do the sun justice, but imagine sitting and taking in all the vitamin D it had to offer.  Feel the warmth!  Squint your eyes!  It was simply joyous!  Much to be grateful for!

I couldn't help but take a snapshot directly of the sun.  I couldn't even look at it, it was so bright.  But, I had to try and capture that moment of the warmth on my skin, the joy in my heart, and the reminder of warm weather to come.  God gives us His best, in the cold, in the cloudy, rainy days, and teaches us to always look forward to more of Him.

Always looking for more of Him!

#1299-1320

daughters going to AZ

daughters helping families

46 degrees but sun is shining!

smelling fresh air - the farm

sitting on front porch

Wilson's new baby and home

husband home

son w/new license driving me

dad better after surgery

4 of the best kids!

cookies and cream ice cream

Dayspring products

Sarah feeding 8 round bales

Jamin going with cousin to get calves

fixing food for neighbors

cousin helping treat our horse

feeding while dad recovers

all kids have licenses - WOW!

me not making all trips to town

hair appts.

Daddy/Daughter Dance

Dad's Dr. appt. after surgery

girls with sniffles

home with girls

Always Experiencing Him,
Jody