Good morning everyone!  It is beginning to feel a LOT like Thanksgiving!  But since I have several things on my mind, I believe this will be a random type of post.  Are you ready?
1.  I am going to bake a turkey today!  Yay!  I love the smell of a turkey baking and I love the achievement of it looking nice and brown.  I can hardly wait to prepare it for the oven!   We are attending Thanksgiving at my sister-in-law’s home, and I’ve been assigned the yearly deviled eggs and squash casserole.  So why am I baking a turkey?  Because I want it to feel like Thanksgiving here too.  :o)  (BTW — anyone have a good squash casserole recipe?!?!?!  I don’t make these or eat them really.  I grabbed a recipe off line last year and from what I remember — it wasn’t a great hit.)
2.  Ok Mac lovers.  I thought I was supposed to be IN LOVE with my Mac versus my old PC.  It hasn’t happened yet.  I do like the fact that it is light and so portable, but so far — that is about the extent of my fascination.   I did enjoy the iMovie package back in the early summer when I actually had time to create a video.
3.  I must get back on track with a healthy lifestyle!  I must get back on track with a healthy lifestyle!  I must get back on track with a healthy lifestyle!  The Lord led me to 1 Peter 1:14 which states, “Because you are children who obey God, don’t live the kind of lives you once lived. Once you lived to satisfy your desires because you didn’t know any better.”  (Emphasis mine.)  Yep, I have been satisfying my flesh ever since the corn maze.  I have allowed myself to eat whatever foods my noisy flesh demands.  Quiet down flesh!  Today you WILL BE denied!
4.  My precious daughter is very excited about Santa, but I cannot lie to her.  I just can’t do it.  My husband and I must be in agreement about this whole Santa thing, but we haven’t been alone to talk.  I have received a lot of wonderful advice from friends on Facebook. 

My friend Wendy posted this suggestion:  Beth, we used a book called, “Santa Are You For Real?” to help our children understand the tradition of Santa while still keeping Christ at the center of Christmas. It is written by Harold Myra. Hope this helps!

I had advice supporting the fact that I don’t want to lie to my child. I had advice to let her enjoy the “magic” while she is young.  I know in my heart what I am to do, but in the event any of you want to check out this book — I thought I’d share.
5.  My Daddy is a strong, determined man.  So far, he continues to keep plowing ahead.  God bless him.  I stopped by my parents house Monday and Daddy had been on his riding lawn mower!  I don’t know how he made it out there, put air in the tire and road the mower!  He could barely move when I arrived and suggested I go park it (which he would have NEVER done in the past).  It must be incredibly hard for him to lean on us.  A Daddy is supposed to protect and lead the way.  God bless my sweet Daddy.
6.  I have knocked out a good bit of my Christmas shopping and have 99% of what I’ve purchased already wrapped.  Oh yes I have!  I also think I will finally surprise my husband with a gift this year.  (Sorry, I can’t tell you what it is because what if he actually took a second to read my blog?  He usually doesn’t, but I can’t risk it.)  
He is the hardest person to surprise!  He purchases everything he wants, so he normally ends up with underwear, shirts, sweater, jeans, and the like.  
I think the present he has enjoyed the most has been a knife sharpener.  For Stephanie and others who have country boys — you know, who carry pocket knives — may I suggest this kit?  Look up Lansky Sharpeners. (No, I’m not being compensated for suggesting them.  I just wanted to share a gift that my husband has continued to enjoy over and over.)
7.  My daughter’s class created a Thanksgiving recipe book and it was HILARIOUS!!!  Here are a couple of the recipes in case you need some for your Thanksgiving meal. 
My daughter’s apple pie recipe:
  • 4 yellow apples
  • 2 peppermints
  • 3 red jelly beans
For the pie crust:
  • 3 scoops of jelly
  • 4 cherries
Add apples, peppermints & jelly beans to crust.  Bake in oven for 4 minutes at 2 degrees. 
Here is her friend Landon’s turkey recipe:
  • 14 pound turkey
  • Put 14 slices of cooked bologna on top
  • Stuff turkey with waffles
Cook in microwave for 1 minute.
The entire book was a hoot!  Definitely gave me a good chuckle!  If you decide to use one of these recipes, let me know how it tastes.
If I don’t get another chance to post before Thursday, I pray everyone has a blessed Thanksgiving!