Happy Canadian Thanksgiving! Or, as we use to say it as children in our household, "Happy Thanks-Goodies!"
My first Thanksgiving away from family and a first celebration in our new home. Well, not actually "in" our home...but in our new little church home. One of the reasons we came up here was to be a part of a small church fellowship. Faith is a huge part of my life, even though it is not something I blog about regularly, with the variety of people I get to connect with online.
Our little church of maybe 70 people, threw together a fundraising Thanksgiving dinner for World Vision's Malaria Net project. I had always thought that HIV/Aids and Starvation were the main killers of children, but apparently not. Malaria is. It went really well, but it was not my highlight of our festivities. There is just so much need in our world, right? And we can do these projects and they are all needed and important. My most important one is my children. Raising them up, to Love, to Give, and to Be. My favorite quote in this year's Oak Meadow Waldorf curriculum is this underlined one below:
Back to festival highlights...There was so much food left over, that after church the next day, food was reheated and the many untouched platters from the night before were served. And so the feasting continued into Sunday afternoon. I guess word travels really fast in our small community of 5000. Within minutes, homeless person after homeless person showed up ready to eat. Our church potluck was transformed into a Thanksgiving soup kitchen. This was my weekend highlight, not the most comfortable one, if I'm honest. But a moment for our children to feel empathy and have awareness of the greater world and it's needs around them.
Thanks and Giving!
My first Thanksgiving away from family and a first celebration in our new home. Well, not actually "in" our home...but in our new little church home. One of the reasons we came up here was to be a part of a small church fellowship. Faith is a huge part of my life, even though it is not something I blog about regularly, with the variety of people I get to connect with online.
Our little church of maybe 70 people, threw together a fundraising Thanksgiving dinner for World Vision's Malaria Net project. I had always thought that HIV/Aids and Starvation were the main killers of children, but apparently not. Malaria is. It went really well, but it was not my highlight of our festivities. There is just so much need in our world, right? And we can do these projects and they are all needed and important. My most important one is my children. Raising them up, to Love, to Give, and to Be. My favorite quote in this year's Oak Meadow Waldorf curriculum is this underlined one below:
Back to festival highlights...There was so much food left over, that after church the next day, food was reheated and the many untouched platters from the night before were served. And so the feasting continued into Sunday afternoon. I guess word travels really fast in our small community of 5000. Within minutes, homeless person after homeless person showed up ready to eat. Our church potluck was transformed into a Thanksgiving soup kitchen. This was my weekend highlight, not the most comfortable one, if I'm honest. But a moment for our children to feel empathy and have awareness of the greater world and it's needs around them.
Thanks and Giving!
Happy Thanks-Goodies!
Sounds like a wonderful time! I love the quote from the curriculum! It, in a fancy way, says what my mind and heart have always wanted for our kids and WHY we homeschool. Logan has a slow pace that I can get frustrated with. But I so want him to LOVE learning, and LOVE what happens around him, and have the opportunity to take the time he needs to fully explore what it is his heart needs to. Thank you for sharing that quote and that reminder. I often have to tell myself to stop pushing him, and just let him be.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you had such a rich serving opportunity. I thought of you a lot this weekend and I hope each new holiday that you're away from family begins to have rich new tradition for your own little family. Happy Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteWonderful post Patty-Jean...and a wonderful focus...even in the difficult serving, we see Christ and the truth of walking with the poor in spirit. Many blessings to you. We never got to meet up...but we will be praying for you and your family.
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving! :) I love your pictures, and that is probably the best way anyone could have spent Thanksgiving. I also had to smile at the drawing at the end of your post. :)
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving! It sounds like you are part of an amazing community! I have to say that I am jealous. I love that quote btw. I hope its ok if I post it somewhere.. maybe on my FB page?
ReplyDeletexoxo serena