This
Thanksgiving Break has been a series of good times with family; both our
immediate family as well as the extended.
I decided to take pictures of a few of the various meals that we had, to
capture some of the moments that happened in and around those good times. We were blessed indeed for the food, but the
obvious focus was with the people that we spent time with.
Todd
came home late Tuesday night. On Wednesday
morning, Jodi and I ran in a slight drizzle and then we relaxed and took care
of a few errands. Each fall, for the
last five years, we’ve taken a drive into Southern Wisconsin, and eventually
ended up at a hometown restaurant where we could get a good, solid burger. This year we took an afternoon drive up to
check out Gibbs Lake, and then drove the small, back country roads over to the
outlet for Lake Koshkonong. We ate at the
newly renovated grill named “The Anchor.”
We had eaten there back in 2012 during an outing up along the Rock River,
a few years before a fire had damaged it.
Now rebuilt, it’s a great little setting along the water, and one we’d
like to check out sometime in the summer when I’m sure it’s hopping with boaters
stopping by.
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| Gibbs Lake |
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| Family at "The Anchor" |
On
Thursday we began the day with a breakfast casserole that Cindy made. We ate it while watching the news and
parade. I called and caught up with my
friends Travis & Chris; a tradition on Thanksgiving Day for many years now. Todd and I headed out afterwards to cut up a
tree that had fallen into a nearby field so that we would have quality firewood
going into the winter months. He took a
picture of the two of us afterwards in front of our Jeep full of wood, but it
was on one of those blasted (yes I said blasted) social media sites that
disappears after 24 hours. So it exists
out there somewhere in cyberspace, I just don’t know where. We did, however, fill our wood rack and so I
enjoyed having his help and company. That
Thursday afternoon we drove to my parents house where we visited, ate a meal
Mom whipped up, looked at old pictures, and spent the night. My Dad and I came as close to “Black Friday Shopping”
as we’ve ever been, as we went out trying to find someplace that was open where
we could get evaporated milk. My Mom needed
it so she could finish her pumpkin pies.
It was touch and go, but we found a Walmart in Lake Delevan that was
open and managed to get in and out through the crowds that were already
starting to form. When we returned, I
was able to talk on the phone to my sister who lives down south, and then I
went to bed.
On
Friday we continued looking at some old pictures, and then together with my
parents, drove over to my youngest sister’s house to have Thanksgiving with her
family. We played games, snoozed, and
enjoyed a great afternoon together. We
had brought along our dogs, Kati and Kora, who are always up for what they deem
as an exciting trip with the family. In
unison we meet my sister’s new puppies.
Bella and Bear were soft, roly-poly, and cute. Although reserved at first, in the end all of
the dogs were romping around (both inside and out) and fun to watch as they played. We drove home late that evening.
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| My nephew with all of the "pups" |
On
Saturday morning, Jodi and I ran 7 miles in preparation for an upcoming
race. As we ran, the sun came out and it
gradually warmed up. I don’t usually
like to waste a day sitting, and watching an entire football game anymore, as I
typically like to spend it actually doing something. I will occasionally watch excerpts of a game if
I pass through the living-room, or a majority of a night game if the teams
interest me. On this day, however, I did
watch the whole Michigan-Ohio State game.
It was a great game, but it really didn’t end as I had hoped, and so I
went out afterwards to take advantage of the fading sunlight. I raked the leaves from around the fence line,
and then edged by pushing my mower around the outside. I was just about to jump on the riding mower
to mulch up any leaves left in the interior of the lawn, when Cindy told me it
was time to get ready. I hate when I can’t
finish a project, but I dragged myself away and got cleaned up. As a family we went down to Rockford’s “Stroll
on State” festival. We parked and walked
downtown to watch the lighting of the Christmas tree, and listen to the music
being performed. We also got something
to eat. Jodi and I had tacos, Todd had a
burrito, and Cindy got a quesadilla. The
meal hit the spot in the crisp air, and we ended the evening by walking along
the waterfront and looking at the lights.
On
Sunday I got up early, and ran four miles with my friend Scott before coming
home and getting ready for church. The
service had some great music that helped me align my perspective, and the
message was centered on how our spiritual growth is driven by an informed
knowledge of God. Afterwards we went to
Cindy’s parent’s house for a Thanksgiving gathering with her family. Her brother and his family was not able to
make it, as they now live out west, but her sister and her family were
there. We enjoyed a delicious meal, good
conversation, and games. My
brother-in-law and I moved a few things in and out of the garage, and then we
all sat and relaxed. The house is small,
but very cozy and comfortable.
Once back
home, I decided to go over to school to work on my lesson plans for the week,
while Jodi dove into some of her homework. When I returned, the kids decided to go to a movie together; a final outing as
siblings before everyone is back in the routine of daily life. It’s been a nice closure to a great couple of
days together, and for that I give thanks.
See you along The Way…
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