Dear Reader:

When I watch young couples (on HGTV) trying to decide on their first home…I find myself sometimes yelling at the television…”Take Number 2….because it has a porch…believe me…you need a porch!”

When we moved from Briarwood to Miler when I was pregnant with Tommy I had a tough time adjusting to my (now) Happy Room.  Seems hard to believe. Our home in Briarwood had a beautiful front porch and when you came in the front door…there was a foyer and a living room before you made it back to the den (where all the living took place.)

The adjustment problem was that it felt like I had no privacy with visitors coming to the door on Rainbow Road and if the door was opened ….the visitor was right there looking in the den/living room/ dining room….there was no “barrier” to give one a moment to straighten up or put the fork down.

It took me a long time to get over that sense of a lack of privacy…today I don’t feel that way…because I have a porch to stop at first on the front and a deck on the back. When I added the storm doors a few years ago…it also provided that moment to halt and reflect upon entering my home.

In my latest novel I am reading… one of the characters has the same  deja vu moment that I experienced. …the importance of a porch. Her husband died suddenly in an accident and she realized later the problem lay with how she heard the call…. she didn’t have her personal “porch” to break the news a little slower…it was too fast…too quick…too straight forward. Just an emergency telephone call directly to her from the hospital.

“She wondered who the architect was who first understood that basic human need to have a place, a moment, to pause before entering, to shift from the person you were outside to the one you would become when you walked through the door.”

I love that thought…it is so true…it is like we need a moment to shed off our “work clothes- our other life” and become the person again family and friends love …our true selves

I know this Thanksgiving post is short…but remember last evening was my Thanksgiving dinner with family and friends- Wednesday, Thursday…the day doesn’t matter does it…just the gathering of all blessings coming together. . It is time to check on Mr. Turkey, put in the dressing, and “Get stuffed.”

Happy thanksgiving! May blessings fall like rain upon you and all your loved ones!

So until tomorrow….Let us give blessings for pauses in our lives thatprovide us the moment of grace we need to become who we are in God’s world.

“Today is my favorite day.”  Winnie the Pooh

*Mary Fennemore sent me some gorgeous pictures I will share with you tomorrow….thanks Mary!! What a Thanksgiving treat!!!

*We had fun!!!! Full moon and all…it gotta a little crazy but that is what family celebrations should be….you’re only two once!

The Dingles arrived first…5:30…an historical benchmark…Rutledge was ready to be here and he was hungry….Woo and little Roo.

Mollie looked great and she said she felt good but her voice was shot…she couldn’t speak….that brings back memories of me last Christmas!

Walsh has been on this detox health food program….he lost nineteen pounds in thirty days…and he said he really feels terrific…off sugar.

Kaitlyn’s parents- Butch and Susan were able to join us this year and we loved having them to share Thanksgiving.

Carrie’s birthday was Tuesday and Kitty Kat’s Wednesday….Kitty Kat couldn’t make it for the Pre-Thanksgiving dinner but will be home today. Happy Birthday wonderful nieces!

Vikki and her mother and grandmother…wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without them.

Susan helped Mollie with Lachlan…little ones really do need a village of holders so everyone can eat.

Uncle Tommy and Uncle Ben enjoying a little beer and wine.

Rutledge is going to be my storyteller…he can tell a tall tale!

A game of football in the dark broke out….Rutledge saved his tackling for the porch….Uncle Lee and dad.

What happened to the football.…”Oh no…Uncle Tommy ate it!”

Aunt Vikki came to bring re-enforcements catching the ball! It was too cute…I took Rutledge out in the street to show him the full moon…he stood on the grass in the yard and then grabbed the hem of my tunic to pull me off the road so a truck wouldn’t run me over…so sweet!

Boo and the boys….! Look at all the lovely hostess gifts I received from the family….I love you one and all…I am a most blessed woman.