For many of our Christmases and Thanksgivings we have been part of a group of leftovers who are not with family on the holiday itself. In TO we had friends who often hosted the leftover-crowd for a potluck holiday meal. Church has been the center of our holidays so intensely for so long that we are really making an adjustment to holidays without church.
The only other time we attempted a turkey was when I hosted family for Thanksgiving at our apartment on Weston Road. That was quite a few years ago. Since them we have contributed side dishes to the potluck usually.
This year it is just the four of us for the very first time (last year we had another teacher over for our own leftover meal). There were a few moments when LK expressed a desire for a ham that he could just warm in the oven with some slices of pineapple, but it turned out to be one of the best turkeys I have ever had.
We had homemade cranberry sauce, sausage and apple stuffing, corn, steamed baby potatoes, and of course the centrepiece of the meal, turkey. We even had sparkling grape juice to enhance the flavours on our palates. The meal was topped off with a delicious blueberry pie a la mode.
As we say down to pray, Handel's Messiah was playing in the background. I heard one of my favourite sections come on, "Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows! He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him. And with His stripes we are healed." I was so grateful for my Saviour who carries my burdens and sorrows. I am so thankful for his peace.
The only thing that could have made this Christmas better would be to have our families and friends gathered around the table with us.
Merry Christmas to all our loved ones, whether part of our earthly or heavenly family.
Enjoy the blessings of one another and the beauty of this season.
May we all be blessed with hearts filled with gratitude in the coming year.
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