The First Thanksgiving...

Our national holiday really stems from the feast held in the autumn of 1621 by the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag to celebrate the colony's first successful harvest...GOTCHA! And you thought you were settling in to hear about the origins of the first Thanksgiving. :) Actually, today was our first Thanksgiving to celebrate as a married couple! We were unable to travel home ( a decision not easily made since THIS girl has never spent a Thanksgiving anywhere else but Arkansas) but we made the absolute BEST of it and even started some Thanksgiving traditions of our own. We started the day at Lambeau Field (home of the Green Bay Packers). Each year, the Ecumenical Ministry of Green Bay serves a HUGE Thanksgiving dinner to the elderly and less fortunate. It was a wonderful sight to see. The guests were ushered upstairs to a worship service beforehand and then brought back downstairs to enjoy lunch. Each table was formally set and had its own attendant to serve the Thanksgiving meal. There were phones set up for people to call their loved ones. It was just really special. Matt and I were greeters. We said, "Hi Ya'll" to everyone who walked in. Afterwards, we headed home to prepare our lunch! Not really knowing how to scale down the recipes to be for two, we had a 13x9 of Sweet Potato Casserole AND Dressing! We were able to find a "cute" three pound turkey at the store and so not much leftover there. Other than that, we have leftovers to last us awhile. For dessert, we enjoyed a yummy homeade Cheesecake! It was a wonderful day, full of phone calls from family and friends and much to be thankful for. What a wonderful holiday...a day solely for giving thanks for our blessings. And there are so many. Praying your day was wonderful as well and that WE are thankful today, for YOU!

Hannah Grace Crumby

My heart is burdened for a little girl in Arkansas tonight. Please keep little Hannah Grace Crumby in your prayers. To follow her story, see the link below or go to caringbridge.com and type in hannahgracecrumby.

www.hannahandcaleb.blogspot.com

GO PACK GO!

One of our favorite parts about living in Green Bay is of course, the Green Bay Packers! I never thought I could love a team like I love the Arkansas Razorbacks but I am quickly becoming a bigger Packer fan all the time. Packer fans are similar to Razorback fans in their devotion to their team but the similarities pretty much end there. Matt and I have had the priviledge of attending three Packer tailgates this season. Our sweet friends Michelle and Rob invited us to join them at their tailgates before the Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings and the Dallas Cowboys games. While there we saw everything from folks decked out in green and gold overalls, cheeseheads, cheese ties and cheese bras to bagpipers and five man bands mingling through the crowds. And people are not just enjoying burgers and hot dogs. Brats are a STAPLE at any Packer tailgate. We hope to attend a game or two next season, as there is a raffle each year for tickets for residents of Brown County (Green Bay and surrounding areas). Go Pack Go!

SLOPPY MATT'S

Last night, Matt and I made what I like to call, SLOPPY MATT'S! We had both recently expressed a desire to make some SLOPPY JOE'S and so last night we headed to the store, grabbed some Turkey Meat (in an effort to be a tiny bit healthier), a SLOPPY JOE Packet and Diced Tomatoes (in lieu of Tomato Paste-which we don't particularly like) and last BUT certainly not least, some buns. These are not just your ordinary buns, these are Green and Yellow, Green Bay Packer Buns! On game weekends, the store is full of Green and Yellow---Hamburger Buns, Hot Dog Buns, Cookies, Cakes-you name it! Anyway, I just had to post on our yummy dinner last night and the ever so unique buns on which our SLOPPY MATT"S were consumed. ENJOY!

I HEART FALL!

To me, Fall is the MOST wonderful time of the year... Football (Go Hogs! Go Packers!), Sweatshirts, Chili, Fayetteville, Thanksgiving (Cherry Cheesecake), the Pumpkin Patch at Vanzant Fruit Farms, preparing for the Christmas season, Caramel Apples, Spiced Tea

I have been looking forward to THIS Fall in particular---our first in Green Bay, our first as a married couple, the cooler weather coming on quicker. I could not wait to decorate our home for the "Harvest." And, to top it off, we just spent the day making Chili in the crockpot, watching the Razorbacks, enjoying a Caramel Apple and now, a fire in the fireplace and a cinnamon/apple candle burning. LIFE IS GOOD.

From the song, Every Season by Nichole Nordeman

And even when the trees have just surrendered
To the harvest time
Forfeiting their leaves in late September
And sending us inside
Still I notice You when change begins
And I am braced for colder winds
I will offer thanks for what has been and was to come
You are autumn

Green Bay Farmers' Market

Every Wednesday from June to October, Broadway Street in Green Bay transforms into an INCREDIBLE Farmers' Market. The streets are lined with vendors selling their wares from cucumbers to kohlrabi, from beef jerky to doggie treats, from honey to freshly baked cake, from earrings to recyclable bags. We had a blast walking up and down Broadway, purchasing cucumbers, jalapeno peppers, sugar snap peas, tomatoes, key lime rum cake and flowers. Before we headed home, we grabbed some food from among the many restaurants represented. It was a wonderful night!
Check out their great website at www.farmersmarketonbroadway.com!

Hear HIS Breath.

Today's service at Green Bay Community Church was all about the word of God. How the Holy Spirit spoke to the prophets and writers of the books of the Bible. How strong and true the word of the Lord was and is. Near the end of the service, the pastor called on the audience to share scripture. It was a powerful time. After each scripture the congregation responded with Hear HIS Breath. One in particular that stood out to me was Psalm 73: 25-26. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. I want to invite you to post the scripture that is on your heart today. The best encouragement and strength for each day is the word of God. Hear HIS Breath.