It's 1:30 in the morning. I hear a shuffle.  A light streams through the edges of our door.

"It's 1:30!  Happy Thanksgiving!"  It is Seth.

A bit later. The light comes on again.  "It is 4:30am." It's him once again.  I hear him leave his room, go to the bathroom and turn off his light.  It is silent.  Then we hear a muffled voice say, "I can't see to get in my bed.  I need help."  Mark arises and helps him out.  I can't sleep now.  I lay there in the dark and decide that this is crazy.  I may as well get something accomplished. 

I throw some water on my face, turn up the heat and head downstairs to my workshop. I have things to do.  Christmas is coming.  I become an elf.  My mind races all over the place.  It is hard to have Thanksgiving without all my family, or any of it but us "3."  Just not used to that, but that is the way it will be this year.  I work even harder.  By 6am it is still dark, yet I hear the shuffle of feet with slippers on coming down the hall. It is Seth once again.  He is so excited that it is Thanksgiving! "When are we going to go to the pastors house to eat?" ...  "Later." I answer.  I just have a little more to get done for the day.  Then I know it will be breakfast, showers, clean the house, get some food ready, and leave.

Our pastor and his wife graciously invited us refugees to their home along with another family from Arkansas that neither they nor us have ever met before.  I was interested in meeting them, as I love to meet new people.  Becki was making it too easy on us.  "Don't need to bring anything," She offered when I asked what shall I bring.  I had to make something or it would not seem quite right.  So, I made a new cranberry sauce recipe.  That is so me.  I love to try out brand new recipes on people.  It was delicious!

"It is now 11:00am, when are we leaving?"  Seth again.  "Pretty soon, Seth.  Let's go for a walk first. It is gorgeous out!"  I replied.  Yes it was.  It was 60 degrees on November 27 and sunny with very light breeze.  Much to my satisfaction.  The turkeys were wandering in our backyard, even up to our back porch. They did not know it was "turkey day."  They were totally oblivious!  If we were the shooting type, we could have had us a feast and a freezer full, but we let them go.

We arrived a few minutes after one.  Just in time for dinner.  The table was perfect.  The dishes gorgeous, the food just right.  Our introductions were said, the bowls passed around and the blessing was given. Mmmmm!  So good! We tried to eat slowly and savour each bite.  Pumpkin pie and apple pie ala mode made for a yummy ending event!

I let Seth eat pretty much whatever he wanted to.  I realize that when you want the fiddler, you gotta pay the price.  He was just sitting there in all his glory!  Just what he was waiting for. Mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce, pickles, relish tray, etc.  He even had a try of each pie! 

"It is 2:30."  What are we going to do now? "Mr. Clock" was still with us. A few of us took a walk, with Seth along.  The rest played family football.  We joined in.  We had such a good time playing with the kids!  Our muscles were feeling it by the time 2 hours were up.  I was just running here and running there, tagging, catching, whatever.  I really did not know how to play.  I had to be instructed the whole way.  Seth stood in the sidelines and watched.

"It is now 4pm." When are we going to be done? When are we leaving?" I think I was hearing a turkey calling.  "Cluck, cluck, cluck."

By the time it got dark, we all went inside.  Seth thought we would leave now.  All he wanted, evidentally was the food.  We sat him in a chair.  "It is 6:30 pm.  When are we leaving?"  "Seth, we don't know.  We are going to be here for awhile longer."

"How old is Seth? Asked our new friends.  "Nearly 22." I replied with a grin.  My friend looked at me and wondered if I was telling the truth or not.  "Really, he is! He holds his age well, doesn't he?"  I asked. "Yes, he will be happy about that later on." She replied.

I wondered how old she thought he might be.  She said around 15 years old, same as her son.  Boy, don't you wish we could all remain young and innocent and the only thing that could possibly stress us out would be the "time."  haha!

By 8:30 pm we left.  We had a wonderful time.  A memorable experience.  Seth was treated  well even though he wanted to boss the other kids around by telling them that they needed to put on their socks.  He told them that all the adults have on socks and all the kids should too!  He did his share of talking, and others took turns listening to him. These are true friends, ones to be forever Thankful for on Thanksgiving and every single day!.

Oh, by the way, Where's the Turkey?  Gobble, gobble.....I know one thing, no one at our table ate him.  We are all vegetarians!  I think that Seth was "Time Turkey!" Instead of Gobble, gobble, it was "The time is, the time is, the time is now... ohhh, you fill in the blank!

"That Turkey Rascal!"  What would we ever do without him???  Ya gotta be thankful!

Until Next Time, Just love 'em, there is nothing else you can do! Be thankful for the little things!  A few weeks ago I burned my tastebuds.  Food was really gross in my mouth.  It felt so weird.  I tell you, I became thankful for little tiny tastebuds!  God knew exactly what he was doing when he made them! Thank God I was not evolved, thank God He created us to be humans!

Nancy Lynne!