Month: November 2018

I am so excited about Thanksgiving this year!  In years past, we had a full house for Thanksgiving but as our children and our nephews grew up and had their own families our Thanksgivings were smaller. But this year, we will again be having a big Thanksgiving.  We are expecting 16 family members and friends, but it could be more, or it could be less.  We never know for sure.  And that is quite all right with us.  Our house has always been open to everyone who would like to join us.

One of my favorite Thanksgivings was a few years ago at my sister and brother in law’s house in Lincoln, NM.  She lives about 3 hours away and so we drove up Thanksgiving morning.  Her oldest son, Brandon, had flown in the night before to surprise us all.  He had told no one except the friend who picked him up at the airport that he was coming.  My mother, who Brandon is very close to, was riding in the car with me.  And boy… was it hard to not say anything on the 3-hour drive to my sister’s house.  My husband, daughter and nephew were in another vehicle about 15 minutes behind us.

My mother and I arrived at the house and unloaded the food we brought to the celebration.  I could hardly contain my excitement as I waited for the other vehicle to arrive.  All the family were on the front lawn when my husband and daughter drove up the driveway (Brandon was lying down in the back seat), parked and joined everyone on the front lawn.  As we all stood around visiting, Brandon suddenly burst from the house, surprising everyone.  There were lots of hugs, tears and laughter. It was such a fun surprise.  The day was beautiful.  The temperature was 56 degrees, but the sun was warm, and the sky was bright blue.  The long Thanksgiving table was set in the front lawn.  The day was like a picture our of Country Living magazine.  We ate and laughed and visited on the porch under a propane heater until the night became too cold.  It will always be one of my most favorite Thanksgivings.  Those same family members will be here this year and although it will not be the same, I know we will have just as much fun. What is your favorite Thanksgiving?

This year the Thanksgiving tables are set inside the house.  It will be a casual lunch but the china and crystal will be used.  I have these things and I hate to see them just sitting in the china cabinet, so why not use my best china and crystal for my family since they are my VIP’s.

Psalm 92:1 says “It is good to give thanks to the Lord.”  I am so thankful for my family and the time we will spend together, for a roof over our heads, for the abundance we as American’s enjoy, for my family’s health and the upcoming birth of our great niece.  We have been blessed with so much.

I wish all of you a fun and joyful Thanksgiving!

 

Today is Veteran’s Day.  It is uplifting to see all the flags flying as I drive down the street and around the campus of my church.  That is why today I want to honor my Dad, John Phillips.  Dad died 9 years ago this month and he was a veteran of WWII and the Korean War.  I won’t say his service defined his life, but I will say it had a tremendous impact.

On his last day as he laid in the hospital, he said to me “You know I went AWOL in Korea.”  I knew the story and I knew he had not really gone AWOL.  He was a Lieutenant in the Army when he was in Korea and he had been wounded.  He felt like he was letting his men down lying in a hospital bed, so he left without being released from the hospital and returned to his men.  Dad was an honorable man and therefore, I understand why he wanted to get back to his men as soon as possible.  I am sure he was reprimanded but he did not go AWOL.

Although, the men of his generation were very proud of their service they did not like to talk about their experiences.  This may have contributed to the health issues my father had in his later years.  But in those last years, Dad talked more and more about his time in the service.  So, what he said to me on that last day was not surprising.

When my parents were first married Mom said Dad would fight the lamp in the middle of the night as he dreamed about his time in Korea.  But during the day he just kept quiet about what he saw and what he did.  That was how his generation dealt with things.

In my eyes,  Dad was a big man.  He was 6’ tall with blue eyes and very handsome.  Dad provided wonderfully for his family, he took us on great adventures, he gave us all a wonderful work ethic, he gave us all he could, and he loved us.  He always encouraged me in my education and taught me about business.  He was not a perfect man.  He had flaws and personality quirks just like we all do but he gave his best for his family.

He served both in the Navy and the Army.  I know little about his time in the Navy, but I know he always loved the ocean, specifically the Pacific Ocean and that is probably why most of our vacations were spent in California.  I am sure my love of the ocean comes from him.

When our son was about 11 or 12, Dad gave him his white Navy uniform to wear as a Halloween costume.  Our son was only about 5’ tall and very thin and although the uniform was long it fit perfectly every where else.  All  Dad would say is he must have been much thinner when he wore it.

I miss Dad.  When he passed away I took the shadow box with his colorful fishing lures.  Those lures hang in my office and give me the opportunity to think about him every day.

 

Thank you, Dad, today on Veterans Day, for your service to the United States of American and for being a great Dad!  And to my nephew Levi Phillips, we are so proud of you and your service to our country!  I know Granddad would be so proud of you too!