What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?

What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?
Remember: "When God closes a door, He always opens a window!" You never know what might be out there waiting for you!

Friday, November 15, 2019

Getting Ready for Thanksgiving!

I know we still have about two weeks before Thanksgiving, but it is coming up on us quickly, and it is time to start getting ready!


So I brought out all the "lil' pilgrims" salt shakers, the Big Pilgrims who are gathering in the harvest,

The old farm couple is reading from the Bible and praying for all...

And even the little children are praying and thankful as they pray the so familiar childhood prayer:

"God is Great,
God is Good,
Let us thank Him for our food...
By His hands we all are fed,
Thank You, Lord,
for our daily bread."
Amen

I remember hearing this grace said in my grandparents' home:

"The eyes of all look expectantly to You,
and You give them their food in due season.
You open Your hand
and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
Come Lord Jesus, 
Be our Guest,
Let these Your gifts to us be blessed.
Amen."
(excerpts from Psalm 145:15-16)


Does anyone else have a special table grace that is traditional or that you remember from your childhood?  Would love to have you share it here as we prepare our hearts and homes for Thanksgiving.

"Oh, give thanks to the Lord,
for He is good! 
For His mercy endures forever!"
Psalm 118:1

Have a blessed and wonderful day!

32 comments:

  1. I love all your Thanksgiving items....they certainly bring out the holiday. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Thank you, Linda. We are looking forward to our first Thanksgiving in our new home. It will be a time of blessing I am sure. Blessings to you and yours...

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  2. Your Thanksgiving vignette is lovely. As you know, the Currier and Ives dishes bring sweet memories of my mother. I remember the "God is great" prayer from childhood. So much to be thankful for as this year draws to a close.....we have a mini yard flag by the front door that reads, "Always Thankful." Have a great weekend.

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    1. Thank you, Mildred. "Sweet memories of my mother"...I love that...my mother also had these dishes so I guess they are a kind of comfort dish for many of us. Love your mini flag saying...that is a wonderful message to share with your neighborhood! May your weekend be blessed as well...

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  3. I like your Thanksgiving display. You are well prepared for Thanksgiving. I remember I used to have 2 of those blue Currier and Ives plates and I put them as a display on my wall. I can't remember where I got them, either an antique store or a thrift store. I had no idea they were eating plates so I went around to all the fancy places where they sell wall plaques and such and I'd ask them if they had any more of the Currier and Ives plates. No one knew about them. It was years later that I discovered why, lol. You brought back a sweet memory through your photos. As for grace, it was the "God is great" prayer. Have a wonderful weekend.

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    1. That is a great story! However, if you look online at the Blue Currier & Ives dishes, you will find that they are now quite collectible and people treat them like antiques. I had so many of the plates that I actually gave away some when we moved, and still have enough for our family. They seem to touch a nostalgic chord in many people. Thank you for sharing your story! Fun!

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    2. I'm not surprised that the Currier and Ives plates are collectibles because of their vintage age and also the classic blue and white colour. It's just that around here in the cosmopolitan city several decades ago no less, there aren't and probably still are not many who are into the antiques. Also the stores where I was asking did not sell eating plates or collectibles other than wall plaques (the kind you might also order from magazines too). I am nostalgic type so I do like things like that. I also love the Blue Willow pattern. I only had 2 plates and could never add to them. You are blessed to have so many. Enjoy them as you have your Thanksgiving Dinner soon. xx

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  4. Beautiful, all of it! I see the 'twin' Pilgrims related to some of mine! It all looks festive, homey, welcoming, and warm. Love it all!

    No special prayers here -- we make it up as we go, just like when speaking to anyone else.

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    1. Yes, our "twin Pilgrims" need to get together some time for a family reunion! LOL. My pilgrim family and friends are all lined up and ready to be moved to the table for decorations or wherever else as needed on Thanksgiving day. I expect to have this particular countertop lined with pies and goodies... And yes, our prayers are usually from the heart as we go, but these were ones that I remembered from my childhood.

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    1. Thank you! I know you are vacationing, so I am surprised to hear from you! Have a blessed time wherever you are!

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  6. Absolutely love your decorations, Pamela, and your memories of grace shared here. Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
    Blessings!

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    1. Thank you, Martha, and I hope that you and your lovely family will also have wonderful Thanksgiving, making lots of memories!

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  7. Very festive at our new house! I bought a set of blue and white dinnerware for my parents on their 25th wedding anniversary.Now I inherited it.

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    1. Oh how lovely...will you be using your blue and white dinnerware for Thanksgiving this year? I do love blue and white, as you can tell. All the little pilgrims, etc., will be dispersed to decorate the tables at Thanksgiving. They are just gathered together right now to plan their upcoming events. And to make me smile. Blessings...

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  8. Everything looks so pretty and festive, Pamela. I really miss not being able to decorate this year...just no real room in the RV for many decorations! I did pack up a special box with a tiny tree and a few things with hopes to add a touch of Christmas to our tiny abode. Next year at this time we will hopefully be in our house and then WATCH OUT! LOL!

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    1. I can imagine that you will go crazy with decoration ideas once your new home is built. But until then, you can dream and plan, and enjoy the times with your family in their home. This year will be one for the memory books for you someday!!

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  9. Beautiful decorations, Pam! Our "standard" blessing before we eat: Heavenly Father, we ask that You bless this food to the nourishment of our bodies and us to Thy service. In Christ's Name we pray. Amen.

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    1. I love that blessing as well, and especially the part about "and us to Thy service." I wonder how often we pray that (and we do add that same line to the end of our grace quite often) and really think about what that means. I love that you commit your life to God's service when you pray...and I know He is listening and that He uses you in many ways in His service. You are a blessing to us here for sure!!

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  10. "Come Lord Jesus,
    Be our Guest,
    Let these Your gifts to us be blessed.
    Amen."

    I remember this one too.

    The verse from Psalm 118 reminds me of the worship song that goes, "Give thanks to the Lord for He is good and his love endures forever..." Paul Wilbur I think.

    :-)

    Happy Thanksgiving early. I have not even begun to decorate.

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    1. Thank you, Sandi. Yes, I know that worship song, and I find myself singing it everytime I read that Psalm! Soemetimes when we are doing our devotions I find myself singing the Psalms that we are supposed to be reading, My husband just rolls his eyes at me and smiles. He knows I just can't hold it in some times! LOL. And God loves it I am sure. Thank you for being understanding of that same thought and time of worship.

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  11. Pamela, your home looks so warm and inviting for your gathering on Thanksgiving.
    You have some very special pieces there and all such a glory to God.

    My husband and I will be going to Arizona for Thanksgiving and spend a little bit of time with mom.
    We will have Thanksgiving on the 22nd with our daughters and their family's along with celebrating our three oldest grandsons birthdays.
    We will enjoy a few days with the grandsons until we leave for Arizona. Treasured times for certain. :}

    Have a most beautiful and blessed Thanksgiving with your precious loved ones. ♡

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    1. Oh Debbie, it sounds like you will have a wonderful, busy, but happy time of Thanksgiving with your families both near and far. Have a wonderful time and safe trip to and from. I am sure your mother will be so thrilled to have you there. God bless you all and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

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  12. All your Thanksgiving decor is so pretty. Your table will be mighty festive, and I know it will be a happy one, surrounded with all your loved ones.

    The grace I most remember is from when my children were little. We would hold hands, then say, "Here we gather, holding hands with those we love. Thank you for the food before us, and all the blessings from above."

    Blessings and hugs,
    Patti

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    1. Thank you, Patti. Oh, I love your little table grace with your children. That one is special. I know your children loved it and have fond memories of that special time as a family as well. That really blessed my heart! Praying that you and your family and extended "family" will have a blessed and beautiful Thanksgiving!

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  13. Beautiful!!! My husband is itching to put up Christmas. sigh.

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    1. Ha Ha! I'd say let him "itch", and enjoy Thanksgiving first!! But that's me. I can only handle one holiday at a time, and I like to enjoy each one to the fullest. After the last piece of pumpkin pie is eaten and the turkey leftovers are gone, then we can start thinking about Christmas decorations! Happy Thanksgiving dear friend!

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  14. You have such delightful and charming Thanksgiving displays Pamela! I love Currier & Ives, such lovely scenes captured on their dinnerware! I always feel like Thanksgiving kind of gets a bit mistreated by the season of Christmas, just as our fall season was pushed aside by winter this year. I enjoy the beauty of each season, and want to savor the holidays like that too. May you have a blessed Thanksgiving in your lovely new home! Blessings and hugs :)

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    1. Thank you Marilyn. I do hope and pray that you and your family will also be blessed with a wonderful time of Thanksgiving! And then we will be better prepared to enter the Christmas Season with the right perspective and attitude! We are so blessed to be God's children! Thank you for visiting!! Stay warm!

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  15. Everything looks so pretty for Thanksgiving!

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    1. Thank you, Karen! Now to get the house cleaned and ready!!

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  16. Everything looks so nice and inviting. I think your guest, friends and family alike, will find many Thanksgiving blessings at your table.

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