My Bubbling Teapot

In Poland, we never celebrate Thanksgiving on the actual day. It isn't a national holiday, so of course, we all have to do our normal jobs on the day. It seems a little weird, but I think we've adjusted. We invited all our English students for a traditional Thanksgiving meal on Friday night. I made the pumpkin pies. The first two turned out glossy and moist. The next two looked drier, but absolutely beautiful. Hmm! I thought. Must be because I cut down on the cream in the second two. As I was cutting them, by mistake a sliver came off in my hand. I popped it in my mouth. Ugghhh! Something was wrong. No sugar!!!! I had forgotten to add the sugar. Well, since the first two were beautiful, we cut them in small pieces and served them. They got raves. But the next day, Saturday, we opened our home to the team for our yearly Turkey dinner. Everything was delicious as usual, and we all felt stuffed. But the pumpkin pies???? Have you ever tasted them without sugar??? All the spices, bu...

Yesterday, one year ago, would have been the funeral for my five nieces and nephews. Some of my reflections: One year ago...rudely awakened at 6 am with the awful news...God miraculously providing more than $5000 so our family could fly to the funeral...the LONG trip and the overwhelming emotions at finally being with my family...the struggle of knowing that God is a God of love...wondering what good could come from this tragedy...the stark imbedded picture in my mind of a yawning grave in a new cemetery and five little caskets...observing the grace of God being poured out in abundance in the lives of my brother and his wife...waiting for new news of Jeff's recovery...the huge void of our first family reunion...the many tears that have continued to course down our cheeks...was it only one year ago???!!! And some comments from my sisters: "...it's been kinda a week of remembering." --Gina" ...I ran to Chewelah to get the flowers Carolyn had requested for thegraves...

Can it be? One year ago that my five precious nieces and nephews were taken so suddenly in the automobile accident. My sister put it so beautifully. Read it here . I sent the words of this card to my brother and sister-in-law. The Lord has loved you through all your yesterdays... He loves you now... And He will love you through all your tomorrows. I heard a pastor recently say,"With God timing is more important than time." I have found so often his timing is perfect.Roy Lessin"The Lord appeared to us in the past and said, "I have loved you with aneverlasting love." Jer. 31:3 Thank you, God, for holding us as we remember again.

Yesterday, on all Saints' Day, most of the people in the country of Poland visited the graveyards. Every family grave must be cleaned, decorated with fresh wreaths, and candles lit to help the deceased on their road to Heaven. People travel many kilometers to visit the cemetery where your family is buried. Droves of people line the road on the way to the graveyard. Families gather to pay their respects to their relatives. The sit on the benches by the graves and visit, pray, or just think. My one friend told me that she doesn't have any family that has died so they put candles on soldiers' graves. Some people might visit 20 graves. But, outside the cemetery, it is more like a carnival. Candles for sale of every shape and size, mums by the truckload, wreaths, balloons, food, and cotton candy. Cotton candy? In front of a graveyard? Seems completely out-of-place to me. But I do know that every year my children love if we buy a little of the sickenly sweet stuff. To my family,...