Happy Monday! I hope you are ready to make it a good week. I’m choosing to push forward in the midst of these uncertain times and try to make the most of each day. There are a couple of big things happening this week that I can’t write about in detail here because they involve other people and are also personal. If you think of me, would you pray about these two things? The Lord knows what they are. Please ask for wisdom for those involved and good outcomes. Thank you.

Feeding the Birds

Each spring, the Serviceberry tree in front of our home is covered with bright red berries. The Cedar Waxwings come and feast on them. After that, we rarely see those particular birds again until the next June.

Last week I saw three or four of them around again and wondered what had changed. Then over the weekend there was a flock of them devouring the berries on our neighbors’ large burning bush tree in their backyard. We’ve lived here nine years and have never seen them do this. We made a point of adding raisins to our large tray feeder in hopes of keeping them around. We had already switched to a different bird seed mix in that large tray that includes berries (something Cedar Waxwings like). I haven’t seen one on there yet, but I’m keeping my eyes open. Cedar Waxwings are such lovely birds. It would be nice to see them all year which is entirely possible according to the Audubon Cedar Waxwing page.

David added the heater to the birdbath in the front of the house a few days ago. The birds don’t like it when we first put it in there and we see far less birds once it goes in. But when the really cold temperatures come and they are looking for fresh water, they don’t mind it and come flocking back.

Thanksgiving

We’ll be at home with just the three of us this year. Our plans tend to be simple since we are only cooking for David and Caroline. We use an organic chicken because then I can eat it as well, but I can’t eat any of the other things I make for them. I need to make sure we have a chicken so David needs to start checking at Meijer to get one for us. Caroline says as long as she gets the Midwest Sausage Stuffing, she is happy.

So today I’m going to sit down and determine what we still need for our meal right down to checking all my spices and such. I don’t dare put it off any longer. We are already seeing some panic buying in our state again. This year has already been hard on Caroline. The least I can do is make sure she gets her Thanksgiving stuffing.

Christmas

I’m also starting to work on Christmas things a bit. I found our Christmas cards online from the Current Catalog. I’ll be ordering those today. I need to send David to the post office to pick up some Christmas stamps.

I checked our wrapping paper supply and we have plenty. I’ve asked David and Caroline for wish lists and they both gave me a few ideas. David mostly needs practical things (clothes, socks, etc.). Not very exciting, but he really doesn’t need or even want anything else. Same with Caroline. All of her technology has been updated this year. We’ve made sure to keep her stocked with art supplies. Most of the things we “need” as a family aren’t Christmas gift type things. This makes it hard because I truly enjoy giving gifts, but it makes no sense to buy gifts just for the sake of buying gifts.

We did venture out to Hobby Lobby last week and purchased a variety of canvas bags in different sizes and shapes that Caroline wanted to make gifts for people in her life, including some children she is working with as a volunteer. So she has that to occupy some of her time right now. I don’t know if you’ve been in Hobby Lobby recently, but their Christmas merchandise this year is wonderful. So many lovely designs. It would have been very easy to fill a few shopping carts!

Praying for Our Country

I am spending a lot of time praying for my country. I hope you are keeping yourself informed of what is going on.

We are truly in a Constitutional crisis and I am shocked by how many people have no idea that this country is literally hanging by a thread when it comes to the upholding of the Constitution. I’m not trying to be melodramatic or overstate it. It really is that serious if you are closely following what is happening. If you think the election is final or these investigations about the voting fraud are only about President Trump not wanting to admit defeat, you are sorely misinformed.

So what is going on in your world this week? What kinds of plan are you making for Thanksgiving this year?

Artwork: “Yuletide” by Frederick Morgan