Thanksgiving is in a week, and we do not have a turkey. We do not have a turkey because we have no room for a turkey right now. There is a long and twisty story behind that statement that starts with my kitchen refrigerator going belly up in September, but also includes the massive blessing of a gifted mini-fridge that has bridged the gap between the capacity of our small garage unit (which we use for extra storage and eggs) and the epic, Covid-impacted appliance delivery times. We are not in a bind, not by any stretch. We can buy a turkey. But we also have no place to store a 22 pound bird carcass at this juncture. Therefore, no turkey.
I admit that I’ve begun to wonder how this might, exactly, play out, but mostly, I’ve been in a place of just accepting. Accepting… and waiting for God to orchestrate yet another amazing circumstance that rewards our trust with a fantastic show of His love for us. God has met our every need this year. I suspect you can say the same. Friends, the storms have buffeted us all, and yet, God has proven himself good and trustworthy. What is a turkey on the table in light of all we’ve seen and heard and felt in 2020, of all years?
Along that vein of thought, has anyone else noticed that grocery prices are on the rise again? You’re not alone if you’ve looked at your order total and winced. I’m thinking the trend will get worse in the coming weeks as many areas experience new lockdowns. Time to get creative with those rice and beans! But is anyone else thinking that God will use these “feast holidays” like Thanksgiving and Christmas to help us feel that his blessings are that much more abundant in light of this wave of needing to find new ways to be frugal? How much more precious will that full table seem on Christmas Day when the weeks leading up have held simple soups and breads as staples?
And, while we’re talking about Thanksgiving… that Christmas meal is so much closer than it seems! Advent officially begins on November 29 this year. If your tradition includes lighting a new candle each Sunday, don’t let this date slide past you, or you’ll have a “off start” (if that bugs you). Guess what? I don’t have a new set of candles for the Advent wreath yet. You probably guessed that, though, seeing as how it’s a whole nine days away, not just a measly six like Thanksgiving. The woman with no turkey has no candles? Shocking! (If you’re new to celebrating Advent, or looking for a simple way to focus the season back on Jesus, my whole-family guide, Experiencing Advent, is available via Amazon.)
There is one area where I have done a bit of preplanning! Decorating for the Christmas season! We put up a tree every year, and hang a stocking for each unmarried family member. But I’m not a knick knack person in general, so our holiday decor looks more Little House on the Prairie than Magnolia Market. Again, God supplies. I’ll be making a citrus garland, of course. The kids and I will also try our hands at some rustic twig ornaments to be hung throughout the house, and we’ll string some cranberries and pinecones (if we can find enough) and acorns. From there its branch trimmings on a few surfaces with some fairy lights (affiliate link) and lots and lots of white beeswax candles (affiliate link). Oh! My beloved in-laws gave me a set of Christmas-themed pillow case covers two years back (not these, but similar) and I love them. They tie together the whole thing and make our simple, minimalist decorating feel perfectly cozy and right.
My heart feels ready for the plunge into the holiday season. I’m ready to celebrate, to be cocooned with my people, and to find joy in the small, every day moments we are not guaranteed to experience again. Jehovah Jireh! Turkey, or no turkey, we have been given so very much!
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