This Reminds Me

Archive for November 23rd, 2006

The fridge is full, the dishes are done and there’s an uncut homemade pecan pie chilling in the freezer.  Ahhhh! It’s been a great Thanksgiving Day at Casa Woodworth.

For five years, we’ve hosted two Air Force recruits in training from Lackland Air Force Base on Thanksgiving.  Rachel and I drive 32 mi. for “Operation Home Cooking” and wait about 90 minutes to go through the necessary gyrations to pick them up.  The guys we’ve gotten have all been friendly, nice, helpful….but….we’ve always wanted girls.

This year – we got our wish.

Salute!  Amber-from-Pennsylvania and Sherry-from-Kentucky were special guests of honor.  We all enjoyed their company – what great additions to the day.  They’ll be stationed at Lacklack after Basic Training and we’re hoping to see them again, maybe next spring when they have more priveleges.

Keith explained the finer points of turkey frying to Sherry, Amber and our good friends John and Linda.  You always want to invite John and Linda to your gatherings.  They do dishes and bring gifts.  Note Julia’s empty booster chair next to Keith.  She had headed off with her sisters to our bedroom to “TV watch” and sneak multiple chocolate dipped pretzels and cans of Coke.

You also want to invite my good friend Shelley and her husband John to your gatherings.  They also do dishes and return recruits to Lackland!  Shelley and I have known each other since our Remco days, going back to 1977.  We have to remain friends because we have way too much dirt on each other.

Our newest American and big sister Hannah are near me right now, coloring more pictures for the fridge.  We have the best decorated fridge in San Antonio.  They wandered down to a neighbor’s home this evening to play in a hot tub with their friends.  It’s about 8 p.m., and a balmy 66 degrees.

My 10 fingers are dishwater-soaked, but I can still use them to tick off things for which I am most thankful.  My wonderful husband.  My four daughters, for one of whom this is her first Thanksgiving.  Good food with the best recipes from generations of family.  Living in a patriotic city like San Antonio, which proudly supports the military.   Jobs that allow us to live in a house comfortable enough for friends and family to enjoy.  Friends and family that know all about me, and love me anyway.  A church home, not just a church building.

Tomorrow, I’ll balance myself on the porch and switch out my Thanksgiving flag to a Christmas flag.  We’ll drag out the Christmas tree – candy canes to decorate it were excitedly purchased days ago.  The girls will groan when I happiy slap a stack of holiday CD’s in the kitchen.  Julia will continue to verify the number of sleeps until the big day.  (Honey, where’s that Advent calendar?)

But for tonight – this night – I’m just thankful for today.