The table will be set with gold rim dishes from Target and turkey salad plates from Home Goods and I will bring out my crystal that I purchased for a song in Poland. I do not have 16 matching anything so we will do with what we have.

A Feast of Many Hands

The Appetizers and Salad: Jenny’s Department

The appetizers and salad are lovingly made by Jenny, our daughter-in-law. Her dressings are always homemade, and everyone looks forward to starting the meal with her finely chopped medley of fresh vegetables. Her appetizers are equally delicious — though, if honesty is required, some are easier to resist than others. The real danger is the tendency to fill up on extra carbs long before the main course even arrives.

Desserts: Sonja’s Domain

Sonja, our daughter, is in charge of desserts. Turtle cheesecake, pumpkin pie, pecan pie — and sometimes peanut butter balls. This year, she has her heart set on making everything miniature. The idea received a polite thumbs-up, but the enthusiasm comes with reservations. Mini means one serving, and on this particular day, one serving may simply not be sufficient for the kind of celebration that calls for a second — or third — helping. Two of each feels less like festivity and more like portion control. Here’s hoping she’ll reconsider before Thursday.

The Phenomenon Known as Food Coma

Has anyone suffered from a food coma? This is what happens when all the carbs arrive in the stomach simultaneously and battle for their rightful place. The internal conflict is so intense that it exhausts the body, producing drowsiness and a certain incoherence of thought. The only known antidote is a power nap — or, as some family members prefer, a mysterious disappearance followed by several hours of uninterrupted sleep. This particular form of excess is acceptable a handful of times a year. Any more than that, and one may be approaching a bona fide glutton.

A Word from Scripture

Scripture takes gluttony seriously — not as a quirk, but as a pattern with real consequences. Proverbs 23:21 (NABRE) warns: “For drunkards and gluttons come to poverty, and lazing about clothes one in rags.” Of course, a single Thanksgiving feast is a far cry from the lifestyle Scripture cautions against — and this day, surrounded by family and gratitude, is something else entirely.

(A note on the original text: the passage was cited as Proverbs 23:12 and described as being about “addition” — the correct verse is Proverbs 23:21, and the word is “addiction.” The NABRE text above reflects the accurate citation and translation.)

The Grace of Hospitality

Gathering so many people under one roof requires special graces — and a generous measure of love. As the hostess, the role of servant falls naturally into place: making sure every guest’s needs are met, every detail attended to. With sixteen guests expected, the quiet goal is to make each one feel the love of Christ simply by being present and cared for. Things do not always go perfectly — they rarely do — but when they don’t, the best response is to hold one’s tongue, smile, and trust that all will end well.

My Thanksgiving Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, we invite You into our home to bless all who pass through these doors. May Your loving arms welcome each one of them; may they feel Your love and Your special graces.

Dear Lord, on this day set aside for thanksgiving, may we all come to realize how very blessed we are to have one another. May our words be filtered to be kind and sincere. Let no one feel unwelcome or out of place in our home — today and always.

Bless all who lovingly contributed to the making of this meal.

Amen.

Four Days, Two Grandchildren, and Enough Grace to Get Through It

When the Schedule Arrives Before the Grandchildren Do

It all began with a schedule — a glimpse into the remarkably busy lives of grandchildren Maddie, nearly 12, and William (Wil), nearly 10. Their parents, son Mikos and daughter-in-law Jenny, had business travel commitments in Hawaii, so Maddie and Wil came to stay for four days. A quiet prayer went up immediately — a request for special graces to get through the week — because Mike was also traveling and would not be around to help.

The Morning Routine: Braids, Lunches, and Off to School

Making breakfast for two extra people, packing lunches, braiding Maddie’s hair, and getting everyone out the door became the new morning rhythm. It also happened to be Election Day — and by evening, a new president would be announced. Maddie had play practice, which meant no pickup until 6:30 p.m., leaving the afternoon free.

Wil and the Vanilla Shake Revelation

After school, Wil and his grandmother bonded over vanilla shakes — and fries, for him. What came next was nothing short of astonishing. Without a single reminder, Wil sat down and opened his books. He did not come up for air until every assignment was finished. He never asked for help. And later that evening, when television beckoned, he declined — he had reading to do.

The question had to be asked: Did we pick up the wrong child? Was this actually the same grandchild?

I was also in charge of the mild mannered Rosie, my granddog. She is still in the puppy stages and needs a lot of TLC. She sheds, chews, and digs holes in the backyard, other than that she is a sweetheart.

Grace, Grandchildren, and the Chaos of Ordinary Life

Election Night Becomes a Party

After picking Maddie up from play practice, it was time to plan an impromptu election-night celebration. Two dear friends, Sarah and Dorothy, came over to watch the results unfold. The three had been in contact throughout the day, praying together for a favorable outcome — and by the time they arrived, there was already cause for cautious hope: Trump had taken an early lead. Still, the prayers did not stop.

The evening filled quickly. Each announcement of a new state brought fresh bursts of excitement — screaming, jumping, the kind of joy that doesn’t try to be dignified. Sarah’s husband Jason arrived with two of their daughters, and the family room became wonderfully chaotic: hyper adults, shrieking children, and the electric energy of a night no one would soon forget. By nine o’clock, the party had wound down — baths and homework, as it turns out, win every time, even over history in the making.

On Knees and Convictions

This election brought many to their knees — and sincerely so. The fervor in prayer was not simply about wanting one candidate to win. It was about the weight of what was at stake: the restoration of order, the appointment of Supreme Court justices, and above all, the right to life — issues that admit no compromise for a Christian conscience. These are the non-negotiables.

Honesty requires acknowledging that many Trump supporters kept quiet, put off by the harsh rhetoric, the name-calling, and the tone that sometimes made it hard to stand without embarrassment. But as Election Day drew closer, it became clear that silence was no longer an option. As a Christian, a stand had to be taken. Watching the hatred pour from both sides on social media only deepened the resolve to stay out of that particular fire. The great divide in this country is real — and healing it, not widening it, is the work worth doing.

To those who are unhappy with the outcome: the call is not to operate in hatred or fear, but to accept the result, pray for the man elected, and give him the opportunity to govern. That is not surrender — that is Christian citizenship.

The Car Ride Soundtrack

On the school-morning drive, the grandchildren have one request: their music. It has been some time since regular exposure to secular radio, and the shift is striking — far more risqué than before, with far too much sexual content woven into the lyrics. One song’s theme toggled between hatred and love in the most confusing way possible. The solution was simple: change the words. Loudly. “I love You, my Jesus — I love You.” The kids laughed. That is perfectly fine.

Grandparents and the Weight of Small Things

Grandparents carry many quiet responsibilities: teaching by example, praying without ceasing, and practicing patience — especially with the small things. And few things tested patience quite like the great bottle-flipping craze. The trend reportedly began in 2016 when a high school student landed a water bottle flip during a talent show, the clip went viral, and suddenly every school-aged child in America had a new obsession. Wil was no exception —

Screens, Prayers, and the Grace of Grandparenting

Monitoring Maddie

Maddie has been spending a good deal of time FaceTiming her friends — and as grandparents, the role is simply to monitor and follow the directives her parents have set. The rule is clear: one half hour of screen time, in a common area, in front of the rest of the family.

A Grandmother’s Daily Prayer

Grandchildren must be saturated in prayer — the guard must never come down. This is the daily prayer lifted up for them:

Dear Lord,

Watch over my grandchildren. Let no harm come upon them. Grant them safety, and give them the wisdom to do what is right. Help them in their studies, that they may always do their best. Make them kind and loving, and teach them to treat others with respect.

Dear Lord, keep them from any life-threatening illness, and let no hand be raised against them to cause them harm in any way.

Into Your loving hands, they are entrusted.

Amen.