Annual Gobble-Gobble Plunge

Well folks, it's that time of year again. I've now had 352 requests about my turkey diving story... (yes, I'm anal enough to go and count them) - "when are you going to post turkey diving?" "I want to read turkey diving again" "Isn't it turkey diving time?"

So this is for all of you... And if you haven't experienced turkey diving yet, I expect you to try it and to hear all about it!

TURKEY DIVING
After much interest in a post where I mentioned turkey diving -(and don't forget the prodding and threats from my wonderful readership) - This story's for you!

Our Safeway does this great thing before Thanksgiving where turkeys go on sale (this really shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone). Anyway, it will have the really nice, brand-name turkeys for a deal - like up to a 14 pounder for a few bucks, and then over a 14 pounder for a couple bucks more. The key - is getting the most turkey poundage for your buck, right? Everyone with me so far?

Okay. So - the only way to really do this is to DIG through all of the turkeys in the freezer bins. Most people don't go to the trouble of intense searching, they see the sign and think, "ooh, turkeys are on sale" - and grab one. How do I know this? Many years of observation, that's how!

Let me tell you, those people disappoint me. Where's the fun in that? There is none! So...
This is what I do:

Go to the store with several friends- (it's even more fun if they have a child or two with them... you'll understand in a minute)- Head to those turkey freezers and everyone stake out territory. Then, you dig. And there are rules: You MUST look at every turkey in the freezer. Yes, I said EVERY turkey. And if you are too short to reach all the way in, you yell, "I'm goin' in!" One of your faithful friends will help you by holding your legs so that you can "dive" in. Another option is to throw a small child in to help you look (not literally - you don't really think I would do that, now do you?) Actually, you can hold the child's legs while they reach for that last one in the corner that no-one else can get to, but you just KNOW that's it's the biggest one in the freezer!

The other important thing to remember - is to sing! Yes, you heard me. Sing.
My personal favorite is "I love you a bushel and a peck, a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck..." This is great fun while turkey diving.

So, now you have the turkey diving story. I'm going to have to trademark it since everyone will know what I'm talking about. :)

This Thanksgiving season, I'll be watching for all you newbie "turkey divers" -- just don't come to MY Safeway -- I already have it staked out.
~kimberley woodhouse, copyright 2005

Blessings Overflow

Since we are now in the month of November - (yikes! I better go turkey diving soon) - I'm wanting to remind us all about thanksgiving. Not just the holiday - but the act.

What is thanksgiving? Well, the Encarta Dictionary on my computer says this:
thanksgiving -
1- a prayer that offers thanks to God
2- an expression or an act of giving thanks
3- a public acknowledgment or celebration of divine goodness

All three of those definitions talk about an act - doing something. How much do we think about this? And are we in the habit of thanksgiving?

Most of you know that we just returned from a 5000+ mile road-trip. There were lots of chances to get upset, whine, grumble, or complain, (especially when people don't use their blinkers- LOL) - but I tried to remind myself and the kiddos to find the positive. Find the Joy! is our tagline. So, we thanked God for the little angels who cut us off on the interstate, and looked for the positive in all of our adventurous situations. The kids are so good at this, taking a trip is always a pleasant experience. I can't begin to tell you how very blessed I am by my children each and every day. They have learned to laugh right along with me...

A great example of this - I parked under a tree one time to help keep the truck cool. Little did I know, five gazillion birds would decide to flock to that tree while we were inside a restaurant. Needless to say, my truck was not very pretty when we returned to it. Josh was a little grossed out by what was all over his window, but we sure did have a good laugh over it. It's amazing what a positive attitude can do.

So - back to thanksgiving. Are you in the habit of giving thanks? Do you only think about it on the holiday? Do you thank God for each and every day? Do you celebrate His divine goodness?

We're also in the election season. In fact, in a couple of days, it will be over. I've noticed that most people have lost the act of giving thanks during this time. It all seems to come across as whining and complaining. People are passionate about their candidate and seem to love to argue about it. Christians are fighting with other Christians over the issues. (I'm very passionate about what I believe in as well, so I'm not saying not stand up for what you believe in.) But the point I would like to make is that we are spoiled in this country. We've stopped giving thanks for the precious, precious freedom that we enjoy day in and day out. We've stopped giving thanks for all the blessings we have, that many people around the world are dying for. We've become a whining, grumbling, and complaining society.

How can we change this? One day at a time, one word at a time, one heart at a time.
Instead of the "woe is me" attitude, we could be thanking God. Instead of complaining about the traffic, we could be thanking God. Instead of whining about our bills, or the clothes we wish we had, or the dishes piling up, or whatever you can think of to whine about - we could be thanking God.

That's my challenge for you this week - thanksgiving.
How can you show it? How can you live it?

Wow - can you imagine if we instituted my five cent fine for whining, grumbling, or complaining across the country? I would hope that it would make people think twice about their attitudes.

Life is hard, but God is so good.
Let's give thanks.