As we move into the weekend before Thanksgiving, I am beginning to think about what that week of Thanks-giving will be about for my family. In the past two weeks, here in State College, PA, we have experienced some deep sadness, loss, anger and confusion (just to name a few emotions that have struck us full force). And, while we need to continue to address and wonder about all that we have been opened to in this time, I am extremely grateful that we get a break in all of that action as we move into Thanksgiving.

Isn't this a great holiday? Family, joy-filled traditions, good food, gratitude, time-off and maybe away. It's a time to celebrate our harvest, and though many of us are removed from the actual harvest, we can still celebrate the bounty well, justly. Some ideas you might want to consider as you plan your menu and prepare to celebrate together:

• What are the LOCAL sources of food you can take advantage of? (Farmer's Markets? Dairy? Fruit Store? Farms?)
• What are the SEASONAL foods that you can serve?
• Can you prepare from SCRATCH rather than purchase packaged foods?
• How can you make sure you are prepared ahead of time, honoring time-off for others? (rather than running to store that day)
• Do you have access to FAIRTRADE foods? (many groceries offer this now, especially for coffee and chocolate)
• How can you SIMPLIFY the meal? (do you need 6 pies?)
• Who can you SHARE your meal with? (leftovers to a shelter? invite a neighbor?)
• What do you want your TIME-off/away to include and how can you ensure that you get this? (play? reading? sleep? exercise)
• How can you encourage THANKS-GIVING in your holiday? (go around table and ask all to say thanks for something? offer cards at the table for guests to write thank yous?)

The PC(USA) has a great resource on-line to help you ready yourself for next week.

Another thing that has become important to me at Thanksgiving is honoring the spirit of the holiday throughout the weekend. Our family does not participate in Black Friday shopping. We recycle those sales flyers that come in the newspaper as soon as we open it. Instead, we make sure our weekend includes getting out to take advantage of nature's bounty instead. And, we spend time with one another - board games, sitting around the table longer, thinking together towards the upcoming Advent season. What is stirring in your heart as you think about the upcoming week?

May you recognize the abundance that is your life this Thanksgiving.
As Meister Eckhart tells us,

If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you,

it will be enough.