My Thanksgiving Dinner

This year we’ll spend Thanksgiving morning as we always do, stuffing and roasting a bird while watching the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade. I used to wait for the Rockettes, the highlight of the parade, but they’re not as good as they use to be. Then we’ll have family over and eat way too much. We always remember to give thanks before we dive in. In the evening, we’ll watch a favorite movie from this list, 10 Great Classic Movies to Watch on Thanksgiving Day.

Here’s what I’m having for Thanksgiving dinner:

Roast Turkey

Stuffing (gizzard stuffing with celery and onion made from scratch and stuffed in the turkey)

Mashed Potatoes (made from scratch)

Noodles (boiled in turkey broth and water)

Gravy (made from scratch with corn starch)

Cranberries and sauce (not the gel kind)

Corn

Greenbean Casserole (homemade)

Dinner Rolls

Pumpkin Pie

Chocolate Pie

All served on china. We love using our good dishes for special occasions.

So what does your Thanksgiving dinner look like?

Are We Thankful Enough?

In 1620, the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock. The first thing they did was to fall on their knees and thank God for keeping them safe through the journey. But their troubles weren’t over. That winter over half of the pilgrims died, most from starvation, cold, and disease.

Here are the statistics:

December – six people died.

January - eight people died.

February - 17 people died.

March - 13 people died.

Four entire families died, and there was only one family that didn’t lose at least one member.

Of 18 married women, 13 died. Only three of 13 children perished. This seems to indicate that mothers were probably giving their share of food to the children.

The winter was, by local standards, a fairly mild one. The Plymouth settlers were simply not used to living on an awful diet and being exposed to the elements. Had it been a really severe winter, it’s likely that all of them would have been wiped out.

When the “Mayflower” was prepared to return to England in April. 1621, its captain offered to take any survivors with him at no charge. None of the survivors took him up on his offer.

After harvesting their crops in early Autumn, the 53 pilgrims who were still alive invited the Indians for a feast to celebrate the goodness of God.

That’s how Thanksgiving got started. Sometimes I think that we Americans have become a spoiled people. We expect things to always go our way and when they don’t, we don’t remember to thank God for the many blessings He has given us. We forget to thank Him.

Here’s some things I’m thankful for this year:

My wonderful husband of 32 years.

My two grown children who serve the Lord.

Two of the cutest grandchildren in the world.

A house to live in.

Food to eat – especially the Thanksgiving feast I’ll stuff myself on next Thursday.

Time saving gadgets. Remember the Pilgrims didn’t even have matches to light their fires.

My nation. United States of America is still the greatest nation on Earth.

Freedom to worship. Many Christians from other countries endanger their lives by following God.

My Salvation. No matter what else I lose, Jesus Christ died for my sins so I could have a relationship with Him. Nothing else compares to that.

So what are you thankful for?

10 Great Classic Movies To Watch Thanksgiving Day

10. Mouse On The Mayflower

(1968) Animated

This classic children’s cartoon movie about a mouse traveling on the Mayflower is a must if your children have never watched it.

9. A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

(1973) Animated

The best part of this movie is Linus’ Thanksgiving prayer reminding us of the true meaning of Thanksgiving.

8. Holiday Inn

(1942) Starring Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire

This prequel to White Christmas cover all of the holidays including Thanksgiving featuring Bing Crosby singing I’ve Got Plenty To Be Thankful For.

7. Plymouth Adventure

(1952) Starring Spencer Tracy, Gene Tierney, and Van Johnson

Any movie starring these three giants of acting is worth watching. This movie tells the story of  the voyage of the Mayflower.

6. Mayflower: The Pilgrim’s Adventure

(1979) Starring Jenny Aqutter and Tim Barrett. Anthony Quinn and Richard Crenna also have roles in this movie.

Another telling of the crossing of the Mayflower.

5. A Man Called Peter

(1955) Starring Richard Todd and Jean Peters

This story has nothing to do with Thanksgiving, but it does tell a story of the spiritual heritage of our nation. Peter Marshall feels the call to be a preacher. He leaves Scotland and comes to America and eventually becomes the pastor of “The Church of Presidents” and the chaplain of the US Senate without ever becoming politically correct or compromising his faith.

4. The Wizard of Oz

(1939) Starring Judy Garland

This movie used to be showed on TV every Thanksgiving and reminds us we can be thankful for what we have. There’s no place like home.

3. Miracle On 34th Street

(1947) Starring Edwin Gween, Maureen O’Hara, and Natalie Wood

Although technically this is a Christmas movie, who can forget that it starts with the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.

2. It’s A Wonderful Life

(1946) Starring James Stewart and Donna Reed

This movie reminds us that sometimes what we consider hardship may be the very thing we can be thankful for because our lives matter to other people.

1. Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

(1987) Starring Steve Martin and John Candy

In my opinion, this comedy is the best Thanksgiving movie reminding us to be thankful for what we have and sharing our blessings with those who might have lost everything. I get a lump in my throat at the end every time I watch it.

10 Things I’m Thankful For

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Here are 10 Things I’m Thankful For in honor of Thanksgiving.

I’m thankful God wants a relationship with me so much that He would send Christ to die on the cross for me.

I’m thankful for the wonderful husband I’ve been married to for almost 32 years.

I’m thankful for my children who have grown up to be godly.

I’m thankful for my grandchildren who are third generation Church of God. I was the first generation, and I see through them I’ve passed down a legacy.

I’m thankful for my health.

I’m thankful I live in the United States of America. Even though I see some things going in the wrong direction, I still believe it’s the best country on Earth.

I’m thankful I go to a good church with a good pastor. I don’t take that for granted.

I’m thankful God has opened the doors for me help children’s pastors and churches through the ministry, Revival Fire For Kids.

I’m thankful that after years of my desire for writing fiction being placed on the shelf while I did other things, God has brought that desire back to me full force and is directing my steps so that by next year I’ll be thankful for being a published author.

I’m thankful that God has kept me through all the trials and storms of life that have tried to drown me. Even when I had no strength left and was too weak to go on, He held onto me through His righteous right hand.

So leave comments and tell me what you’re thankful for and visit my Historical Blog to read about The History Of The Pilgrims and Puritans.