Three Beautiful Things 11/28/13: Deuteronomy-Eucharist-Prayer, Walking Sweet Creek, Play and Dinner

1.  When the Deke decided to spend Thanksgiving with her brother's family in Illinois, I immediately decided that I wanted to spend the day in worship in the morning and by myself in nature in the afternoon and then figure out dinner.  It wasn't easy turning down two generous invitations.  Both inviters were understanding, not offended, thank goodness.  The Thanksgiving morning Eucharist is a most fitting way to start Thanksgiving Day.  I was asked to read the Old Testament lesson, Deuteronomy 26:1-11, and it really got inside me and I loved bringing this testimony to gratitude alive.  I lit candles for Julie and Greg and Kendall and Adrienne and Jack and the Deke and Molly and Patrick and Mom, as I stood before the altar of candles, opened the vault of prayers I've stored in my heart over the last many days and asked God to listen to them all.

2.  I had originally thought I would go to the ocean for Thanksgiving Day, but suddenly, as I was enjoying my morning coffee, I realized I hadn't been to Sweet Creek Falls since Snug died.  I loved walking him on that trail and I love the waterfalls and the trees and moss and beauty of that trail, so I went there instead of the ocean.  It was sublime.  Here a few pictures of my walk:

3.  I ended this Thanksgiving Day with play, slot play, and the Thanksgiving buffet at Three Rivers Casino.  My slot play paid for everything, which was fun -- I always like leaving with the same amount of money I came in with.  I ate my dinner in a quiet corner of the sports bar and watched the end of the Raiders and Cowboys and the Ravens-Steelers pregame.  I had a full meal:  a small Caesar salad, prime rib, pork loin, stuffing with gravy, green beans and bacon, a few breaded shrimp, rice pilaf, some artisan bread, and pumpkin pie and soft vanilla ice cream for dessert.  The woman who waited on me called me "Kiddo" and I might have been more grateful for that than anything all day long!  She was really kind to me.  This mirth and meal rounded out a wonderful Thanksgiving Day.