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Here is the menu from the Wallick / Van Sant 2008 Thanksgiving Feast: Herb and Lemon Roast Turkey with shallot and white wine gravy* Herb and Onion Stuffing* Wild Mushroom and Spinach Stuffing* Spiced Cranberries with Zinfandel Whipped Yukon Gold Potatoes with Fennel and Rosemary Butter* Traditional Green Bean Casserole Traditional Sweet Potato Casserole Citrus Glazed Carrots* Green Onion and Pepper Buttermilk Biscuits* Mixed Greens Salad Persimmon Pudding - two varieties Pumpkin Pie Butterscotch Pie Chocolate Cream Pie Pecan Pie Cherry Pie Pumpkin Creme Brule* *Indicates recipe is from the 2008 Bon Appetit Thanksgiving issue. The cranberry recipe is from the 2001 Bon Appetit Thanksgiving issue. AND - we did not have to call the Fire Department! Woo Hoo!

What you see here is how Thanksgiving 2007 began. Not good. For a number of years now, we have spent Thanksgiving with Linda's sister and family, mostly at their house because it was easier to get to for most of the relatives. My sister in law and I have created a tradition of comparing notes on each year's Bon Appetit Thanksgiving issue, picked out our favorite recipes and created a feast for 10 - 20 folks. We LOVE doing it. Last year was the first Thanksgiving in my sister-in-law's new house, so she was ready to have folks in and show the house and cook the traditional meal in her new kitchen (which, by the way, is spectacular!). As is our usual pattern, we drove to Lawrenceburg, Indiana on Wednesday so we could settle in and begin making preparations. My wife, Linda, is the baker of the family, so she usually makes the desserts. Well, her brother-in-law, who simply MUST have a mincemeat pie each year, was a bit downtrodden because Linda's mom was past the time she

This is my December church newsletter article. I don’t know about you, but I sometimes have trouble keeping my head together and my heart focused on God during Advent and Christmas. Mostly it’s because of all the noise and clutter and busy-ness. But it’s also because I often don’t take time to set my priorities before plunging into the season. Here’s a little list I developed a few years ago with some tips on making the season less crazy and more meaningful. Hope it’s helpful for you. 1. SLOW DOWN. When you find yourself anxious, harried, angry or frustrated because of the demands of the season, resolve to take 30 minutes THAT DAY to be kind to yourself. Take a bubble bath. Listen to music. Take a walk at Sharon Woods Metro Park. Drive around your neighborhood and look at Christmas decorations. Everything that’s got you uptight will still be there when you’re done, but you’ll have caught your breath and you’ll be ready to face them anew. 2. Consider giving alternative g

Later today, I will speak at the funeral service for an elderly member of the church who died suddenly last weekend. Since she was the only member of her family who belonged to the congregation I serve, her daughter decided to have her own pastor and church handle the service. I'll just say a few words on behalf of Good Shepherd during the sharing time. One of the things I LOVE to do at funerals is get people laughing. There is something truly healing about a well told story, with a well understood twist, which highlights a quirky part of the deceased's personality. Members at Good Shepherd know this about me, expect it, and look forward to it (I think). But since I'm not on my home turf today, here is a story I will NOT tell at the service for Jan Crusoe: Just after I began my tenure at Good Shepherd, one of the saints of the church took me around to meet the folks on the "shut in" list. He planned for us to have only a quick visit - just a few minutes to introdu

Hi all - Some of you may recall that I have tried this blogging thing before, but couldn't keep up. I've decided to give it another go. Stay tuned! You can find my previous blogging attempt at: www.obthmu.blogspot.com.