Sunday Afternoons, Sweet Potatoes, & Rolls

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“Celebration is one of the most effective weapons we have against the darkness of our day. When we celebrate, we proclaim the fact there is still good in the world because God is still faithful.”

~ Sally Clarkson

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And other things that made me happy in November:

Two bowls of autumn squash soup

Driving a truck for the first time

A forest trail to the amphitheater of pines

Hearing Jared in the kitchen before anyone was up, making coffee for everyone

Afternoon road trip and the first, blue hills on the horizon

The saints at Vesta Baptist — Jim’s handshake and a hug from Charlie

Jared’s sermon

Reading “Lothlorien” aloud in the rockers, eyes closed, and a light Sunday afternoon wind

Mount Magazine State Park and eating soup on a rock high above the world

Copper trees and blue hills

Arkansas basketball

Opening day of deer season; an eight-mile run; tucking in the garden for winter sleep; the scent of mulched leaves; and walking toward the lit house at dusk, weary

Goodnight phone calls

Pastor Bob breaking out into “Sweet Caroline” after we prayed before the worship service one Sunday

Flag football with the kiddos on a Sunday afternoon

The old toys in Papa and Mema’s basement that I played with as a kid

Mindy

Riding in the bed of Trent’s new truck with all the kids

Elanor’s raspy voice: “Oh horses! I love horses!”

On a November day, the warmth of things growing in the greenhouse

The sermon Dad preached at Mr. Bob’s funeral, playing Mrs. Barb’s violin to “How Great Thou Art,” and how she smiled at me through her tears

Running beneath a shower of leaves

Mrs. Brenda having me over one afternoon to talk about my writing at her kitchen table

How writing a poem every morning has become a habit of praise

Friendsgiving and deer-hunting stories with Sammy

Driving Papa Jay’s bagging wagon and dumping leaves that will decompose over the winter for garden mulch in spring

Barrett’s Thanksgiving turkey he made in Sunday School

“Is He Worthy?” and “Hymn of Heaven” and the list of ordinary saints in Romans 16

Sunday afternoon coffee and sewing projects

Praying over the piles of Operation Christmas Child boxes in the sanctuary

How an apartment fire made a way for our church to love our neighbors

Hannah’s prayer

Rebekah sharing her hard and beautiful testimony of how deep God’s grace runs

The day before Thanksgiving: up early, baking rolls, walking the neighborhood, mashing sweet potatoes, cleaning rooms, and mopping the kitchen floor

All-the-reasons-I’m-thankful-for-you lists

How mom labels all the Thanksgiving foods to remind her where everything goes on the counters

Reading the pilgrim book to Barrett in a sunshiney armchair

Leftovers and Scattegories and ping-pong till long after dark

Seeing Ms. Rosalee again and meeting Mrs. Betty at the nursing home; singing “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” with them

An afternoon hunt with Joel, deepening sunset, tracking under a full moon, and how one deer will supply our whole family with meat

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