Thankfulness: Our Week-Long Celebration of Love and Food

It's Thanksgiving here in Chattanooga, Tennessee. We've traveled here to spend Thanksgiving with Isaiah's family; and hence, my family. There comes a time when your spouse's family becomes your own, and we have reached and passed that point now, which brings me much joy. Some signs of that point coming upon you may include members of the family starting to appreciate you as who you uniquely are as much as or more than your spouse at times, or perhaps you simply finding your niche in the family and/or those you tend to talk to during the yearly gatherings. 

At this point, I'm always open to whatever conversations come my way, but there tend to be specific individuals here in this gloriously large family whom I naturally seek out, or who naturally seek me out. It's a beautiful thing to find your place, or rather, to feel the place you've always had more viscerally in a large family such as the Englishes. It's an interesting paradox, large families, since it's both extremely easy and not-so-simple to find your place in them. It's nice to feel my part in the whole these recent years.

We started our Thanksgiving journey south on Monday, November 25th, after Isaiah had a 2-sermon Sunday (one at New Life PCA in the AM and another at Grace OPC in the PM). Due to a productive Sunday, on Monday, we awoke rather exhausted but were still able to tidy the house (as per our usual before a trip), pack for the trip (including food prep items), and tell our friend and neighbor about cat-care for Lana (praise God for good friends who care for your pets). We didn't hit the road until well after noon; hence, our arrival at my grandfather's (whom I call Paw-Paw) in NC was quite late. 

Paw-Paw dutifully stayed up for us despite the late hour and gave us the needed info for staying in his NC home, which will now serve as our way-stay when we are home for the holidays. It's very nice having a home away from home where you have space from others, but also the option to both invite over and be invited. Paw-Paw has kindly provided us this functional Air B&B through his purchase of and loaning of this, his second home (since he also lives with my Aunt Lydia and Uncle Tony). After some good sleep at grandpa's way-stay, we awoke, got both cars inspected (since it is more simple in NC), dropped off the blue truck at our NC house (which is likely to be sold soon--Praise God!), joined each other in the yellow car, had lunch with my Paw-Paw, my Aunt Lydia and Uncle Tony, and then headed to Chattanooga, TN to see Isaiah's family. 

It's always quite sweet traveling to the city where we met and attended Covenant College, getting to see all of the old restaurants we once went to with former roommates, the log cabin where Isaiah stayed at his cousins during his time at the college, and then of course--the college herself, sitting atop the mountain as we drive under her--looking regal and romantic with the Chapel and Carter Hall most prominent. 

We pulled into Cara & Casey's actual Air B&B on Tuesday evening, having arrived just in time to miss the family gathering at Uncle Tim & Aunt Jenny's but taking solace in the beautiful apartment granted to us to stay in for the week, especially all of the original art done by Cousin Cara herself. Cara is Isaiah's oldest cousin who married young, quickly had 6 amazing kiddos, and who (alongside her husband Casey Gumm) basically runs Thanksgiving. Yes, many help and organize and host, but after Tim & Jenny ran things for a while, it's clear that the Gumms have picked up the mantle and placed it on their own very capable shoulders. Praise the Lord for those of the next generation who keep up the important traditions! 

The Gumms own two properties that help the English family in Chattanooga a great deal. They own farm land, which many Englishes (esp. Tim Englishes) live on. They also own a property that consists of one house with a large family room (where Thanksgiving is held) and a smaller apartment in the back (where the Gumms live), and another house with 4 small apartments divided up into living quarters or Air B&Bs. The Gumms were is kind to give us the larger apartment in this 2nd building, complete with kitchen and bathroom. 

After sleeping well, we awoke to a brunch celebration at Cousin Lynnea and Keith's (the Stevens family) complete with delicious sausage casserole and fellowship. Some stayed inside to chat and play games, and many chatted outside by the fire and food table. After a short afternoon break, during which many partook of a family game called Tolleyball (a mixture of volleyball and tennis), we were back at the Stevens for a dinner of yummy pizza (which many contributed to the cost of, esp. the grandparents) and salad. Most of the action took place at the fire that evening, but there was a fun game of Upwards around the kitchen table headed up by Tim & Jenny, the resident word-smith-gamers who always beat me with subdued glee, humble happiness. They are kind. 

The next morning was Thanksgiving, and Isaiah's brother Zach and his wife Maren hosted breakfast/brunch. It was a glorious time full of fellowship, yumminess, and plenty of lattes crafted by the lovely Maren. I was able to catch up more with family this time, having met many new people (at least new to me) the previous night. Around 1 or so, many left (including us) to cook or prepare their portion of the Thanksgiving meal (Cousin Emma having sent out a sign-up). Isaiah helped his sister Londa with the bread for the meal by making a lot of sourdough--including regular and fancy pumpkin and cranberry combinations. (We honestly can't express enough thankfulness to Hannah Marsh for giving us starter this Summer to take home; it has produced such abundance in the hands of my spouse!) I made honey-glazed carrots, a Family McCoy original from their recipe book gifted to me at our wedding. Many others made such delicious delicacies, which included truffle-infused mashed potatoes (OMGoodness!), two home-raised turkey kinds--both roasted and deep-fried, homemade cranberry sauce, and multi-cheese Mac and Cheese. Everyone has their favorites, but this year Ashley's (sister-in-law) potatoes and Jether's (cousin) greens were my top! 

One of the great things about Thanksgiving with the Englishes is that all of the food is incredibly healthy, and it seems no one overeats either. I think that when you eat such variety of the good stuff, there is less temptation to overdo any one thing. But, in case someone does overeat, there is the walk in between the meal and dessert, which we joined in on and were thankful for despite the fact that we did not eat too much but rather just enough. During the meal itself, Isaiah and I were at Grandma Joan and Grandpa Ralph's table, along with Jenny's wonderful and patient mom. It was lovely company, provided by those with put the name-cards out to arrange the family at the various tables, since there were over 60 people to place and organize! What a feat! 

After the family walk, we returned to eat yummy pie (pumpkin, pecan, and sweet potato--I personally loved the purple ones!) and to discuss our various thankfulnesses and updates from the year in a family circle. This being the Englishes main family holiday together means that the time is used well to praise God and to update one another around the circle. I did not choose to share this year since I couldn't get my various thoughts together to form a cohesive statement, so I trusted Isaiah to give a great update for us both--which he did so very well. After the meal, was a good bit of socializing and cleaning, and later, bed. 

The next day we woke up even later than usual given the late night and rich foods, but we were able to make the tail-end of breakfast (pie, ice-cream, breakfast casserole, lattes!) slash a second-cousin's one-year-old birthday! So thankful for a year of life for such a sweet little one! Afterwards, Isaiah and I headed to Ralph and Joan's to go through Ralph's theology books which he gifted to Isaiah. Since Isaiah is the grandson under care, Ralph had Isaiah choose from his library anything he felt would be profitable. There are many rare, out-of-print, and uniquely helpful books and commentaries which we organized, boxed-up, and brought back with us. Now, when Isaiah uses them and sees Grandpa Ralph's name in the book, he can smile as he reads and writes sermons, knowing these were his grandpa's books and that he is living in his legacy. :) Book-sorting (choosing, labeling, and lugging to the car alongside Paul--Isaiah's dad) took a good bit of the Friday, and, after it, Isaiah joined in a game of Tolley-ball whilst I rested, pre-packed, and returned phone calls from the previous days (since I tend to ignore my phone during social gatherings). 

Later that evening, we returned to Grandpa Ralph and Grandma Joan's for a more socially-focused dinner. Less books: more fellowship. It was lovely catching up with and sharing with the grandparents and with Paul (my papa-in-law/Isaiah's dad) who is staying with them and helping Ralph. It was a lovely, long evening of sharing and caring and learning. Later, we returned to the Thanksgiving hub (the Gumms), and we got to have a nice chat with Cara about how important she and her family are to the family culture there in Chatt. I do hope the whole family knows that this big feat called Thanksgiving is oh so important and wonderful, especially for those of us far away, but even and especially for those there as well---tradition keeps relationships, and time produces good crops of fellowship and connectedness. Praise God for all of the leg-work that keeps this family of God walking in grace. I am happy to be an English. And also, happy to be a Straughan (my wider family's namesake). 

Come Saturday morning, we were packed up and loaded, and we headed back to NC from TN to celebrate my birthday at my mom's house. I turned 35 on November 30th, and I got to celebrate with and see my whole family--what a gift; perhaps appreciated all the more as I age and grow. We arrived at my mom's around 4pm, and ate chili-con-carne (a Straughan dish), yellow ice-cream cake, and Paw Paw's sweet tea. My mom (Laurie) really pulled out the stops for my birthday: yellow balloons everywhere and yellow napkins along with presents from various family members. (Yellow is my favorite color.) She even set up a photo stations with pictures of Nana Ruby and Uncle Kevin so that they'd be at birthday too, though they await me in heaven. It was so sweet to be so loved and cherished. My brother Mitch even came, which was no easy feat for him, and it meant so much. 

After the party, Isaiah and I drove to our house to get the blue truck, and returned to Paw-Paw's with both cars and some Poppi sodas for my birthday. Our private, couple celebration included the chocolate truffles my Mam-Maw had given for my birthday, healthy snacks she gave us for the trip home, along with the Poppi soda we bought on the way back which we drank from some of Paw Paw's fun wine glasses. We danced to jazz music in the kitchen and had yummy food whilst watching a film classic, "While You Were Sleeping," on Paw Paw's big screen. It was a lovely Saturday. We felt so blessed to have gotten to see both families (his and mine), and to have received such an abundance of love in the tank to bring back with us to PA. 

After some good sleep, we awoke and drove in separate cars to our former NC church--Harvest OPC, and we got to reunite and fellowship with some of our favorite people. We even got to come on a Fellowship Meal Sunday (Praise God!), so we go some extra time with people before heading back up to PA in separate cars. I finished my audiobook on the life of Fred Rodgers in the yellow car, and Isaiah listened to podcasts he gotten behind on in his blue truck. We stopped for hugs and gas when needed, but overall, had to stop very little since I felt confident and full on the love of our people. 

We arrived quite late on Sunday, and on Monday were surrounded by birthday gifts, dirty clothes, and a big tub of ingredients to be unpacked, and that's just the start of the list. It took us most of this past week to feel even a little caught up, and our apartment still looks a slight mess, but the fellowship makes it all worth it. 

And we face this new week with renewed fervor to love as we have been loved, to craft a few more needed Christmas presents, and to do our best to comfort those in the family of God here at Grace OPC who has lost loved ones this past week. 

May the Grace of the Lord be with you. 

Until next time, Calli Jade English--Beloved by many, and ready to Serve