The Day Before Thanksgiving

I have always enjoyed the day before Thanksgiving and today was no exception.  The day began with a pancake breakfast (thank you Ed!) complete with pure New England maple syrup that was a gift to us from a special friend and supporter from New Hampshire (thank you Dan!).  The pancake breakfast was made even more special when our granddaughter, Payton, thought we should have hot tea with our pancakes served in a tea pot and tea cups (thank you Payton!).  To top off our pancake breakfast I remembered a small package of pork sausages in our freezer left over from a previous breakfast.  They were perfect with our pancakes and there was just enough left over for each of us to have two (thank you Lord for the joy of small blessings).  As delicious and delightful as our pancake breakfast was, I did not linger over breakfast except to enjoy several cups of tea in a pretty tea cup.  I was excited and eager to get going on the days preparations for Thanksgiving and I was looking forward to making the sourdough bread stuffing from the recipe given to us from our son-in-law (thank you Jake for the recipe!).
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Those of you who  have been to our home know that our kitchen, dining area and office space is all incorporated in one area and so as I work at the kitchen counter I have a full, clear view of the entire room and everything that is going on in the room.  As I was cutting the sourdough bread into cubes for the stuffing my heart became instantly overwhelmed with gratitude.  I couldn't help but be thankful to God for all of his blessings and for the blessings of the day before Thanksgiving.   As I prepared the sourdough bread stuffing with the recipe given to us from our son-in-law, it gave me great joy to remember the holidays we have spent with our daughter, granddaughter and son-in-law over the years and the delicious meals he has prepared for us.  I was also using a measuring cup that had been passed down to me from my Aunt Del Faye.  She was a wonderful cook who took great joy in caring for her family and her life has inspired me to do the same.  It was a delight to use her measuring cup in preparing our Thanksgiving meal.  As I worked to prepare the sourdough bread stuffing, inches away from me, also working at the kitchen counter, was our granddaughter, Payton, thoroughly engrossed in making a family of snowmen out of multi-colored play dough.  I thanked God for His amazing gift of my beautiful granddaughter and for the gift of being able to enjoy her each day.  I looked across the room and our daughter, Meredith, was busy putting labels on envelopes for our Christmas mailing and Ed was busy at the computer finishing up a Christmas letter to include in the mailing.  As I cut up the bread into cubes for the sourdough bread stuffing I thanked God for the tremendous blessing of their health and His loving care over both of them.  I also thanked God for His care over our son-in-law Todd as he has recently turned the corner from a horrible cold that affected his breathing.  

The cubes of bread were all cut up for the sourdough bread stuffing and as I mixed the cubes with the delicious combination of celery, onion and spices I looked up from the counter and across the room I saw the door leading into the addition which will be home for two homeless individuals.  As I mixed the sourdough bread stuffing I thanked God for all of the many, many volunteers and donors (thank you volunteers and donors!) who helped build the addition and as the wind was howling fiercely outside I also thanked God for the volunteers who worked so hard late in the fall to make sure it was weather tight from wind, snow and rain.  As I looked at the door leading into the addition I also thought of the people who will be living there next Thanksgiving.  I pictured them being part of our family and preparing for Thanksgiving Day together.   I wondered if they would have a favorite dish that they would prepare and I wondered if they would like to learn how to make sourdough bread stuffing.   

The sourdough bread stuffing was complete and ready to be spooned into the casserole dish to be cooked in the oven on Thanksgiving Day.   As  I reflected back on the beginning of the day when I was looking forward to making the sourdough bread stuffing little did I realize the blessing that would be mine, not only in making the stuffing, but the gift of gratitude and joy from a loving God.  

I cannot end this blog without sharing our recipe for Sourdough Bread Stuffing with you.  It is a good one and I hope you enjoy it.   I also pray, that as you make the stuffing,  that God will fill your heart to overflowing with gratitude and joy.  Happy Thanksgiving!!! 

JAKE'S SOURDOUGH BREAD STUFFING

1 teaspoon olive oil
2 cups chopped onion
2 cups chopped celery
2 tablespoons dried parsley
2 teaspoons dried sage
2 teaspoons dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon sale
12 cups dried, cubed sourdough bread
1    160z can fat free chicken broth

Saute onions and celery in olive oil then add spices.  Stir in bread cubes and broth.  Spoon into 11x7 baking dish coated with baking spray.  Cover and bake @ 350 degrees for 15 minutes.  Uncover.  Bake for 20 more minutes or until top is golden brown.

With a joyful and grateful heart,
Anita Rennells
​Welllington, Colorado