THE WAY IT'S ALWAYS BEEN DONE

Thanksgiving 2008

It's getting closer. The anticipation is building. Soon, the smell of turkey roasting in the oven, along with dressing and pies, will fill millions of homes all over the United States.

As far back as I can remember, I woke up with these same distinctive aromas wafting past my nose, as well as the sound of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade coming from the family room TV. No one was necessarily watching it, but it was on all the same. Sleeping late meant no school, and if we were lucky, it would snow hard enough over the weekend to justify calling for a snow day, giving us a few extra days off.

One of my favorite things to do was look through the Sears Christmas Wish Book, circling items for  my gift list. This would not be complete without holiday music in the background. Dad had a reel-to reel tape deck in which he had recorded Christmas songs from the radio. These same tapes were played year after year and each time, the familiar renditions would add another layer of memories. If we begged Dad long enough, he might even get the decorations out of the garage. When the ornaments were unpacked, I would gaze at my favorites, as if I were looking at them for the very first time.

No matter how hard we planned, it seemed Tom Turkey made his golden debut around 2:00Pm. The table was set by my sisters and I, everything in its place. Often times, I was given the job of making place cards . . . home made, of course. As the family grew larger and larger, this task took longer and longer. On occasion, we had a special guest join us for dinner . . . someone who needed a home for the holiday.

Then came the long-awaited two words, "Dinner's ready!" Just when we thought it was time to eat, my parents would gather us in a circle and while holding hands, we would take a few minutes to go around, one at a time, telling what we were thankful for. Although my stomach was empty, my heart was full of the many blessings God gave us as a family. I was overflowing with gratitude.

But that wasn't all that overflowed. When the prayer was over, the abundance of blessings on the table overflowed my plate. Here is what my plate looked like: a few slices of Mom's perfect turkey next to her AMAZING giblet stuffing (a double portion at least,) then corn, green bean casserole, home made mashed potato's and gravy, along with two cranberry sauces and possibly a roll.

Since the days of my childhood, Thanksgiving traditions continue. When my oldest son married, the North finally met the South and we now have the addition of Sweet Potato Casserole, courtesy of my daughter-in-law, Angela.

All's well that ends well, especially when there's Apple, Chocolate Pecan, and Pumpkin Pie to pick from. (Don't forget the whipped Cream.)

After the last dish is washed, the women folk take their traditional walk in the neighborhood to ease the pain of overeating or maybe just get out of the kitchen. Yet, there is one last important ingredient left to mention.

When I was a child, we went as a family to view the Christmas window display at a popular department store in the town where I grew up. To carry on this tradition, we now go to Kuhn Flowers on Thanksgiving night, to see their widows. Although someone in my family always feels the need to express disapproval to this long standing ritual, they graciously appease me by honoring my request. (Come join us!)

As the years go by, family dynamics shift and change. Some go out of town to join their spouses family, while others may not be able to make it home. Yet our numbers are increasing due to the new grand babies we have been blessed with.

No matter who fills the chairs or what fills our plates, Thanksgiving traditions remain strong. On occasion, we may even try creative variations just for the sake of variety. But after it's all said and done, we are creatures of habit and prefer to do it the ways it's always been done.

Question of the Week? What elements of Thanksgiving do you refuse to change?

I'm a little behind this week... sorry.

Yesterday, Lily and I, along with my Dad, went with her American Heritage Girls troop to a State Veterans Nursing Home facility, where we were part of the Veteran's Day festivities. It was a beautiful day out in the breezy courtyard. Our girls looked like a living American flag in their troop colors, their faces shining with God's expression of love.

When it was time for us to sing "God Bless America," the folks were so blessed, they asked us to sing the song again as an encore. After the program, we mingled with residents, passing out cards of thanks to each of them, and hung hand-made decorations on their doors.

There isn't enough "thanks" to go around when it comes to those who served our country through the military. Whenever I see a person in uniform, I make it a point to thank them for serving and protecting our nation. It's one way we can continually show honor and respect.

My siblings and I had our dad's name engraved on this memorial.

I know it doesn't seem like much, but lets all take the time to mention someones name here on the blog this week, who served or is serving, in the military. It'll be our way of saying "thank you."

I'll start by saying thank you to my dad, who served as a tail gunner in World War II. He enlisted at the young age of 18, eager to serve his country. Interestingly, although he was a Wisconsin resident at the time, the Navy sent him to NAS Jacksonville, as well as Camp Blanding, for training. He never would have guessed that one day he would reside here. Thanks Dad, for protecting our country!

Question of the week: who can you thank for serving our country?

I'm Adjective Happy About Mom

From A to Z, there are plenty of descriptive words in the English language to creatively express our thoughts, feelings, and emotions for just about anything. On the other hand, it's hard to put some things into words.
 
affectionate   beautiful   compassionate   down-to-earth   extra-special   fun   glamorous   helpful   inquisitive   joyful   kind   loving   magnificent    nurturing   original    pretty   queenly   radiant   sensitive   tender  ultimate   vivacious   wonderful   xenial   youthful   zesty!  

Above, I picked one word from every letter of the alphabet to describe my Mom. Then, I took some of those words and wrote one sentence about her.

"My mom is the picture of absolute beauty, with eyes that radiate tenderness and gentle compassion, yet she is down-to-earth, with a fun-loving zest for life!

Question of the week: In one extremely adjective-happy sentence, describe your mother.

Have fun,
Chrissy

AN UNFORGETTABLE FAMILY VACATION

By Connor Goodson

        “FINALLY, we're finished packing!” my excited mother exclaimed.”Last call for using the restroom!”
       I ran around my room, searching for anything else to bring on my one week trip to North Carolina. “OK, I think I have everything. Toothbrush and toothpaste, check.  Clothes, check. Books, check. Movies for the road, check. And finally, my appetite, CHECKAROO!”
       I will never forget the time my family and I went to North Carolina. We did so many fun things there! It took eight hours to get there, but it was SO worth it. The car ride itself created a memory! We were going to leave my house and get to North Carolina in the same day, but it took longer to pack than we thought. Long story short, we left at 6:00 P.M. Despite the fact we left at 6:00, we were going to drive straight through! Just Saying, if you do the math, we would get there at 2:00 A.M. That’s not including the bathroom breaks, gas breaks, and food breaks. You've probably already guessed we didn't get there that night. If you did, you are correct. We stopped at a hotel at around  12:00 A.M and went to bed half an hour later. The next morning, we got up, ate a DELICIOUS breakfast of chocolate milk, Pop Tarts, and waffles that you make yourself, and then started our two hour trip up a mountain.

       It was so beautiful up there! From our cabin you got a perfect view of several mountains, LOTS of trees (DUH), and other cabins so we could stalk people! (Just kidding!:D) It was SO nice to hear the birds rise to another chilly morning while drinking nice, warm (NOT TOO HOT!) hot chocolate.
       “‘Up, up, up! It’s going to be a big, big, big day!’ I try to imagine for a moment, what
it must be like inside that woman’s head.” This is a quote from The Hunger Games when Effie Trinket wakes up Katniss on the train. This is exactly what was happening. My mom had the idea that we would all get up and run around, but everyone else just wanted to sleep in. While we were there, the time flew by! We went on hikes, we observed waterfalls, and my personal favorite, WHITE WATER RAFTING!!! Depending on the service you take, your trip can be as short as three hours, or as long as eight hours!                                    
       The one we took was six hours. We also took the medium route which contained mostly easy waters where you didn’t have to paddle at all, but there were some times when we had to paddle as fast as we could! For example, when we were about five hours through the trip, the guide to our raft started talking about this eight-foot waterfall which we were  going to be the first in all the rafts on our trip to go down. Of course, we couldn’t turn down this offer! So we went. Once we got to the waterfall, she told us to paddle hard, so we did, then out of nowhere, she told us to kneel down to the bottom of the raft. We did, of course, and I will never forget the feeling of going down the huge waterfall. By the way, our raft flipped. People on the shore threw ropes to us and thankfully, we then got pulled on shore. Yup, I will never forget the time my family and me went to North Carolina. 

QUESTION OF THE WEEK: What is your most unforgettable family vacation memory? Please give the details!

IT BEGINS WITH YOUR NAME

It Begins With Your Name  

by Chrissy Larson


A name is not just a name. It has significant meaning. If you don't believe me, look up both your first and middle names to find out the meaning and I bet you'll be surprised at what you learn. 

Often times, a name hints at the era people were born in. For example, Constance, Edwina, and Hortense were popular at the turn of the century, while Peace, Spirit, and Willow might tell us the person is a flower child from the 1970's. 

I was born in the late 50's and it was quite common to name your children after relatives, especially parents or grandparents. In my case, Christine, which means Christ-bearer, is not an inherited name. In fact, I am the first Christine in my family line. My parents picked this name purely for religious reasons and I'm grateful they did. 

My middle name is Rose, which means flower. Rose is my mother's middle name, as well as, my Grandmother's first name.

Although my first and middle names have separate meanings, my parents wanted to use both my names together, to make a statement of their own. They wanted my name to be a reminder of the cross... Christ Rose from the dead. I humbly pray my life reflects the powerful meanings behind my name.

Whether your parents were Christians and prayed about your name before you were thoughtfully labeled, or they merely thought your name was cool, trending at the time you were born, I believe God's hand was divinely upon them as they considered each name. 

The truth is, your name is what breaks the chain on the gate. You have a destiny to fulfill, the call of God is on your life, and it begins with your name!

Question of the week: I dare you to look up the meanings of your first and middle names in either a book of names or on the Internet. Are you surprised? 

Please explain the significance.

For name meanings, try www.meaning-of-names.com

THE BENEFITS OF NEW TECHNOLOGY

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The Benefits of New Technology 
by Connor Goodson

New technology is everywhere! From toys, to cars, to new ways of communication! Today I will share with you some new inventions, and tell you how they benefit us.

One invention is the driverless car. This is something that has been in mind for a while. For example, in The Incredibles, one of the first few scenes shows Mr. Incredible in a driverless car.

This will benefit us in safety because most car accidents are caused by human error.  The driverless car could save lives.  Also, people could multi-task while traveling to work.  The driverless car is expected to be available to purchase before 2020.

Another invention is the Oculus Rift.  This is a head-mounted device that changes the experience of playing video games.  There is a screen inside the device that gives you a close up experience and makes you feel like you are inside the game.

This technology has many benefits.  I believe it will be used in the future not only for video games but for other purposes such as training people to operate machinery or teaching them a new skill.

Question of the week:  Make up a new invention, explain what it will do, and tell why people would buy it.

It's Gonna Be Worth It All

IT'S GONNA BE WORTH IT ALL!

Any day now, my son James and his wife Angela will be having baby #2. Baby Benjamin James is expected to arrive some time around October 3rd, 2013, give or take a few days.

As a mother of four living children and two that have gone before me, I know what it's like to rub my large, round tummy and imagine a newborn in my arms. But by the 38th week or so, I would start to wonder if my baby was ever gonna come, and at night, I'd dream about being pregnant forever!

There's a good reason why people call this glorious condition "expecting" and I'm glad this term is closely attached. One of the wonderful outcomes of pregnancy is holding your precious newborn in your arms for the very first time, and the reward for going through an intense labor and delivery is the incredible smell of your baby's head, or his fresh, apple breath! It was those expectations that helped me cope when I lost sight of my feet and started the countdown to D-Day, knowing what cup I still had to drink from.

Today, I'm expecting, but I'm not pregnant...

I'm gazing, even though I can't see...

I'm standing, after having done all to stand...

And in a world that sometimes lacks hope, I've decided to put my trust in the Lord of hope.

There are fewer and fewer things you can count on in life. Products are cheaply made, not what they used to be. Good work ethic is harder to find, and services lack quality. When someone gives me their word, I still expect them to make good on their promise, because a mans word is suppose to be his bond.

Jesus expected us to expect because He knew it would help us keep our chin up when times got tough. Just like a pregnant woman knows she will one day see her baby, so we should expect, knowing one day we will behold our Savior face to face.

John 14:1-3 says, “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

Never stop expecting. It's gonna be worth it all.

Chrissy Larson

Question of the week: I'm expecting a grand son soon. What are you expecting?

HAPPY FALL, Y'ALL!

HAPPY FALL, Y'ALL!

Yesterday, September 22, was the first day of Fall, 2013. Just saying the word "Fall" brings a sense of excitement. A minister once said to me, "All things are parallel" and I've measured his words against many areas of my life, only to say his statement is very true. A new season not only brings a welcomed change in temperature physically, it brings other changes as well.

I always experience a heightened sense of emotion when the Fall decorations begin to fill the retail aisles. Sadly, they've been reduced in price to make more room for the displays of Christmas trees, cards, and decorations that have already started to dominate the shelves.

Today, my mind rewinds to fond memories of Autumn. After the leaves changed color and begin their slow dance to the musty earth below, my siblings and I would grab rakes and design a maze of paths through the front and back yards, leading to one huge pile of leaves. The paths made fantastic "roads" for an imaginary city, or boundaries in a game of tag. But the infamous leave pile gave reason to spend a whole afternoon raking without one thought of that being a chore.

The bigger the pile, the louder the squeals of laughter! Sometimes, we would get a ladder from the garage just to have a higher platform from which to jump. This occupied us for days until my dad had enough and the landscaping design returned to normal.

Forlorn children were seen everywhere raking Fall fun into bags, only to be set to the side of the road for the garbage truck's disposal. A raise in allowance money was the only medicine that could take away the pain of saying goodbye to the leave pile. That is, until someone mentioned a bonfire or S'mores!

Question of the week: What is your favorite thing to do in the Fall? Please describe in detail!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

My dad, Joe Bifano (90) and my mom (Joni Bifano)

My dad is turning 90 years old this week!!! Do you know anybody that has lived that long??? Life, as he knew it growing up, has TOTALLY changed! Imagine what it would be like to live back in 1923.

• Time magazine published it's first issue costing 15 cents a copy. Today it costs around $4.50.
• Movies such as the Hunchback of Notre Dame starring Lon Chaney and The Ten Commandments directed by Cecil B DeMille were released.
• Louis Armstrong's music was the rage!
• The first radio was developed in the US.
• A five passenger roadster cost $525!
• Adolf Hitler and Mussolini were in power.



1923 Roadster

• The Ku Klux Klan burned a town to the ground massacring many African Americans

Can you imagine life without a cotton swab? A band-aid? A television? Frozen food?  Life Savers candy? Stainless Steel? Zippers? Traffic signals? Aerosol cans? Bubble gum? Or penicillin?

The list goes on and on as to what he lived without. More mind boggling is what he has learned to use over the years. My dad can now read a digital copy of his favorite magazine on his computer. He watches old TV shows and movies in HD on demand; he is now the proud owner of an iPod which has a Louis Armstrong play list; his wife of 63 years text messages the family on her iPad; they drive an older model seven-passenger Dodge Caravan that probably cost them about $29,000 when purchased new; and an African American man is his president!

I love to reminisce about days gone by and hear how difficult life was without all of our modern conveniences. It makes me appreciate the era in which we live.

Dad walking the Appalachian Trail this May (age 89)

Before I ask the "Question Of the Week," I want to wish my dad a very happy, fun-filled birthday. Several of his children are coming into town for this extremely rare occasion and we plan to make him feel very special. God has blessed him above and beyond, extending his life. As far as he can see, his eternal appointment calender for the planet earth still holds an agenda. Until the day that Jesus calls him home, he chooses to give Jesus all the glory and honor for filling his life and fulfilling his days.

Dad's first "Hot Now" Krispy Kreme Donut just last week!

GOD BLESS YOU DADDY - I LOVE YOU!!!

Question of the week - 
What one or two items couldn't you live without?

An Elementary Life

Question of the Week:

AN ELEMENTARY LIFE 

by Chrissy Larson

 "I'm home!!!" I hollered from the top of my lungs, slinging my leather book bag on the floor in the mud room. (A mud room is a place designated for sloppy, wet, muddy items such as clothing, mittens or boots. Ours was an area near the back hall doorway.) Each one of us kids had a brown, tooled leather school bag that my dad made years back from scrap cowhide while working at the Armour Leather Company in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. If I concentrate hard enough, I can still recall the oily scent of the chestnut-tanned leather.
        Kicking off my shoes without untying them, I stomped up the stairs looking for my mom. Her voice came back to me from somewhere under a pile of unfolded, crisp, clean laundry. I saw the sheets from off my bed in the pile which meant I was gonna sleep good tonight. Turning back fresh bed linens that hung on the clothesline in my backyard absorbing sweet air was like opening a gift. Tonight the indulgence would be all mine.
        "How was your school day?" my mom routinely quizzed.
        "Fun, but my face hurts."
        "Your face hurts?" she questioned.
        "Yeah, I couldn't stop smiling all day. It was great to be back at school. I had the best day, Mom. Besides seeing everyone again, we played S.P.U.D. at recess, my favorite. Oh, and thanks for the note in my lunch box... I love you too," I returned as I whispered a kiss on her beautiful soft cheek. Now it was my turn to ask a routine question.
        "What's for dinner?" She must have been so sick of being asked that but there was something about knowing the menu ahead of time that made doing homework all the way to suppertime entirely bearable. 
        My mom was and still is a fabulous cook. It really didn't matter what she made (except for liver and Brussels sprouts) because it was ALL good. Mom knew how to make a hearty, healthy meal for a family of seven (my baby sister wasn't born yet) and manage to stay within her meager budget, including dessert.
       After dinner, I had to either wash or dry the dishes, along with my older sister. We passed the time by either sharing events of the day or singing songs together, whichever SHE was in the mood for. I idolized her and my way of showing her love and respect was doing things to her liking, which sometimes meant letting her pick if I would be the washer or the dryer. Usually I dried because that also included putting the dishes away. Since she literally prayed me into existence, I owed her my life.

Father Knows Best - 1954-1960

        When the chores were done and the last bit of homework was checked, we all voted on a television show to watch on our black and white TV. Dad's vote weighed the most so we learned to love shows like Gunsmoke, Perry Mason, Bonanza, and Andy Griffith. Another one of my favorite shows was Father Knows Best. I loved the show but learned to hate the theme song at the end... only because my mother added words to the closing jingle. She and my dad (who whistled the tune along with her) triumphantly sang, "It's time to go to bed," over and over again with incredible delight until we got so sick of it and ran to our rooms. I guess that was the point.
        The walls of the house soon relaxed as my siblings and I each came out of the bathroom with clean, brushed teeth, kissed and hugged our parents, and in Walton's fashion said goodnight. Falling asleep was difficult, lying there trying to listen to the conversations of my older brothers in the room across the hall. The sound of their deep voices would eventually lull me to sleep and a new day would soon begin.
        "Good morning," came the energetic voice from the bottom of the stairs. "Are all of you awake? There's cinnamon toast getting cold down here so hurry up and get ready for school or you'll be late." In the background was the rhythmic sound of marching band music Mom conveniently found on the radio. I always wondered what she got out of John Phillips Sousa so early in the morning. After I grew up, I realized it wasn't that she liked that type of music as much as she liked the way it motivated us. Smart mom!

Kohler Village Elementary School

        Metal lunch boxes and brown paper bags were lined up on the counter-top along with our leather book bags, just like the school buildings that lined School Street in Kohler Village where I lived all of my grade school life. One brother headed to high school, while the other to junior high. My sister and I went to the elementary school where the crossing guard in her navy blue uniform and hat faithfully escorted us across the street each day to meet the many friends and classmates who slowly gathered in front of their respective schools.
        The cool Wisconsin air was brisk enough to shake off the last bit of sleepiness but not yet cold enough to see your breathe. That day was just around the corner. Autumn was definitely in the air as a hint of Fall color slowly visited the leaves on the trees.
        Not only were the leaves changing, so were we. We wanted to grow up so badly; to be like the high school students at the other end of the block; to meet the day when we could cross the "high school line" at the Youth Center; to wear make-up and go to dances. Couldn't time skip by any faster?
        I'm almost grown up now and all I want to do is go back. I miss those days. It was a simpler life with no cares or much to worry about. I guess it's my turn to watch as my own kids wish for the hands of time to pick up their pace, only to grow up with a longing to return to a more elementary life.
       
I've shared some fond memories from my elementary school days.  What are some of yours?