As we approach the wonderful week of Thanksgiving, I want to share my attitude of gratitude. This is so important in life, not just for November.
November is the month when we celebrate being thankful, which I think is fantastic. A holiday where there are no gifts. No baskets or pumpkins filled with candy. Just a simple turkey and glorious dishes to eat with the ones you love most.
Thanksgiving is truly one of the most special holidays.
The Wampanoags and Pilgrims did it right back in 1621. What a celebration that must have been!
In life, we have to focus on the positive. If we sit and dwell on what could have been, why me, pity me, or what ifs — man, life would be tough! But if we focus on THANK YOU, JESUS, for EVERYTHING you have blessed me with, then this changes our mind in a positive way.
I mean, that’s why they say the mind believes what the body achieves, right?? Your brain is the computer of your body.
You wake up feeling sad about everything; your body will be sluggish and show these emotions. If you wake up feeling thankful for the day, your day will be happy and much more positive.
Health is wealth. Always, always thank the good Lord that you can get out of bed and even go to work. So many people out there wish they could but physically can’t. Some folks don’t know if this could be their last Christmas due to health problems. If you have good health, then you are rich in my book.
This week, pray for those who are struggling for their health.
A home is where the heart is. Oh, our home. Our sweet little home. It’s not huge. It’s not brand new with fancy new gadgets, but it’s our home. The rustic character it brings with the old barn wood we have placed on walls and the warmth of a loving family. Wildlife comes into our back little woods, and the birds sing so happily each morning. WE ARE BLESSED. We have a warm home to come home to after a busy day. We have running water, beds, blankets, food in the fridge, and a nice big farm table to host family meals around.
Our home is our happy place. Cozy, loving, and ours.
So many people live outdoors and can’t afford a home. Be thankful for the home you have and the food on the table.
Pray for those struggling to put food on their table or have no table to sit at.
America. Land of the free because of the brave. Be thankful you live in the United States of America! Do you realize how blessed we are to live in such a beautiful country where we are free to go to church without the worry of being killed? We have fresh running water, and our homes aren’t made out of mud and clay. We also have a Dollar General about every half mile to go get the essentials we need. (That’s funny right there, haha!) Everyone does not have stores to buy what they need at any moment.
Pray for those in other countries who would kill to live in the USA. Their lives are so hard, but many of them are genuinely so happy. Why do you think that is? Attitude of gratitude!
What about the clothes on our backs? Our jobs. Our vehicles to get us from point A to point B? The family and friends we have. WEEKENDS! Praise Jesus for weekends! Your church. Your pets. The sunshine, the rain, and the mountains we drive by each day.
Guys, we have SO much to be thankful for! We are BLESSED! Please don’t ever take these things for granted. Life is good.
You just have to remember this on the hard days. On those hard days, Jesus has your back. If we didn’t have hard days, though, how could we really appreciate the good ones? Be thankful, always.
Happy Thanksgiving to my amazing readers. I am so thankful for you all and appreciate each and every one of you more than you will ever know. Thank you for reading. Enjoy your Thanksgiving and all the blessings. Love and hugs from me!
*I looked for the picture of Grammy Liddick’s turkey through hundreds of photos and never came across it. I didn’t have time to go through more. It’s somewhere! Maybe next year! Sorry!*
I’m going to be honest here. I was never confident in my gravy-making skills. My momma’s is always top-notch, and I still feel like I can never get mine quite as good as hers, but it truly is this simple.
Easy Homemade Gravy Tips Using 3 Ingredients
Seriously, you can make homemade gravy with only 3 ingredients! Once you have the main recipe down, you can swap ingredients out to make a delicious gravy for your Thanksgiving Turkey.
Here are the 3 ingredients:
1. Broth or Pan Drippings
You’ll need a cup of liquid to act as your gravy base. I like to use the pan drippings to avoid waste; just make sure you remove the fat before starting (save that for your roux). If you don’t have enough drippings, add stock until you have 1 cup total.
Any kind of stock will work for gravy but I like to use something complementary. For example, beef stock with gravy for beef, chicken stock for chicken or turkey, etc.
2. Gravy Made with Flour
The flour helps thicken the gravy without changing the flavor. I use white flour.
3. Cooking Fat or Butter
Reserve 1 tablespoon of skimmed fat to make your roux. If you’re not using pan drippings you can also use 1 tablespoon of butter instead.
Bonus: Seasoning for Tasty Gravy
I only season my homemade gravy with salt and pepper, and it’s delicious! If you want to add more spices, try onion powder, garlic powder, parsley, paprika, and oregano.
