thanksgiving

The highlight of the Lundberg family Novemeber was our 9th annual trip to the Oregon Coast with our friends the Hainsworths and Hughes. Our group consists of 6 adults and 15 kids and together we look like the United Nations, with heavy emphasis on China. Some of the highlights included our annual pilgrimage to Tillamook where we always sample the cheese and indulge in double scoops of ice cream. Thanksgiving Eve we have the "Hungry Pilgrim Feast," a celebration of pie. We have everything from chicken pot pie to banana cream, French Silk and cranberry apple pie.

A new tradition this year was a Thanksgiving morning Turkey Trot. Registration and concession proceeds from the race went toward purchasing a well in Africa through the church humanitarian organization. The Turkey Trot was organized by Savannah Hughes as one of her Young Women projects and she was very successful. Everyone participated in the 1/2 mile, 3K or 5K run despite the rainy day.

We had one day of beautiful weather which allowed us time to play football on the beach, build sand castles and play "crack the whip" with long seaweed ropes. We also spent a day climbing the dunes at Pacific beach and the bravest among us jumped the freezing cold waves. The tide was too high during the day, so one night the older kids took flashlights out to the beach and found starfish, crabs and anemones. When the weather was crummy we had puzzle contests, played M & M Bingo, and had hula hoop competitions. And believe me-- there was a fair amount of video gaming and movie watching.

Eliza, who broke her foot earlier this month and is on crutches, learned a good lesson about "sneaker waves." She and her friend Lily were playing in the sand when a rogue wave came crashing up the beach. They heard a warning from James Hughes standing high above the shore and ran (crawled) to safety just in time. Unfortunately, they didn't have time to grab Eliza's crutches which were quickly consumed by the sea. Crutches can be replaced ($6.99 at the Goodwill) but Eliza could not, so we had something extra to be thankful for. Plus we got a lot of mileage out of the obvious gospel analogy of listening to a prophet's voice of warning to escape the dangers of Satan's waves. Feel free to use the story in your next FHE.

On our way home we passed the dreaded Shell station where Max spent some quality time alone last year. The post traumatic stress seems to have dissipated because Max reported fondly, "remember when that nice man at the Shell station gave me Skittles!"

We are all excited for Christmas. We put up our tree and have our first Christmas party on Friday. Oh yes, and tithing settlement starts Sunday.

Remember, Stacey challenged us to give homemade gifts this year for Christmas. As always, gifts are optional with no guilt strings attached. Especially if you are in the middle of a remodel, building a new home, or growing three babies.

We love you and are thankful for this great newsletter every month.