HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Hi Yawl!

Happy Thanksgiving!

If you rang my doorbell about 10:00 this morning this is what I would have said.....

"Hello darlin'! Come on in! We were just sitting down to breakfast. Amie made cinnamon rolls and Cinnabon muffins. We are having Jamaican coffee and sending lots of love around this table. Now sit on down and let me get you a plate and cup."

I would have introduced you to part of the family sitting around the table. From left to right is Ron, Jamie, Memaw and Papaw. After a while Ken joins the group and of course gets the rest to do something silly. They all shake your hand and then the questions begin.

Where do you live? Where do you work? How do you know Debbie? Would you like some more Cinnamon rolls? We are so glad to have you here, can you stay for supper?

Amie and I aren't in the picture because we are cooking. We will be in later pictures. We finally sit down and eat our muffin while the family enjoys being together. Ken makes fun of something I did and we all laugh. That starts the two hour marathon of being silly, remembering fun days, making fun of the news or just finding joy in being together by laughing about our personal quirks. Ron wipes his eyes from tears of laughter and Amie holds her stomach and howls. Jamie snarfs his coffee and Papaw laughs quietly with a tee hee hee.

The Thanksgiving Day Macy's parade is playing on the TV in the background. Just as we are cleaning up the table someone begins a wonderful version of "I'll be home for Christmas". I can't stand it so I find Ron and we dance around the room while Ken takes our picture. Since we aren't much in the way of dancers, it ends up with a lot of laughter.

You can see Memaw and Jamie in the background joining in the fun.

I hope you are with family today. But if not, don't sit in your house alone. Life doesn't come to you, you have to go out and find it. Go to a shelter and offer to help serve. Or maybe just sit with someone and ask questions while you eat. Take a walk or visit your neighbor.

No one has a perfect life and we are no exception. Many problems are represented around our table. Realizing that none of those problems will be solved today releases us to enjoy the day. Be thankful for what you do have and then find a way to share your blessings with others. I will be thinking of you and praying for you. I am asking God to give you a wonderful day with your families or as you reach out to someone around you.

Check back in and I'll see you in a few hours!

God loves you,

Debbie

How God values old age

Yawl know how I love the fall. I love the brilliant colors. I love walking through crunching leaves that decorate our yard. I love watching as the forest gives a colorful confetti parade to the world. It's as if every tree is rushing to the front of the stage to say, "Look at how beautiful I am. Look at the brilliance God created in me!"

Some people are depressed by fall. They hate watching their prized flowers die and their trees lose leaves preparing to hibernate through the winter. These people think only about the pending gloom of a hard winter and how difficult things will be when the first snow arrives. For some, the fall parallels their own aging. They wonder how long it will be until they begin to shed their outer skin and transform into a totally spiritual being.

The main reason I love fall is because it gives me hope for the aging process. I want to be like the beautiful oaks that turn to brilliant yellow. I hope I have learned my lessons well. I hope as I age I can be a brilliant light of color in an otherwise dark environment. I hope that I can share what I've learned with others and live my life so young people will look at me and say, "Wow! Look at that! Isn't that cool?"

If I can get their attention maybe I can share with them that life is logical. Maybe I can tell them the stories of how God brought me through every experience and will do the same for them. Maybe I can tell them how loving God is and how much He wants to be a part of their lives. If I let my colors shine, maybe they will have hope. Maybe they will want to be like me.

Take heart all you mature Christians. God is not through with you. God has a job for you to do. God wants you to color your life with love. Don't hide. Don't run from that horrible, undisciplined, rude teen. Be who you are - but be colorful. Find a way to shine into his life. Don't sit alone in church, march right up to the front and sit by a single mom. Don't tell yourself that your family doesn't need you. Make a marshmellow salad and show up for the holidays. Make your presence known. They need you as much as you need them.

Winter is coming. Soon God will call us all into his bright light. Like staring out into the white of snow we will be blinded by his love. We need to prepare those that follow. We need to pass our light to them so they can navigate and find His love.

Fall is God's yearly call to everyone over 25. "I'm not done with you yet. Let's show the world how beautiful you can be!"

God loves you,

Debbie

Rainbow Jello

Turkey Day is coming yawl. I hope you are getting ready for a party at my house!

I was thinking that some of you mom's might have picky little eaters. I called my friend Marie and asked for her recipe for "Rainbow Jello". About two years ago I had to have TMJ surgery. For some time I couldn't eat solid food. She made this jello for me and I loved it! It taste like you took a roll of lifesavers and put the entire thing in your mouth at once.

Marie’s Rainbow Jello

8 3oz. Packages of jello

1 carton of cool whip

½ pint of sour cream

Mix cool whip and sour cream together (beat with beater) set aside.

Mix one package of jello with one cup boiling water. Stir. Reserve ¾ cup jello.

To the remaining ¼ cup jello, add about 3 heaping tablespoons of the cream mixture.

Pour cream and jello mixture into 9x13 glass pan, chill until firm - 45 minutes to one hour.

After it is firm, pour the reserved over the chilled layer. Chill until firm.

Repeat process until you have used all the jello and cream.

Any combination of colors will present the rainbow look. On certain holidays I may only use two or three colors. For example, on the Fourth of July I only used Red, White and Blue.

Children of all ages love this recipe, especially when topped with Cool Whip! Yum.

Thanks Marie!

Only one more day until Thanksgiving. Are you thinking about a recipe and story to send in? The deadline is December 20th. I can't wait to hear your special story and taste your recipes.

I know it's time for the holidays when my parents arrive. They will stay with me until after Christmas.

Hello, Memaw and Papaw! I'm so glad to see you! Come on in!

All the way from Georgia. Thanks for coming!

God loves you,

Debbie

An Invitation

Hi Yawl !

You are cordially invited to my house for the holidays!



Beginning Thanksgiving day I will be posting "Christmas at my house" everyday through New Years. You and I will become great friends! I hope you will join me every morning.



I will be interviewing everyone in the family, posting all my recipes, pictures of decorations and special traditions.

I will also be posting pictures of anyone who wants to participate. So grab your camera, take a picture of your family and send it to debbie@debbiejansen.com. Just like I would take you around and introduce you to people at a party, I will post your picture and introduce you to my website friends.

You can win a special book. I am looking for the yummiest Christmas recipe ever! For this contest you will need to submit a recipe with a short story of why it's your favorite. My mom Maggie, my good friend Viki and I will be the judges. We will share as many stories and recipes as we can. Once we have picked a winner we will share the recipe and a picture of us enjoying it.

The winner will receive a copy of the book "Cooking with Faith" by Faith Ford of the sit com Hope and Faith. I love this book. Not only does it have wonderful southern recipes, but she has included fun tidbits about her childhood. Her grandparents were Baptist ministers and she talks a lot about dinner-on-the-ground. I know you will love this book as much as I do.



Keep watching the website for more ways to win free stuff! Good grief yawl, it's Christmas....got to have presents.

I'm busy cleaning, cleaning and cleaning for the holidays. Mom and Dad arrive on Monday and Ken and Amie arrive Wednesday. Oh my are we gonna have fun.

Put on some Christmas music, fix a cup of orange Cinnamon tea and dream about the next six weeks. I can't wait to share my Christmas with you.

God loves you,

Debbie

A Goldfish and his God

"What a mess I have to clean up," I thought as I rubbed my sleepy eyes and grabbed another cup of coffee. Our trip to Illinois was wonderful, but now it's back to the real world of putting our clothes back, doing laundry and shopping for little necessities like milk. All the work that was put on hold while we were gone is now screaming for my attention. And to top it off, the holidays are only one week away and I have parties to plan.

We have a goldfish. I guess that's what he is. He's huge. I guess it's a He. Anyway, Amie bought him for Jamie almost 6 years ago. He cost 27 cents and at that time was tiny. Now he looks good enough to eat except that you can't eat something you've known for a while. Well...I can't anyway.

I try to keep his tank clean but this has to be the messiest fish on the planet. It's a real chore to scrub all the algae and rinse the rocks and get the tank clear and clean again. It only lasts about 10 days and then it's so green or brown (it alternates color) that you can't see through the water. I feel sorry for this beautiful gold fish with it's fancy tail having to swim around in icky water. I moan and groan about it, but I always feel good when the tank is clean and the fish is happy.

Today there is too much to do. The fish will have to wait. As I pick up the food container he follows my hand to the top of the water and begins "slurping" for food even before I drop it in. He knows the routine. My form comes to the edge of the tank, the orange container moves, the top on the tank makes a snap noise as it opens and food drops from above. He's familiar with the routine. He trusts my hand. He has faith that I will deliver what he needs just as he needs it.

In that moment, I am his God. I am everything to him. He is hungry and I am supplying his need.

Don't think I'm getting crazy here. I don't believe that in any way we are Gods and that we are somehow on the level as the almighty. That's false teaching and I don't believe in that.

But the situation did cause me to think about how we definitely are God's instruments. How many times every day do we do his work?

If you care for animals - you are doing God's work.
If you care for friends or family - you are doing God's work.
If you give a cup of cold water in his name - you are doing God's work.
If you volunteer at church even if it's only to sweep the floor - you are doing God's work and taking care of His house.

Every time we take care of something or someone in this world, we are the hands or mouth or feet of God.

How many times do we betray who God is by letting people down with our bad attitudes, nasty behavior or just lack of concern?

My parents like to eat out. Everywhere they go they talk to the people around them. When they eat - everyone is a friend. And in those moments when they smile, give a word of encouragement, touch a hand and say a prayer - they are doing priceless work for God. We tease them, but it's the truth - they are missionaries to the mall.

My husband is tired and weary with his job. Retirement is still in the future. He's been put in charge of the trucks that will be hauling the shoe boxes for Franklin Graham's "Christmas Child Project". It will require extra hours at work and a lot of stress during an already stressful workload. We watched a video on the responses from last years project. We both were in tears. Ron is doing God's work even though he is in an office creating the plans that will get all the semi's to the right place on time.

Every mother that stops what she is doing and takes the time to hold her child and pray for their little cut or broken heart - she is doing God's work.

Perhaps we would all feel better and catch a glimpse of the bigger picture if we sat down and counted the many times in each day that we touch others.

How many people are watching you and waiting for you to move your hand toward their life and sprinkle God's love into their hungry hearts?

I love the story about a preschooler who followed Mom around all day. He was so close on her heals that she almost tripped over him several times. Finally frustrated at his behavior she snapped, "Allen, why can't you go play somewhere else? Mommy is busy."

Little Allen looked so heartbroken and sad. Mom bent down beside him and continued, "Okay, bud...what's wrong?"

"My Sunday school teacher said that I should follow in Jesus footsteps. But I can't see him, so I was following yours."

WOW!

You are SO important.

God needs you.

You need God.

God loves you very much,

Debbie

Let the Sonshine in !

We are in Illinois today visiting our son, Ken. He has taken a new position with a church in Freeport. We are excited for him.

We arrived rather late last night and everyone else is still asleep. Ken rented a darling little house and I decided to get up and watch the news. I'm sitting in what will be a very nice living room surrounded by unpacked boxes and several remote controls that take more talent than the pilot of a 747 could provide. Realizing that there will be no news I grab my laptop so I could write my friends.

I get a daily e-mail from American Family Association. I appreciate the way they keep me informed of Christian injustice. Sitting here in a quiet, semi-dark room with all the blinds drawn I read an e-mail about an 86 year old woman who will not be allowed to receive and display an angel on top of her Christmas tree. I clicked the button to send my hot little e-mail to a senator in hopes that I can keep this elderly woman from experiencing such a ridiculous attack on her freedoms. I whisper a simple prayer for her circumstances.

Feeling somewhat connected to a larger cause, I let out a sigh and look through a maze of half opened boxes into the adjoining dinning room. All the blinds are drawn giving the house that I'm not quiet awake feeling. The sun was trying to work it's way through the blinds. It danced and played games with the leaves revealing shadow pictures that invited me to a different world. A world that was bright and full of sun. Just outside that window a new and different experience awaited me. All I had to do was get up, get dressed and walk outside and everything would be exciting and new. Everything I was experiencing now would change.

Trees full of color and adorned with the brilliance of fall would welcome me. Crisp air that signaled a change of season would fill my lungs. The sun that I watched dancing through leaves would pour into my space and warm me with each touch. There would be no boxes, no quiet and no darkness. Light would open new spaces to be explored and would invite me to enjoy my new freedom and skip through the day.

What I felt sitting in a dark house surrounded by uninviting boxes would instantly change if I would only step outside.

That's the Christian life in a nutshell!

We must support our global Christian family by joining efforts to keep our freedoms alive. But we must also step back from time to time and realize just what we are fighting for.

We are fighting for the right to take some one's hand and say, "Come with me. Come see the son. Come feel the Son. Come know the joy that I know."

That's the real problem you know. People who think ridding the world of all Christian thought will make their lives easier and will give them the permission to do anything their hearts desire. What they don't realize is that they are choosing to sit in a dark room filled with boxes containing all the junk from their lives. It suffocates and leaves their heart hard. Functioning in this world with a sad heart becomes an impossible burden.

All it takes is one person saying, "Come with me. Come see the Son. Come feel the Son. Come know the joy that I know."

It's not about the fight. It's not about you vs. me. It's not about some governmental change or passing some law. It's just about getting up and walking out of that dark room.

"Do you want to come with me? I'm going outside."

God loves you,

Debbie

Don't Lie !

It's not hard to tell the truth when we know there won't be any consequences.

It's not hard to tell the truth when we are talking about someone else.

It's not hard to tell "Good Lies" to people we admire. (Good lies: flattery or pushing the truth to the limits so the other person will feel better or to inspire them.)

It's not hard to tell the truth when we are trying to teach someone a new talent.

It's especially not hard to tell the truth when it really is the truth!

So why is it so hard to tell ourselves the truth?!?!?

I like being a detective with my friends and family. I like using spy glasses, eye glasses, magnifying glasses and microscopes to try to find every smidgen of good I can in their lives.

I love watching their eyes when I extend a truthful compliment. I like knowing I've lifted their spirits for a while when I point out some good that I see and they don't.

But then....with some.....the lying begins. They shuffle or moan and look down at their feet. It's not the "awe shucks" routine - it's the "you don't know what you are talking about" routine. It seems that some people have the opinion that self-worth is all or nothing.

Either I'm perfect and deserve every compliment I get or I'm flawed and therefore I'm nothing.

How crazy is that!

Everyone is flawed. Everyone has problems. Everyone at one time or another has blown it big time. I have - and you are lying if you say you haven't.

We can't play percentages either. A person who likes to play percentages thinks that if he is good 90% of the time - then and only then will he deserve a compliment. But what about the person who makes it 85% of the time? What about 75% or maybe 79 and 3/4 %? No, percentages don't work either.

What about the person that thinks his past or his family determines whether or not he deserves a compliment for his achievements? "My mother embarrasses me. Maybe I'm just like her." Or maybe they think, "I used to be a lazy person and that's why I'm not as successful as I should be."

Other people like to think they can control the world. "If I had been nicer to that person they wouldn't have hurt me." Sorry. Probably would have happened anyway. Besides, you are not responsible for someone else's sin.

Some people even like to do the hindsight thing and beat themselves up for not being perfect in every situation.

All of that nonsense is crazy too.

TV news said that in a recent study 92% of Americans felt sad and guilty. I am sure some aren't using wisdom in their lives and maybe a little sadness and guilt feelings are proper. I believe that percentage is quite small. Most of us work very hard to do what's right. Most of us - including all of my readers I'm sure - try to make the best of our lives.

Do you feel guilty and sad? Do you feel like life isn't worth living? Do you feel like your presence on this big planet isn't worth very much?

Don't lie ! Take an honest look at your life and tell the truth.

How?

Get a piece of paper and put it where you can grab it for a quick thought. Make a commitment to take a microscope to your life. For one week write down everything good about your life, your body, your relationships and your work. No cheating and No lying. See yourself as God would see his favorite child. A little flawed but his favorite nonetheless. Start by looking in the mirror. Let's start with me.

Hair - it would be totally white if I didn't color it. That means I'm old and don't deserve a compliment, right? NO. That would be a lie. Yes, my hair is white - but I do color it and don't I look nice? Yes! I've done a wonderful job with it and it looks much better.

Wrinkles - I've got plenty of those. Awe...but look at why I have those wrinkles. Around the eyes it's called laugh lines. Isn't it great that I've had things to smile and laugh about.
Yikes! There's a lot on the forehead. That's from stress...pain...worry. Hum...It could also be from wisdom. I've furrowed my brow many times while talking to people. You see, I care and when I care my face gets involved. Yep. I'll call those wrinkles wisdom. And if I had the choice, I would rather have my "wisdom wrinkles" than to be another perky Brittany Spears.

Double chin. Now that's hard. I think it's very unsightly. But maybe it says I'm successful. At least successful enough that I've had plenty to eat. This Ole' gal hasn't missed a lot of meals.

Hands. Oh. Wrinkled, dry, cracked, spotted and rough in places. Hum..The shape and color is just like my parents. You know what I think of every time I hold their hand? I think of all the work they did for me. All the times they sewed or painted a sign or rubbed my face or held me and prayed for me. Maybe my children think those thoughts when they see my hand. I choose to look at these hands and say, "Beautiful!" These hands have known love of the greatest magnitude. These hands have been held by loved ones, worked for my children and greeted with a smile and handshake by my friends.

Get my point. We ALL need to stop lying to ourselves.

Television, movies, news, magazines all scream at us and want us to believe that unless you are rich, beautiful and young you are not successful. That's nuts! Don't believe the lie!

"That's fluff Debbie. You don't know the trouble I'm in. You don't know how depressed I am. I'm not going to get that promotion, degree, new house, vacation. I'm a failure. I'm older now and most of my dreams haven't come true. Maybe none of my dreams have come true. Seeing my hair in a different way doesn't really matter."

In Zechariah 8:16 (NRSV) the Lord of hosts declared: "These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another, render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace."

The essential idea of truth in the Bible is not conformity to some external standard but faithfulness or reliability. In the case of God, of course, faithfulness or reliability is not measured by any external standard. God is the standard. God's truth (faithfulness or reliability) is the truth that is basic for all other truth, (Deut. 7:9-10). Holman's Commentary

"So what are you saying Debbie?" What I'm saying is that we should be very careful about going around lying about God's creations. When we constantly berate ourselves and avoid looking at the good that we have become, we are spitting in God's eyes. We are telling him..."I didn't reach the goal I wanted. Your goals don't matter. So I'm a failure."

That's not true. It's not OUR goals that are important. It's GOD's goals for us. God is the standard. God's truth is the basis for everything we are.

So the question is..."What is God's truth for you?"

Did you fail at some project? Was it all your fault or did others lend a hand in the failure. Did you do what you felt was right but their failure meant you missed the mark? Then probably, according to God's standard - You are very successful. They are the problem and God will deal with them in due time. Remember, you are responsible for you. You are NOT responsible for the sins of others. You may have a mission that God wants you to do but their souls, their obligation to do right is between them and God.

Stop lying. Stop saying that because your child doesn't love you that you are a failure. Did you love him? Did you do all you could to help him? Did you provide for him, pray for him, teach him? At what point does this stop being your failure and become his?

I watched Murder She Wrote last night. I love mysteries. The protagonist thought that her husband had died 20 years before in a boating accident. They showed her bossing everyone around and controlling her daughter. It didn't take much to dislike this woman. No one was safe from her criticism. Turned out that her husband didn't die in the boating accident. When he swam to shore he simply took the opportunity to get out of a miserable situation.

Was he a failure? Was he a bad father? Was he to blame for everything?

I don't think so and neither did Jessica Fletcher. Everyone agreed that he was not to blame for wanting out. The person to blame was the controlling wife who drove everyone away.

Please be encouraged. Take a "TRUTHFUL" look at yourself. Don't lie. Look for all your good qualities and don't let other people try to convince you that you are on the bottom of life. Save that position for people like Hitler and Jack the Ripper.

You my friend are a wonderful creation of God. He has a purpose for your life and he loves you with all his heart. Don't run from Him. Run TO Him. You will find arms open wide and a smile that could light up the world.

When you feel his arms wrap around you I promise you will hear him say, "I'm so glad to see you. I'm so proud of you. I love you more than you know."

God loves you,

Debbie