the best Thanksgiving ever

This morning was the usual--- parade, coffee cake and coffee while we lounge around a bit, this is usually when I start cooking pancakes for breakfast. However, this morning I was cooking potatoes to take to Momma Tina's. For those of you who don't know, Momma Tina is my hero. She has a house downtown where she feeds people, loves people and in my eyes she treats everyone the same. She's a gem.

I did something today that I have wanted to do since watching my first Hallmark Christmas movie. I got to serve in a 'soup kitchen' on Thanksgiving and it was 100% better than anything I could have imagined. We arrived at the house, unsure of what was going to happen. Our goal was to fix 500 to-go boxes of Thanksgiving food. Then next goal was to pass out every plate on the street. And apparently the next goal, without me knowing, was for my heart to burst today. As we started fixing the plates, I watched my daddy beam with joy as he placed stuffing on each plate so diligently. I watched the lady and her children who had a system. I watched a man who had gang related tattoos all over himself, smile as he filled each plate to the rim. I watched young children place cookies on each plate. I watched a man who had only one arm run circles around the rest of us-- he knew what to do, how to do it and he got it done. I watched Momma Tina walk in and out of the house, I watch this tiny, tiny kitchen produce multiple trays of food. && I listened to the celebration when we reach our goal of 500 plates.

Next, it was time to load up the cars and go hand out the food. As we all gathered outside for the game plan, I noticed a girl who had been serving beside me all day, standing alone. Dad and I walked over to talk to her and see if she wanted to ride with us to pass out the plates. As we introduced ourselves, we learned that her name was Ellie and she'd only lived here for a couple of weeks. Her family lives in Washington state and she was spending Thanksgiving alone. With no hesitation my dad said, "You are more than welcome to come to our house for Thanksgiving, please come." ----- I know that I am his daughter, but in this moment the table flipped and I felt like the proud parent. As we loaded into the car, Ellie shared her family traditions as we shared ours. At this point the talk of our mad game of charades may have steered her away from coming over, but we would see.

We arrived at the first apartment complex and our rules were "just start knocking on doors and passing them out, these people are not as scary as they look." We kind of split up during this part and it all came natural. I walked to the first door to knock, there is a screen door to open first then the wood door to knock on. The very first door I went to, I opened the screen door and there sat a man in his chair. I don't know who was more shocked, him for a strange white girl holding an abundance of to-go boxes standing in his door frame or me thinking that I would be knocking on a wooden door only to literally be standing in this mans house. I smiled, pushed through the super awkwardness and said " Happy Thanksgiving, would you like a plate" I handed it to him in his chair, need I remind you and walked off gracefully. It was the best start to this experience. As the next couple of stops went on I watched as the people were so thankful, my goodness so thankful. One of the men in charge, walked up to my dad, Ellie and myself and with the biggest grin said "This is what its all about, doesn't this just make you feel alive-- this is what I live for." Then he explained to us that these people may be needy and poor, but they will not take anything they do not need. I watched the people with that in the back of my mind. It's true, we walked to a couple of people and they seriously would deny the food and say, "someone else could probably use that more than me."

The day wrapped up and we went home to eat dinner with the family, of course with Ellie in tow. The family arrived and it was time to eat. Ellie was one of us, she fit right into the picture-- she is in the military so she talked to my nonno & dad about military stuff. We ate quickly because at 5:00 we had to be at the Rescue Mission to serve with the church. This is another one I was looking forward too, simply because this is where my sweet Deana and Joshuell are. As we pulled up, I wasn't sure if they would be there due to family day-- I got out of the car and walked through the courtyard, only to see a bicycle fall over and see two kiddos running towards me yelling "Miss. Callie"-- then we served there, we prayed, we talked, I introduced Ellie to my church, and we heard Joshuell play chopsticks on the piano for a bit. Then we packed it up and headed home to play our traditional game of charades.

Charades is my favorite tradition. We split into team, write out our movies, books or songs and we battle. It gets real. For example: tonight with 2 second left in a match, my uncle (out of ideas) ran out of the living room only to come rushing back in by sliding on his socks and pointing his fingers, while I shout "Risky Business"-- and the crowd went wild. Ellie was used as an example for The Strangers. My memaw used the same motion for heaven in every match, even if heaven wasn't in the title she would still lift her hands toward the ceiling and spread them like she was doing an interpretive dance. It's my favorite tradition because each word we have to act out describes our personality perfectly. We get each other and I think that is what makes it so special.

Tonight as I sit in my pool house and watch a Thanksgiving episode of Friends, I can't help but do that giddy grin-- because today was not in my control at all. I gave it all to Jesus, that was a known fact when my feet hit the floor this morning. I woke up knowing that this day wasn't about me and I am so glad, so glad that it was not about me. I am so honored that I had the opportunity to watch people smile over a plate of food, I am thankful for a daddy who jumped into the outreach game today. I am thankful for the huge hug I got from Momma Tina, for the handshakes I received, for the smiles and for the 'Happy Thanksgivings." I am thankful for the two kiddos who dropped their bikes and ran towards me at full blast. I am also very thankful that Ellie didn't get scared away by this crazy, loud family.

Today Jesus showed me a new part of myself. He showed me love in a new way. He reminded me that this is my heart beat. Everyone has a past guys. We've just got to be ready to listen.