Not Quite the Plan I Had in Mind
Thanksgiving Eve at our house has not been the delight that I had expected.
In my mind, little woodland animals would help me bake pies while the children sat at James’ feet (in the clean house) and listened to the story of the first Thanksgiving. Oh it was a lovely dream.
But by the third disaster I wasn’t sure I would make it through the rest of the holiday.
I was in the kitchen baking while James was reading aloud about George Washington’s declaration of giving thanks to God (pretty much just like Obama) and I started the hunt for the graham cracker crusts. I tried to be discreet, but I finally had to interrupt, “Excuse me darling, but does anyone know where the graham cracker crusts are?”
Ten minutes later the entire family was still searching the pantry, the guest house, the freezers. James said to me, “Are you sure you bought them? Let’s check the receipt.”
Oh that’s a great idea! Who wants to change the hunt from the actual pie crusts to the receipt for the pie crusts?
Just then Faith came rushing through the front door, “I found them! They had been left in the van.”
Saved. My CPA husband sometimes gets just a teeny bit frustrated that I do not keep track of my receipts. I was glad that particular conversation could be avoided.
It was one thing after another. More missing ingredients, burned pecan pies, a kitchen towel too close to the burner, a couple of eggs on the floor…..
Oh wait, it gets better. Water in my bathroom. Yes, water. All over the floor.
James and Jacob had to pull out my floor to ceiling shelf and tore apart the wall behind the toilet only to discover that it is something in the floor or the pipes coming into the house or I don’t know what. What I do know is that we had to shut off the water to the bathrooms to avoid flooding.
In addition to my bedroom being a disaster because they chose to put everything from the bathroom shelves onto my bed, we are having guests for Thanksgiving tomorrow and there are NO WORKING TOILETS!
Of course, you know what this means. Because there are no toilets, I will have to go to the bathroom every 45 minutes all night. It’s a vicious cycle that begins with my inability to control my bladder as well as I could before I birthed 9 children.
I’m a little panicked. You all talked me through the meal plan and I was ready with my refrigerator list. I took your advice and got the turkey in the oven the day before (OK, so maybe I waited until 9:00 tonight which means I will be up until 2AM. So I didn’t think it through all the way). I rinsed the good china and set out the serving dishes. I was going to be ready people. Red-eee.
What tips do you have for me now, smart ladies? A camping toilet and a shovel?
Happy Thanksgiving.
I have it on good authority that one of your guests has her own toilet and could bring it along…. or maybe just a Big Gulp cup.
It could be worse… You could be waiting until tomorrow to prepare anything, including the house cleaning. (my 13 year-old son adds: “like me”)
I am sorry for the position you’re in, but you know what…..I think you and your ‘position’ were put on this earth to make me feel not-so-bad !!!
I thought these things only happened to ME. And now I know they don’t!
I hope – despite lack of, er, facilities/ladies’ room/restroom (that one always gets me – it’s only in the US – ‘restroom’ – do people go there for a nap?!)/bathroom…..hope you all have a wonderful day. B-r-e-a-t-h-e !
Love, Anne x
I hope you have a wonderful thanksgiving despite your hiccups!
No advice whatsoever, but I will pray that today goes smoothly. I had my own comedy of errors as well.
Of course, I have no guests coming and have five working toilets in my home, so clearly I can’t complain about anything. I’d say you could swing by and use my toilet, but, well, me-thinks things would pass crisis level before you arrived, and then you’d be stuck in the airplane loo and who wants that on Thanksgiving??
(hugs to you)
Aw, ((HUGS)). It must be in the air. I had baby #6 last Saturday, so my mom is coming to my house and helping my kids cook (my oldest is 9). I can’t clean really at the moment, and yesterday evening my husband had to take the 1 year old to the hospital – he pulled his elbow out of socket somehow. Really, do we need that right this minute? And of course my milk has come in (and I’m NOT nursing) so I’m in general pain and misery. And a bit sleepy. Ah well.
Here is my advice, since you asked:
1. Pray. Tell God just how much help you need today, and thank Him for setting up these circumstances for you to learn patience and grace.
2. Remember the first Thanksgiving – no toilets there either, and they survived. The camp toilet is not a bad idea.
3. Enjoy it all anyway!
I’m thankful for your honesty. If it helps, you always place a smile on my face.
No advice, but I hope today is wonderful for you.
“Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; Give thanks to Him, bless His name.” ~ Psalm 100:4 Happy Thanksgiving!
Oh…..dear!
I am praying that everything will work out just fine. Can’t wait to hear the answers to the prayers going up for you!
I’m so glad to be back online so I can read your oh-so-inspiring blog again!
So, despite all the challenges, my bet will be that this will be one of the most memorable Thanksgivings ever. And I second the Big Gulp Cup idea. 😉 Best of luck to you, and I hope the laughter and joy triumphs the challenges the holiday has presented.
Love love love!
Oh and PS — Several months ago we figured out that I’m not too far from your neck of the woods (just moved here from Oregon to work at a children’s home). I just happened upon your guest house post. Um, sign us up! 🙂 No, but really… we’re far from home with nowhere to go on our days off and know no one down here, so someday I hope we can get together. You are such an inspiration! 🙂
Okay – this makes going to my in-laws sound not so bad after all!
I’ll be praying for one of your guests to be a plumber just waiting to come “out of the closet”!
the day will be a memorable one that your kids will laugh about one day and that will put a smile on your face – even though I’m certain it’s not there now!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Sheri O.
Ditto on the “hail back to the first Thanksgiving” idea – just make it part of your new “We’re having a reenactment” plan! That of course you cooked up WHILE finishing up that turkey at 2 a.m.
I just saw this- I pray you make it through!
Let us know!
Oh my, So glad I am not the only one these things happen to. I decorated for Christmas, then hubby has decided we can build the desk I have been begging for— which means sanding inside the house– so now everything is covered in dust including the Christmas tree. Any idea how to dust a tree and ornament?
Hope you had a great Thanksgiving– Can’t wait to catch up.
Cha Cha