For the first time since I can remember I will not be spending Thanksgiving with my LARGE and extended family. Since early middle school I’ve traveled year after year to wherever the Alles family lived so that we could celebrate Thanksgiving together. From all over the United States our family would gather together and celebrate what made our favorite holiday. Honestly, (and maybe this is wrong of me to think) the Holiday was never memorable because we broke bread or shared small pox with the Indians; it has always been about the time around the table and the ever growing traditions of our family. Our family doesn’t believe in a one day Thanksgiving event; infact our Thanksgiving begins on Wednesday and doesn’t end until the last flight out sometime Sunday. Over the years we’ve learned that breakout overnight Euchre, red-beans and rice, Alles Family Fajitas, Bowling, Volleyball Tournaments, and Disc golf through the city are what we’ve learned to call Thanksgiving. (We’ve had more than 50 people packed around tables for thanksgiving!) Though Michigan has been my physical home for most of my life; I’ve not spent Thanksgiving in the Wolverine state in over 15 years.

So why? 2010 has been a wild adventure for Shannon and I. As we’re pressing in to Jesus and learning to join in what he’s doing vs creating a kingdom of our own, we feel that everything we know is being shaken. Our own perspectives and judgements about what life should look like are all being brought into the light of the father.

Hebrews 2:26 Then [at Mount Sinai] His voice shook the earth, but now He has given a promise: Yet once more I will shake and make tremble not only the earth but also the [starry] heavens. 27Now this expression, Yet once more, indicates the final removal and transformation of all [that can be] shaken–that is, of that which has been created–in order that what cannot be shaken may remain and continue. 28Let us therefore, receiving a kingdom that is firm and stable and cannot be shaken, offer to God pleasing service and acceptable worship, with modesty and pious care and godly fear and awe; 29For our God [is indeed] a consuming fire.

We as americans and citizens of this age believe it is our right to live as we want to live and do as we want to do. Its a sad reality that we’re telling the king of kings that we want to live for His kingdom and yet we do everything we can to please ours. As the holiday approached we did as we did every year; started planning our trip. However, felt very uneasy about the trip it self and as we’re learning to ask the question, “What is the Kingdom of God doing and how can we be a part of it,” we didn’t feel released to purchase the routine airline tickets. We believe in prayer that it would not have been wrong to go, however, it was clear it was not the the best for us this year. It was that small hesitant feeling inside us that something just wasn’t right. As Shannon and I are learning to pray, “Father Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven;” if we want His kingdom here, we’re going to have to give up ours.

We love our family, and love our Thanksgiving traditions! There are so many things that we will miss this year [Pete's Guac, Red Beans and Rice, Alles Family Fajitas, Grandpa sleeping EVERYWHERE, Daily (and sometimes multiple times daily) trips with Mom to Starbucks, Our Team winning Volleyball, someone yelling out "I'm going alone; whats trump?" and so much more] but want to be known as lovers of the Kingdom of God before anything else in life. I pray blessings on the rest of the family as they continue to celebrate without us physically there this year but look forward to whatever is in store for us in Michigan this year and pray that we’re sensitive to the Kingdom of God and how we can intercede for it here.

Today was yet another design day for Steve’s new website. I’ve noticed that because its for Steve and I’ve taken ‘ownership’ in helping him finish this up, the process takes much longer. It’s the same concept as rebuilding my website. I’ve started thirteen times and basically at this point when I find time I poke at getting it done. I’ve even bought a new domain name www.madebygraham.com which is fun (not the most original but, fun). Someday both of these sites will be complete but until then, I’ll press on.

Had the family over for movie night. We watched “The Blind Side” with Colin, Liv, Rachel, Brandon, Jeanie, Syd and Grandma. Once again a great movie and Blu-Ray makes it all the better. Shannon missed out on the festivities tonight however, she was scheduled to work her night away at Starbucks.

Tomorrow, we celebrate Easter. Shannon and I will be heading over to Grandma’s house to celebrate with the family. These are the holiday’s however that I miss not having our immediate families around for. I hope that someday, that changes. Maybe we just have to have a kid to encourage the grandparents to move closer? Weather forecast for this weekend, continued beauty as we welcome Spring. It is the winter you see that makes the spring so majestic. If we didn’t have the cold, snow; I’m convinced that we wouldn’t enjoy the spring as much. The family in Florida I’m sure has forgotten about the beautiful season us Michiganders know as ‘new life.’

Good night for now. I’ll work on writing again soon, if only for my enjoyment and record.