Happy Thanksgiving Birthday

I am so blessed. Not everyone has two families, but I do. I have my "blood" family, into which I was born. They bless me everyday that I live and I love them. I also have a "church" family that stands in the gap. Today some members of my church family came over to help us celebrate Thanksgiving in family. There were 12 of us. None of us have other family nearby, so we came together to celebrate giving thanks. I had lots of fun preparing the food last night, so today it wasn't all that much work. The biggest crisis was that I overslept and the turkey got into the oven later than I had planned. That pushed back lunch to a later time. No one seemed to mind. The house smelled good and the conversation was fun as well.
At dessert time, we gave a card to Sidney, which told him to look in the basement for his present. We all came down as he looked around and we told him "hot", "cold", as he approached his present. Many people at the church had gone together to get him a new (used) computer that he needs for his doctoral studies. That was so much fun, as I am sure he didn't expect that. He had a nice big smile. We really had to laugh at Roberta who was so deeply touched by the gesture that she began to cry. Then all of us mushy types joined in and soon it was a weepy little party. Really what she touched me, was her comment about hard it was to be here without family and much this meant, because it showed we are a family. I love to surprise people and this was a great moment, because it was a sucess. Roberta brought a beautiful cake, so we sang Happy Birthday and enjoyed the delicious cake (and some pumpkin pie). We topped it all off with some of that wonderful freshly roasted coffee.
Everyone pitched in and cleaned up, so my house looks spic and span. All I had to do was put away a few things here and there. It really has been a day that has made me grateful. My heart is full to overflowing. Yesterday in our thanksgiving prayer time in the church, I thanked God for bringing us to Canada. He has given us so much here. Not least of which is our wonderful church and the dear friends he has given us here.
"Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits."- Psalm 103:2