Started off the week by volunteering with the Central Texas Food Bank Mobile Pantry. We met the 18 wheeler truck at the First Christian Church in San Marcos. I was instructed to unload several pallets of cabbage, onions, carrots, sweet potatoes and limes. Back breaking work!!
As families drove in to pick up fresh produce, we assisted them by bagging and loading their vehicles. The remainder of the produce was transferred to the Hays County Food Bank vans for distribution the next day at Saint Anthony Marie de Claret Catholic church in Kyle, Texas. I offered to help since it happens to be the Parish I go to.
Later that evening, our family got together to celebrate my son Chris’ upcoming 22nd birthday at Chili’s Restaurant in San Marcos, Texas. Enjoyed spending time with my kids!
On Tuesday, I cooked 2 dozen Spice Toffee cookies from scratch for Santa Claus and helped set up our Xmas Tree in the Family Room.
Around noon, my son, Chris joined me to help the Hays County Food Bank distribute fresh produce, meats and assorted breads to countless families in need. We distributed over 4,000 lbs of food in two hours. I was so happy and blessed to have my son with me on his birthday.
I cooked this year’s Thanksgiving dinner from scratch. I made a 6 lb Sweet Potato Casserole, a 4 lb Russet Potato Casserole, 2 Green Bean with Mushroom Casseroles, a 8 lb Spiral Glazed Ham, 2 Herbed Turkey Breasts (3 lbs each), 5 cups of sweet corn, Turkey dressing, 8 cups of Turkey Gravy and 6 cups of Spiced Cranberry Sauce. For dessert, we had Walnut Apple pie, Pecan pie and Pumpkin pie with Old Style Vanilla ice cream. It was a resounding success!
Enjoyed spending quality time on Thanksgiving surrounded by my mom, in-laws, sister, brother-in-laws, sister-in-law, daughters, son-in-laws, son, his girlfriend and our first grand-daughter.
I finished reading my second book, Experiencing the Supernatural: How to Saturate Your Life with the Power and Presence of God by Messianic Rabbi K.A. Schneider. According to Schneider, God is supernatural and created us in His image therefore by definition, we are supernatural beings too. He proposes that we should not be constrained by our own physical, finite limitations and should expect the supernatural in our daily lives. In other words, it should be a regular way of living and relating to God. Schneider goes on by demonstrating many facets and ways one can live a supernatural life with God by listening and trusting our intuition, recognizing signs He uses to guide us, hearing God through our dreams and visions, etc. In summary, it trains our senses to follow the witness of the Holy Spirit!