I hope your day is extra special and that it is full of thanksgiving!  We have so much to be grateful for!  Just the simple everyday blessings that we often don’t even think about are HUGE!  Food to eat, a roof over our heads, health (or at least ability to see a Dr for our health), family,clothing to wear.  There are many here in this country and all over the world that struggle just to have these simple needs met.

My sister has been sick for the last week, our recent miscarriage, Brian finding out (2 days ago) that his job position is being dissolved on the 31st of the month, large bills are expected to come in next month, another one of my sisters lives in another state and can’t be with our family this Thanksgiving.  Even though there is much to be thankful for, there is still trial, struggle, tears and sadness in this life.

Praise God that we can trust him.  He can provide all our needs and will provide our NEEDS (not necessarily our wants). God loves us, He know our tears, He holds us in sadness, He carries us when we are weak, He provides strength when we think we can’t take another step or feel like we want to give up.

No matter what is going on in your life this Thanksgiving if you are overflowing with thankfulness or if you are struggling to find something to be thankful for, I pray that this day would be special.  I pray that your faith would abound, that you would know God and that He would touch you and that you would find much, in Him, to be thankful for.

Today we are celebrating with Brian’s family and having a large dinner together!  I’m so grateful that my mother-in-law tries really hard to provide options for my family and our allergies as well as my sister-in-law who is vegetarian.

So here are some of the recipes we will be having today:
Salt Baked Chicken – which is the recipe, but just done on a turkey!
Sweet Potato Pie
Raw Broccoli Salad
Apple Pie
Almond Coconut Cookies

The sweet potato pie I haven’t posted about yet so I’ll add that recipe here.  This is favorite that often frequents family gatherings!  It’s simple, easy and the kids eat it up!

Sweet Potato Pie
10 medium sweet potatoes
12 medium apples
Cinnamon
Nutmeg
¼ cup chopped toasted pecans (raw soaked pecans are best!)

Bake the sweet potatoes until very soft.
While they are baking, peel, core and chop the apples.
Cook apples on the stove until soft enough to make applesauce with.
Once sweet potatoes are baked and cool enough to handle, peel them and then place in the cuisinart to puree
Puree apples.
Mix both together and pour in baking dish
Heat at 350 for 20 minutes or until warm.

I like to sprinkle the top with nutmeg, cinnamon and pecans.
Mmmmm!  Enjoy!

Again, I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!  God bless you!

Photo Credit – Tonchi colored this for me and said I could use it!