But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.

Joshua 24:15

The best thing about Thanksgiving in Jacksonville is the opportunity to reconnect with family – especially what we have always know as “The Younger Five.”

Short explanation: Rebekah’s parents had five children… who all married so then there were ten… who produced ten grandchildren… who came in two sets of five. Rebekah and Rachel had Reed, Andrew, Naomi, Micah, and Faith; then their was a pause before the Joe and Jesse families had Jordan, Lindsay, Seth, Jared, and Sarah.

The Younger Five, in their 20’s now, all made it to Thanksgiving, including one husband and three (very) significant others. Plus some of their friends. Plus some of Jesse and Heather’s friends. Total 23.

Today I will share just a few short items (because we’re meant to be driving back to Wake Forest in a couple of minutes.

First, Jesse and Heather’s hospitality was epic. Thank you so much for everything.

Then, the spirit of faith and gratitude and blessing was genuine and contagious. Rebekah and I cannot be more grateful to be in a family where we can say, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Finally, the bounty is real and sometimes overwhelming. None of us are unaware of the world’s crushing burden of unsatisfied need, and I would venture to say that everyone there yesterday is doing something to make a difference that is generous, but days of such obvious plenty always make me think long and hard about our response to the rest of the world. So please pray for those who have so little and live so close to the edge.

So here are a few photos. Tomorrow I plan to share the portraits. They were wonderful.

In love, and because love is at the root of this family – DEREK