And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

Colossians 3:17

Note to family: to save largest possible size of a photo (in gallery), select “i” then click on “view full size”, then save.

Sometimes (especially when there are so many people, and some of them don’t move too easily, and five or six are working like crazy in the kitchen trying to put this huge meal on the table) it seems neither practical nor fair to say, “Hey everyone! Family photo out by the fence in five minutes!”

But I did. I said it. I even used my middle-school teacher lunchroom crowd-control skills! Despite the fact that I had decided this year I would sit quietly, out on the edges of things, and let it be enough to say, “Thank you God for the memory of my parents and the gift of their lives…”

I simply couldn’t help myself, and I am so glad that I did because there is something about occasions like this that serves to mark history: The last time all five of the “youngest” group of Alexander grandchildren are all in their 20’s. The first time Johnny and Lindsay attended a family Thanksgiving as a married couple…. Maybe the last family celebration before something else happens that changes life in unexpected ways? You never know.

Regardless, taking family portraits is a “must” and somehow it usually seems to be me herding cats and waving my hand and saying “move over there!” and clicking the shutter!

Gratitude is a game-changer:

I have a thought that goes along with all of this. Rebekah and I were driving north yesterday, and at one point we caught a few minutes of a radio show featuring a Thanksgiving theme. The host was interviewing someone who works with “The Happiness Lab” at some university (I didn’t get the name).

Anyway, the research confirms what our faith has taught for years and decades and centuries. Apparently being grateful, and expressing thanks, is highly correlated with personal happiness. Not only that but – duh! – it also has a collective effect on the community. In other words, gratitude heals those around us too.

So this is me being grateful for the family. Grateful for a family culture where expressing thanksgiving and practicing generosity in the context of faith is the norm. I am grateful for the authenticity and for the beauty of “counting our blessings.”

Peace and love and grace and – most of all – a grateful heart – DEREK

The Photos:

The photo gallery essentially removes a few people every time.

First, family and significant others and friends. Then family and significant others. Then family. Then Jesse and Heather’s family plus significant others. Then just Jesse and Heather’s family. Then Joe and Cheryl’s family. Then the newlyweds, then cousins (Rebekah, Jesse, Joe, and Ruth). Finally, the group of Orlando friends.