All things Bright and Beautiful!

My husband's entire family spent five days together for Thanksgiving in the Colonial History Mecca for the United States. This was a gift from Uncle Jim, which made it even more lovely! We were based in Williamsburg but got to Jamestown as well for the 400th anniversary visit. It was a perfect gathering-plenty of together time as well as time to carve out in smaller family sub groups. Our middle son's fiance and HER family (complete with Holly, their beautiful Golden Retriever) also joined us which was fun. We spent several evenings immersed in the Avalon Hill game, NAVAL WAR.

We left our dogs kenneled at a posh rural retreat where they could play in safety. They had a web cam, and when we looked in, Erik's dogs Neo (Large Police Dog) and Freyja (Larger Great Dane puppy) were being badgered by our Border Collie, Seabury. I think she barked for all five days and was not even hoarse!

Most special was worship together at Bruton Parish Church on Thanksgiving morning. It was spectacularly wonderful for this rural minister to a congregation that averages attendance of 15 to be in a large group of Episcopalians, all 'gathered together' in thankfulness. But I felt so blessed to return to St. Mark's today and see the 1970's era faux paneling transformed with several coats of "Dover White." It is such an uplifting place now! It was before in terms of the people but now the surroundings match.

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