Home for Thnksgiving

For a few hours today
these house walls will ring
with all of the joys of the past.
We'll hear the stories
and sing the old songs.
Oh, how I wish this day could last.

For one day a year my family gathers
in my house they know is still home.
This house so full of laughter and cheer,
before they all started to roam.
There will be memories and love
and thankfulness too,
as in other homes over the land.
Three sixty four days
before they return,
why tears fall they don't understand.

Every chick of my own
will be under my wing.
I've prepared all their favorites,
planned everything.
Twenty-one loved ones
at once in my home,
the house is too small;
should have rented the dome.
I call out each name as they enter the door
and think of the ones
who aren't here any more.

My heart is so full
of thanks to the Lord,
that the love that I feel
is returned many fold.
I see the way they greet one another;
I hear the laughter and jokes.
I give myself a small pat on the back.
The Lord and I raised some good folks.

The turkey and gravy,
did I make enough?
We've all eased our hunger
but continue to stuff.
The pie will come later
when dishes are done.
Even the clean up is happy and fun.
I gaze at them all and know in my heart,
They'll be sorry as I am
when it's time to part.

Dear Lord, I thank you
that I can still make
this dinner to feed
this large group.
I pray I'll be able
to do it again,
when I've had a year
to recoup.

Joyce 11/26/02

(my family doesn't understand why I want to do the whole dinner myself.But most mothers would know.)

Dear Betty,  Thanks for reading.  Yes, I have a few extra's that are not literally my family except for the day and I expect there may be a few that will be invited and will surprise me.  My house will hold them.  Love, Joyce