How We’ll Be Celebrating Thanksgiving
All of us at the Foundation – Tommy, Ted, Randy, Tricia, Kathie, Courtney, Leo and Derek – want to wish each one of you a very happy and fun-filled Thanksgiving. Join with us as we give thanks to God who each year amazes us with His bounteous goodness.
Leo Rodriguez and his family will be keeping a low profile as most of the family are in Florida. This will be the first year where they will not be able to cook the turkey in a smoker (the smoker was left in Florida when they moved). They will spend some times doing a thanksgiving dinner with the church and try to remember how to cook turkey in the oven. “This year is a bitter sweet as it will be our last year together as a family because our oldest (Leo Jr, 19) is leaving the nest to serve God and Country as a US Marines next spring.”
Each Thanksgiving, Tricia Louque celebrates her Cajun heritage by cooking her family\’s nontraditional Thanksgiving dishes like jambalaya and gumbo. She is joined by her two children, Madeline and Sullivan, who are less than impressed by the unique dishes and request macaroni and cheese every year! However, “this Thanksgiving will be extraordinarily blessed since my mother from Louisiana is visiting and, together, we will celebrate Madeline’s 7th birthday!”
Randy Shelton will be spending Thanksgiving helping to feed the homeless and other families who are in need. Afterwards, he will visit his niece and her family for dinner. “On Thanksgiving, my kids and their families go their in-laws for dinner. However, Christmas Day is my time to have the entire family at my house for laughter, prayers and dinner!”
“My husband and I will be having a bittersweet Thanksgiving with my sister, who lost her husband this year,” said Kathie Szewczyk . “It has been tradition that she puts up her Christmas decorations between Thanksgiving night and the day after, of which we\’ve had many happy memories. It\’ll be our privilege to help her get it done again this year amidst laughter, tears and God\’s loving grace. “
Tommy Herndon reports, “At our house we will have Chad, Sara and our three grandchildren. We will probably have our oldest son, Marc as well. Thanksgiving with grandchildren is an interesting time because of their eating habits. There will probably be chicken nuggets and macaroni and cheese. The turkey and ham will probably be for the adults. Desserts will be pie and cake for the adults but the children will feast on jello and ice cream. If the weather is cold we will plan on Board Games and Disney Channel. If we’re lucky some of the adults will get to watch football.” On Friday Tommy and Carolyn will be going to Sanford, N.C. to see Carolyn’s mother who is 91. “The biggest part of our family tries to make it to her house around Christmas.”
Ted Soto and his wife Pam will welcome Ted’s brother from Albuquerque and brother and sister-in-law from Milwaukee for the holiday. There will be games of Trivial Pursuit and Monopoly with uproarious bragging by the victors. “We didn’t learn humility very well,” said Ted.
Courtney Howell reports she will be spending Thanksgiving with her family. To start off the day, she and the kids will watch the Macy’s Day Parade. They love to watch the colorful floats and costumes. This year , Courtney will host Thanksgiving dinner to family and a few friends with the normal fixings of turkey, stuffing, potatoes, yams, and sweet potato pie. In addition to the family favorites are green bean casserole with more bacon than any one person should consume, country ham biscuits, and homemade mac and cheese. Among the desserts will be birthday cake since Courtney\’s birthday falls on Thanksgiving Day! During dessert, the family will draw names for their Christmas exchange, and the night will end with everyone bringing out their own supply of Tupperware to take home leftovers.
Our offices will be closed on Thanksgiving and the day after as we celebrate with family and friends and have far more fun than we’re legally entitled to!
