It was good.

I wasn't much looking forward to Thanksgiving this year. My husband and I decided we aren't up for playing the marriage game anymore (downswing), and my mother-in-law was already slated to join us. What to do? I was feeling mean and sad and negative. I most certainly was not going to cook for ANYBODY! So, I ordered our entire Thanksgiving dinner from the closest market. Although past years have yielded juicy, moist turkeys at my hands, I couldn't be pouring all this sad and negative energy into the meal this year and so premade it was. And let me tell you, it was good! One word of caution if you're considering this for the future. The meal is COMPLETELY FROZEN! I didn't know this. But fortunately, we picked it up a few hours before we'd planned too and had dinner ready by 5pm.




The best part of the day was going to the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium to volunteer to feed the community. We'd been there the night before as well helping to set up. The girls decorated the table covers along with tons of other kids and teens and adults too. And then we all helped to prepared toiletry kits filled with shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, lotions, socks, and washcloths. Attendees also received blankets, medical care, and haircuts. They could also shop for coats, shoes and all other articles of clothing. All for free. There was a petting zoo for the kids, a bouncer, arts and crafts, face painting. I'm telling you. It was great.



I have volunteered in the past both at the Midnight Mission and at the Fred Jordan Mission. This has been The BEST experience so far. The other 2 places have more volunteers than attendees. They are very, very well organized but all you can give is 15 minutes b/c they try so hard to accommodate all the people who want to help. The Santa Monica event was put together by the Vineyard Christian Fellowship on the Westside and they really needed help. On Wednesday night we were there for 2 hours and there had been people there before us and I'm sure there were people there through the night. On Thursday we were there for an hour. They had music and it was very festive. And unlike the missions' event, the focus was really on the people. Nobody cared about the mayor (although he is a juicy morsel) and I didn't see a single news camera. There were no sermons and therefore no hungry people having to wait for everyone to get their word and agenda out. The band was Christian and maybe they figured that's all the word they had to get out. It was a little disorganized and crazy, but such a great vibe. I'm looking forward to working this event again. My kids enjoyed themselves. My mother in law had a blast and this was her first time volunteering. She says she's going to look for something to do in NY now.



So although at first it seemed it was going to be sad holiday, it turned out great. My spirit felt good. We enjoyed doing this as a family. We ate and watched movies and had hot chocolate with marshmallows. It was good.