T & P Turkey Trot 2011

Not to be outdone by the Run To Feed the Hungry or the Turkey Trail Trot, our family decided to establish the first annual T & P Turkey Trot this year. We take our Thanksgiving Day runs just about as seriously as we take eating Thanksgiving dinner - or giving thanks for that matter:

Preparing to gallop with gratitude through the streets of Woodland:

T (Tom) and P (Peg) themselves oversaw the inaugural event. Marilyn, our race commissioner, took her responsibilities seriously:
Even our race cheerleaders were enthusiastic despite the early, wet morning:

As we jogged, Nate, Lina and Dominic showed Katie, Mark and I how great it is to grow up in Woodland. From the courts where Dominic learned his jumpshot past the school where Lina practiced gymnastics, we peeked through the fense of the family's first house and came down the lane in front of Josh's house for a water break.

We returned to T & P's for quick showers, Katie's homemade apple muffins and packing. We had to get two babies, eight pumpkin pies, two pecan pies, a chocolate pudding pie and enough alcohol for 70 into the caravan to San Francisco. Thanksgiving was hosted at Goat Hill Pizza thanks to Aunt Karen and Uncle Mike this year.

We arrived just in time to catch cousin Elyse putting the finishing touches on the biggest pot of stuffing I've ever seen. Will 42 celery stalks and 15 onions make a big enough batch for the whole clan?



It did!

It was a real blessing to look around a full resturant and realize the entire crowd was family and friends:

Here are my pies in all their glory:

We enjoyed a post-dinner walk up Petrero Hill to burn off all that delicious stuffing. One of Erika's triplets, baby Declan, and I became fast friends.

Would you imagine that despite the crowd there was enough food left over for people to stock up their own refrigerators? John made out pretty well:

Our cups runneth over. Thank you for the hospitality family!

Thanksgiving in Columbus

We're celebrating Thanksgiving with the Zaengers this year. A week in Worthington fills my heart with gratitude and appreciation for my parents, family and friends and what they have done for me over the years.

My parents always roll out the red carpet when we come home. It doesn't have to be a holiday to get some TLC and genuine hospitality. Not only do they cook up delicious meals, but they entertain with the best of them (with a hat tip to the Wii, Bananagrams, the Columbus Zoo and Elf the movie). Mom cares about comfort; always setting out travel-sized toiletries, picking up our favorite foods, and providing fresh towels in the bedroom. Dad will make sure you know exactly what Ohio teams are playing, on what channel and when. Go Bucks!

This year was particularly special because Seda, my Peace Corps Armenia teacher, friend, and mentor also came to our feast from California where she is getting her master's degree. My cup runeth over!

Not ones to miss an opportunity to put Ohio's best face forward, today my dad, Dominic and I took Seda on a tour of some of the Columbus wintertime sights (it was way, way too cold to visit any of our outdoor favorites like Highbanks, the park of roses, or Inniswood). We headed down to Capital (that's me with my brick above), visited German village's Book Loft, drove past Dad's charitable pharmacy and stopped by the Santa Maria.

The brick I placed at Capital reads: "Direct our footsteps Lord, Psalm 121". Psalm 121 was the last thing my grandfather said to me before I left for Armenia in 2006. It's the first thing I think of when I remember him today. I am grateful for Frank Zaenger. For his faith, his guidance, and the family he raised. May we always remember as we walk that the Lord will watch over our coming and going both now and forevermore.