November 28 – “Galveston Fire and Rescue Turkey Appreciation Day”

Well, we made it through turkey frying day with no fires or serious burns or trips to the emergency room.  That is, if you don’t include whatever it was that caused April to pass out last night.  Or should I say early this morning.  Nathan called at around 2:15 to say he was having trouble waking her up after she passed out on her way to get him some Tylenol.  Chris immediately headed over to their house.  April was awake and talking by the time she arrived, though.  We’ll have to watch her a bit closer than usual today.  After her close call in the hospital, we all still get a little jumpy whenever anything out of the ordinary happens with her.  She’s a special one.  And she is much-loved around the Vaughan clan.

So back to the turkeys.  I got the pots going by around 7:30, so they were ready for the first turkey in about 45 minutes or so.  Nathan and Cailyn got here to help, so I didn’t have to do much of the heavy lifting.  That combined with standing up all day is what really wears me down.   I still did the standing thing, though.  And I sure felt it by the time we went to bed last night.  I was plenty sore.  Not so bad this morning, though. 

We ended up frying twelve of the birds.  I think that’s a new record, too.  I can only remember doing ten before this year.  There is a reason for the madness, though.  We usually freeze the meat from at least five or six of them and use it throughout the year for any recipe that calls for chicken.  Fried turkey and dumplings.  Fried turkey enchilada pie.  Fried turkey and shrimp gumbo.  Fried turkey pot pie.  Fried turkey sandwiches.  Fried turkey and vegetables soup.  You name it.  Fried turkey is quite effective.  We also usually send one turkey home with each of the boys.  That only comes to eight or nine, though.  So what about the other three or four this year?  The answer to that will be my morning this morning.  It’s also what I was talking about in the blog title today.  I appreciate all the turkeys who work as fire fighters.  No, wait.  That's not it.  I’m planning to divide up some of the fried turkeys six ways and take it to the fire stations here in Galveston.  We have always sent one to wherever Nathan is working, but he is actually off this year for the first time since he’s been working for Galveston Fire and Rescue.  It’s also my first year as chaplain, so I thought I’d make a quick run to each station before everybody starts arriving here for lunch.  It won’t be much, but maybe each of the guys on duty can get a sandwich out of it.  Gotta make sure these guys know we appreciate them being the ones to run toward burning buildings so we can run away.  Be safe, Galveston fire fighters.  Happy Thanksgiving.

Daniel 3:24-27 says:

Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, "Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?"

They replied, "Certainly, O king."

He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods."

Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!"

So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.

Father, as you watched over those three Hebrews in that blazing furnace by walking with them, so walk with our firefighters as they enter the flames voluntarily.  Grant them safety.  And be with their families as they are separated on yet another holiday.  Amen.