Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Oaks Christian Online! We hope this will be a wonderful time with family, friends, and a renewed sense of gratitude for everyone. Our offices will be closed Wednesday November 26 through Sunday December 1, the first day of Advent. Each of us plans to celebrate and reflect on the season in a different way:
Jeff Ogne, Dean of Students: I plan to spend time relaxing with close friends and family. Likely we will go over to my wife’s aunt’s house for a large feast and lots of laughs. I most look forward to the change in weather. While very slight it is, I still enjoy feeling the cool air at night. Also, this time of year reminds me of all the thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations my family had when I was a child. They were all very fond and thus this time of year brings great joy through great memories.
Lauren Travis, Dean of Instruction: The Travis Family will be on the road, heading north to San Francisco with plans to visit Muirwoods and the Bay Area. One of my children has his birthday on Thanksgiving Day, so we have a grand adventure planned rather than our traditional turkey day. We look forward to road trip games, the Golden Gate Bridge, and walking through the woods.
Lita Bledsoe, Director of Operations: We have plans for a quiet Thanksgiving celebration at home where we can spend some time together as a family and begin to decorate for Christmas. I am very intentional about limiting activities this time of year and love that things slow down for us.
Cyndy Locke, Director of College Counseling: My husband and I will be spending the first part of Thanksgiving week doing some resting and relaxing in Palm Springs which is a favorite vacation spot for us. Then on Thursday (Thanksgiving Day) we will drive to Covina, CA to celebrate with extended family (there will be about 18 of us, including my 92 year-old dad).
Samantha Farinacci, Chaplain: My husband is a pastor so we have a church service on Thanksgiving Day, which gives us a great reason to stay home and eat soup and drink tea in abundance. Here in Oakhurst, CA a Yosemite-level snow storm is in the forecast which should allow us to introduce our new baby llama, Snow, to the snow. Like Lita, I love how this season invites us into intentional slowness.
I come to your altar, O Lord,
singing a song of thanksgiving
and telling of all your wonders.
I love your sanctuary, Lord,
the place where your glorious presence dwells.
(Psalm 26:6b-8)
We’d love to hear of your Thanksgiving tales! Feel free to email Samantha at sfarinacci@oakschristian.org with updates and/or photos.
