Good News - November 2019

For our November issue, GoodNewsWants to Know... What is something unique you have done in the past or are planning to do to celebrate Thanksgiving? Our family may be very unique in the fact that we usually have a Sukka in our backyard during the Thanksgiv- ing season. It is for the Fall Feasts of the Lord called Tabernacles (aka Booths or Sukkot), which gives us an opportunity to not only reminisce about events in the pilgrims' lives but to celebrate some big-ticket Biblical events that our forefathers lived out. We are soooo thankful the Jesus came to "tabernacle among us" in the flesh and now in our hearts! Dr. Andrea Hazim, President and Founder, Elev8Life Educational Foundation Thanksgiving is a very important time of the year for our household. Cel- ebration of family and giving thanks for themany blessingwe have enjoyed has been a tradition in our family for as long as I can remember. EveryThanksgiving we gather our immediate family and extend an invitation to our friends who are alone for this reflective celebration. Our meal is prepared by our family and focuses on spe- cial recipes handed down over the generations. It is an energizing time for all of us as we warmly embrace our traditions and welcome the newcomers to come and enjoy our special time together. Andy Mitchell, President and Founder, The Fairwinds Group and Operation Lift Hope What makes my family’s Thanksgiving unique is Jamaican cuisine. There is nothing like spending quality time with my family and having a blend of Jamaican and American food Thanksgiving Day! Ariana Reid, Executive Director, Hope Women’s Centers Thirty-three years ago we announced at the table that we were adopting our first child, not knowing that she in fact would be born the very next day. God worked in a similar way four years later when unknown to us our son was born while I was sharing my testimony with a group and had concluded by asking them to pray for us as we were awaiting word on our application to adopt a second child. No greater thanks than for the gift of life. And no greater thanks than for the gift of eternal life through adoption. William “Bill” C. Davell, Director, Tripp Scott Attorneys at Law Many years ago my wife and I bought almost 50 turkeys put them in our station wagon drove through the inner-city WPB and gave them to moms we were serving Bill Hobbs, Executive Director, Urban Youth Impact One of our favorite Thanksgiving traditions is from my wife's family. they con- struct a paper tree, just the branches. Cut out a bunch of leaves that describe some- thing they're thankful for. You then guess who wrote which leaf. Mine are always the best. Bob Denison , President, Denison Yachtin I am planning to spend Thanksgiving with my family in weather much different than sunny South Florida. We have enjoyed the weather and surroundings in beau- tiful Eagle County, Colorado for a few years and this year we plan to be there to kick start the winter again. Happy Thanksgiving! Chip LaMarca, State Representative, Florida House District 93 For many years now we have spent Thanksgiving break with some of our clos- est friends. We stay at the Campgrounds at Disney and enter the scavenger hunt, play in the corn hole tournament, enjoy a Thanksgiving Day Feast, play a lot of games and set up a movie projector and watch movies under the stars. At the end of the week we head up toAlabama and go to the IRON BOWL game (Alabama vs. Auburn). The best part about our week is the memories we have made. Chris Lane, President, First Priority of South Florida We just spend time with friends and family, eat lots of good food and watch Dal- las and Detroit play football. Collins Forman, Jr., P.A. My Thanksgiving table is rather unique since it's usually graced with graduate and doctoral students from Florida Atlantic University who represent at least 6 dif- ferent nations. It's gives me the opportunity to share about the reasons the Puritans traveled to our shores, that America is blessed because of its godly foundation and to share my faith. Deborah Cusick, FAU Campus Volunteer, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship Each year we select a single picture that highlights the way God has been work- ing in our lives. After dinner, we listen as each person tells their gratitude story through that picture. The emotional and spiritual connection that happens through this time is a highlight of our Thanksgiving every year. Doug Sauder, Pastor, Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale The most unique thing I have ever done for thanksgiving was to volunteer at our church, meeting a couple with a 6 month old baby, offer to help them and begin what is now Hope South Florida 24 years ago! Life changing moment for sure! Fred Scarbrough, DVM, Founder, Scarbrough Animal Hospital and HOPE South Florida Each Thanksgiving we each write down 10 things we are thankful to God for and then we share them together as a family. It reminds us of how much God has done and continues to do for us and is one of my favorite holidays. George R. Moraitis, Jr., Moraitis, Cofar, Karney, Moraitis & Quailey This Thanksgiving, my parents and siblings will celebrate by bringing together four generations in Ft. Lauderdale. We will culminate the weekend with a family photo shoot. We did this six years ago and it will be great to see how folks have grown up and the new additions. Germain Smith Baugh, President/CEO, Urban League of Broward County Wants to Know… Andy Mitchell Ariana Reid William “Bill” C. Davell Dr. Andrea Hazim Bill Hobbs Bob Denison Chip LaMarca