Precious Proposal

It was a crystal clear evening with stars in full array amidst the frigid, pure air at about 6:30 when we arrived at the Box "R" Ranch with our good friends, the Denny's. After unpacking our belongings and settling in we sat around a roaring fire in our log cabin, looked at each another and just sort of sighed an "augh" of contentment under our breath. All of us were pretty pooped after a full day of travel, so we laid our heads on our pillows long before Austin, Annie, Meagan and Luke arrived from Southern California. Victoria was finally able to peacefully rest once all of her chicks were in the nest after Annie came into our room and gave us a sweet greeting around 2:30 a.m. Our nieces, Meghan and Caitlin were scheduled to arrive on Thanksgiving morning.

The next day we awoke to an incredible sunrise, stunning view of the natural meadow to the west, and a cool cabin in much need of another fire in the fireplace. This was pretty much how we started each day during our holiday break; each day except Thanksgiving Day. The evening before we began our traditional 18 hour process of smoking a turkey that requires a constant vigil of stoking coals and hickory chips into the smoker to maintain low, but stable heat and curing. Only the men are required to watch 90 minute shifts, sometimes in the wee hours of the morning, allowing the women to sleep knowing that the bulk of cooking other tasty delicacies requires enormous stamina throughout the day. We've been doing this for about seven years now and have yet to overcook a bird or be disappointed with its flavor and moistness. This year was no different.

However, something

was quite different about this Thanksgiving morning because under the crosses on the other side of Inspiration Point (one of my favorite places on earth) our eldest son, Austin, contemplated Jesus' sacrifice for us and His marriage to His bride, the church, by also kneeling and proposing marriage to his bride-to-be, the love of his life, Meagan Kirkpatrick. Joyfully and tearfully they embraced and became fiance and fiancee. Austin slipped a ring on her finger, all caught on photography by his sister, Annie, who was strategically located at a distance in the cleft of a rock overlooking the crosses. When they arrived back at the cabin we all celebrated with a little Martinelli's, a toast and some hugs and kisses. Clearly one of the happiest days of either one of their lives, and also one of ours.

And so, this Kruggel family continues to grow and expand, this time not by adoption, but nonetheless by grace.

Our best Thanksgiving ever,

Tom (& Victoria)