For 20.5 years I’ve been writing news columns and sharing them each Sunday night under the name JenREESources. It was a play on my name and Deanna Peshek, the Clay County Office manager at the time, helped me develop the creative branding.

Several have asked what I’m going to do with my name with my recent marriage. My email and blog will come from Jenny Brhel and the branding as JenResources (but my website url will remain the same). I’m truly honored and humbled with all the information available that there are people who choose to read what I write!

Gratitude: With Thanksgiving this week, I just find myself extra grateful for the blessings God has given me in life. Some of those blessings are my new husband Brian, our families, and all the people who have spoken into our lives and walked alongside of us. We all go through brokenness of some type at some point in our lives. I’m grateful to God for all He brought me from, through, and to where I am today, for the healing, for the flourishing.

Those of you who’ve read my column for awhile know that Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, yet I’ve seen the importance and seek to live with gratitude, albeit imperfectly. I wasn’t too grateful for a difficult situation this past year and had to dig deep to find some gratitude in it, but there is always something if we allow ourselves to choose a different mindset. As I talk with and walk alongside of people, it seems like there’s increasing fear, anxiety, stress. For encouragement, Fear and Anxiety can’t succeed in the midst of Gratitude. Gratitude produces Joy! Taking time to write or say aloud something you’re thankful for in the midst of fear or anxiety is a great way to change one’s mindset! So, this Thanksgiving, no matter how difficult the circumstances, may we seek to find Gratitude in the many ways we are blessed. May we then seek to live with gratitude and joy in our lives no matter the difficulties we each face!

Thanksgiving Food Safety: Interesting fact, the day after Thanksgiving is the biggest food borne-illness day of the year. Nebraska Extension continues to do their part to help our clientele remain heathy and have good food safety practices. The following are from Extension Educator Cindy Brison and our Food Safety Team. We also have this information available in Spanish.

One of the most frequently asked questions around Thanksgiving is “How do I thaw a frozen turkey?”…including on Thanksgiving morning! The answer to this question is an important step in meal prep for food safety. Unsafe handling and undercooking the turkey can cause foodborne illness. For information on thawing your turkey and more: https://food.unl.edu/how-thaw-turkey 

Do not wash or rinse your raw turkey! Avoid washing or rinsing a turkey (or any eggs, meat or poultry products for that matter) before cooking. Juices can transfer bacteria onto kitchen surfaces, other foods and utensils. If you must wash or rinse your turkey because of brining or other marinating processes, be sure to thoroughly clean and then sanitize all kitchen surfaces to eliminate the risk of cross-contamination. For more safety tips: https://go.unl.edu/washingturkey 

Reminder: Cash Lease Workshop in York from 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. (no charge and meal included thanks to Farmer’s National) on Dec. 3 at the 4-H Bldg. in York. RSVP: 402-362-5508.
Also Dr. Kohl is at the Bruning Opera House at 1 p.m. on Dec. 3 (no charge).

Sharing as one of my favorite songs-Have a blessed Thanksgiving!