Eight years.
Eight Thanksgivings.
Eight groups of Dare Challenge men at the Smith house for dinner.
What a privilege all these years have been–and this year was no different.
But before we get to the actual dinner, we first have to cover the all-important prep and setup.
The finished products!
Our guests were, as always, more than willing to lend a hand. (Dare Challenge guy on the left; church board member on the right.)
These three guys volunteered to put ice in glasses . . .
and ended up having just a little bit too much fun.
Before we sat down to eat, we joined in a circle to pray. Steve invited everyone to share one thing they were thankful for and, as in past years, we heard heart-touching things like, “This is my first Thanksgiving sober in a long time” and “I am so thankful to get to be in this home at Thanksgiving instead of spending it on the street.”
Once again, we had invited two police officers and their wives to join us. (They are the couples on either side of the mirror.)
It always touches my heart to see men formerly in trouble with the law eating a Thanksgiving meal with men currently upholding the law. The conversation and laughter flowing between them are wonderful to hear.
We had more food provided than ever before with over thirty items, including desserts.
When the guys first walked into the kitchen and saw the whole spread there was a momentary pause and then I heard a whole chorus of “Wow!”
It did my mama heart good to hear that, and it also made me proud of our church folks for all that they did to provide a meal that made those men feel so valued. One guy told me he went through the line three times and got completely different things each time. That’s how much food there was.
We had a few other folks there in addition to the Dare Challenge group. Here’s Sarah with Casie, a young woman from our church who lives a long way from her own family. (Don’t know who that photobomber was in the background.)
One of my favorite parts of the day was seeing the guys who have young children back home interacting with the sweet daughter of one of our police officers. I could see on their faces how much they missed being with their own families.
One young man had grown up on a farm with horses, cattle, and dogs and he really got a kick out of feeding Cheerios to Summer. He said it reminded him of home and all the dogs there.
Summer, for her part, had no complaints.
And speaking of Summer she was, as always, an invaluable help throughout the cooking/prepping/getting underfoot process.
And on the subject of invaluable help? This gal right here was my extra hands, extra feet, extra brain. I told her that as long as we hosted Dare Challenge, she should not even think about living so far away that she couldn’t come home to help.
But all good things must come to an end and before we knew it, the meal was over, the guys were gone, and the clean up had begun. (Actually, the clean up is still in progress, four days later.)
Steve did an incredible amount of work in preparation and in cleanup; the three of us make a good team!
Even though the dinner required a huge amount of energy, planning, and work, at the end of the day we were so grateful we had the chance to welcome that great group of guys to our home.
We were honored to be able to provide one small step on their journey to new hope . . .
and second chances.
Dare Challenge Thanksgiving 2017
Dare Challenge Thanksgiving 2016
Dare Challenge Thanksgiving 2015
Dare Challenge Thanksgiving 2014
Dare Challenge Thanksgiving 2013 (Part 2)
Dare Challenge Thanksgiving 2012
What about you?
Do you have any memories to share from Thanksgiving week? Either joyful ones or even challenging ones? (And yes, the holidays DO provide us with some challenges, don’t they?)
I always look forward to your Dare Challenge Thanksgiving posts – truly heartwarming. Ad as always, your decorations were beautiful.
Sue Ellen,
Yep, Dare Challenge is definitely a high point in our year–so blessed to get to do that.
Y’all are such an inspiration hosting this each year. What a blessing it is to all involved. So glad your extra two hands and brain could be there. God bless.
Quite the spread! Do you ever hear anything from any of the DARE guys afterwards, are they doing okay and staying on the sober path still? I always wonder about them after seeing them in your posts each year!
Melissa,
Yes, we do stay in touch with a good number of them. Several of them stayed in the area and are married with families. Others have gone to school, gone back to their home towns, etc. Steve will get letters and phone calls from various ones, which always means a lot since he gets to know them better because he spends every Thursday morning with them teaching a class.
Of course, there a few that don’t make it and go back to their old addictions but the success rate of Dare Challenge (and their parent organization, Teen Challenge) is over 80%.
I always love your yearly post on your Dare Thanksgiving. Your Thanksgiving dinner looked delicious and you did a remarkable job on your decorations. Everything looked beautiful. I hold a special place in my heart for people who have struggles like the men from Dare. My husband taught school with adjudicate youth for thirty years and I worked ten of those years with him (until I became ill with my lung problem). Many of these student had similar difficulties and it is always my prayer they can get past it. So very glad Sarah was able to be home with you for Thanksgiving and her help. Cathie
Catherine,
I can only imagine the stories you are your husband have heard over the years–both inspiring ones and heartbreaking ones. Bless you both for being an important part of the lives of those students. There’s nothing quite like knowing you are making a difference on such a practical level.
Thanks for the comments on the decor; we wanted it to look as festive as we could!
I just love the DARE posts! I’m so happy that you continue to host this event. And it’s great that you get so much help. That food looks delish and I feel that I would have needed to go through the line at least 3 times, too. Thanksgiving is a good day to indulge, I feel.
The holiday is for celebrating what you are thankful for and I know that each and every man that has come through is thankful for you and your church.
My son and I went to a family from church’s home for Thanksgiving. It was a lot of fun and I’m so glad they invited us.
Krista,
So happy that you and your son had a great Thanksgiving! I love that he is growing up with memories like that–having an extended church family is such a great blessing!
Beautiful tables! Beautiful house! So much work but such huge rewards for all. And yes, Sarah better not move any further than she is now because she is such an integral part of it all. Every year I thank you for sharing the Dare Dinner, it’s so inspiring and the men really pull at my heart strings. Their journey is just so difficult and their “wow” pretty much says everything.
My thanksgiving turned out to be wonderful. Isn’t that always the way? When you don’t expect much and are simply grateful for the little moments at hand, the universe surprises you and blessings appear. Almost like magic, in the form of my sons. They are amazing. I feel so lucky.
So on we all go into the holiday season, I hope you are able to travel to Florida to spend time with those delicious grandbabies. They are growing so fast.
PS I love Sarah’s Thanksgiving sweater, looks so cute in the pictures!
Les,
Happy your Thanksgiving turned out more splendiferous than you expected. Hooray!
Actually, the 6 Smiths are driving HERE for Christmas. Should be quite the adventure.
Your decorations look great, especially Sarah’s napkin folding. Your family and church provide such a joyous meal for these guys. How many men have you served over the years.
My Thanksgiving had a challenge on Friday. When my oil was changed the preceding Friday, something wasn’t tightened good. I went out in my garage to find much of it covered with oil. Had to have it towed Saturday morning. Fortunately it was only a quart and a half, the dealer admitted their mistake, is having someone come out to clean the garage floor and gave me $100 credit on future service. I was so thankful my engine didn’t lock up taking my parents home Saturday as the weather was cold and ☔️. My tow truck company was Almighty, feel like “The Almighty One” was looking out for me!
Phyllis,
I imagine we’ve hosted about 120 guys over the years!
So thankful your car didn’t leave you stranded and you were able to get quick help on repairs and clean up. Definitely a big thing to be thankful for.
It blesses my heart every year when you post pictures from the Thanksgiving feast you help prepare for these men. So glad you have a part in their healing process. We were at our daughter’s home this year for Thanksgiving and my sister and her husband were also there. In March my bro-in-law decided he did not want to go through dialysis and felt he wanted to go “home.” They gave him about 12 days to live. His kidneys are now working fine (they have no idea how that happened – hmm, maybe prayer?) and 20 years ago he was given 6 weeks to live because cancer had spread. He is a walking miracle and so glad he is still with us. Love your creative ideas with colorful items to put into or add to other items that are not specifically fallish or whatever season. I too use cloth napkins to be place mats, or doilies for each of the holidays. Again, bless each of you for having these men in – wanting another chance in their lives.
Sharyn,
What incredible stories about your brother! In other words, he has outlived two terminal diagnoses! I can only imagine the thanksgivings you ALL have in your hearts when spending time with him. That is so inspiring to hear.
Glad you liked the ideas of adding a few colorful items here and there to make something more seasonal. I am all about easy ideas!
This is such an amazing ministry to those young men. I am always SO impressed with all you do! It looks like a job well done!! 🙂
Our Thanksgiving was fun and busy yet relaxing too. We had the kids and grand kids here and I cherish every moment with them. We are so blessed!
LeeAnne,
Kids. Grandkids. Good food.
Doesn’t get much better.
Wow, so proud of and impressed by the Smith family and Manteo First Assembly! I know heaven takes note when selfless acts are done to show God’s love. And that you have done in spades!
Your house looked beautiful as always. Hope you all have gotten to rest and and bask in the glow of a job well done! I know, it’s more sweat and tears than glowing, but I think you know what I mean! ?♡
Love, Deb
Deb,
Yes, my glowing is at a bit of an ebb right now. 🙂 Not recovering quite as quickly as I have in the past from a big occasion.
Thanks for the lovely compliments; you always brighten my day.
always fun to set the table for company–you “done-did” good! Ruth
Ruth,
That’s a big compliment coming from the Queen of Lovely Tables!