Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours.  Let us take the time to give thanks for all that we have been blessed with.  The Lord has given each of us life and personal gifts that we are to use.  Let us be forever grateful. 

As I watch my children grow, I am reminded daily of these gifts.  How I am here to nurture them and let them have as many experiences as possible to discover the gifts that He has given them.  So many of us have pushed these gifts deep within us, we have become what others imposed upon us.  We feel something missing in our lives.  Our God given gifts still dwell inside of us and we push them down.  I made a vow that I would not push my children's gifts down.  I would help them discover these gifts and allow them to pursue them.  I am thankful that I can stay home and school my children, so that they can be free to pursue their gifts.

I am thankful to have a husband that is a wonderful man.  He provides well for our family; he works hard without complaint; he is gentle and caring; he is a strong protector; he is a good daddy.  We all love him very much.

I am thankful for Egee.  She is my girly-girl.  She made me a mother and changed my world.  I have learned more about giving and compassion than ever before.  Her heart is of gold.  She is my snuggler and hugger.  I have learned more about fashion, make-up, hair, music, dance, etc. these pass two years, as she transitions from little girl to teenager.  Being a tomboy growing up, I was never into these things.  I am learning and she is teaching me.  I'm not sure what the Lord has in store for her, but I know it will be wonderful.

I am thankful for Little Man.  He is all boy and has kept my life filled with excitement.  I have learned more about patience and acceptance from him.  He is all about living life to its fullness and living in the now.  I have learned to roll with the punches and live more in the moment.  He keeps me on my toes and  thinking.  He is stubborn and playful.  He is witty and thoughtful.  I have learned more about the learning process from him than I would have ever learned in the classroom.  I have learned to trust my gut and have faith that God allows us to learn all we need to learn at the right moments.  He has taught me that we are all individuals with our own destinies and not made to learn things on a rigid time schedule.  He has many gifts that God has given him and we are on our way to discovering how to use them.

I am thankful for my parents.  They provided me with so many opportunities growing-up.  They still do to this day!  They are wonderful grandparents and we love them so very much.

I am thankful for all the family and friends that God has put in our lives.  Life is not about the material things you accumulate over the years.  It is about the relationships that have and are being built.  It is about loving and caring.  Through Him, all things are possible!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving

Our family gathered at my parents' home today in celebration of Thanksgiving.  My sister and mother were busy fixing all the dishes for dinner when we arrived.  The house smelled wonderful!

My sister loves to cook Thanksgiving dinner.  She made a delicious herb stuffed turkey and crockpot macaroni and cheese.  We had sides of mashed potatoes, stuffing, creamed asparagus, corn, gravy and rolls.  The desserts were fabulous as well.  We had a special chocolate dessert, Oreo balls, pumpkin pie, banana bread, and pumpkin bread.  A feast was served!

As we ate, there was laughter and reflection.  We enjoyed each other's company. 

Once dinner was over we opened the first present to kick off the upcoming Christmas season.  A tradition my mother started twenty years ago.  Every Thanksgiving she gives everyone a Hallmark ornament.  She tries to get on ornament that reflects a hobby, interest, or special occurrence during the year. 

Every year when I decorate our tree, I remember the Thanksgiving and Christmas each ornament represents.  Our tree is full of memories.

I have labeled each ornament box with the name of the child it belongs.  One day when they are on their own, I will give them all their ornaments.  They will be able to reflect every year about the Thanksgivings and Christmases of the past when they hang each ornament on their own tree.

I am so thankful for my family.  My parents are my foundation.  They have worked hard all their lives to provide a wonderful family for my sister and myself.  My sister is my best friend.  She has been there for me and I for her.  My husband is my rock.  He works so hard to provide for us.  He makes sure we are comfortable and will do whatever it takes to make our life wonderful.  My children are my life.  The provide me so much joy.  I could not ask for more.

My nephew and Little Man

My mother, Egee and my niece

Little Man with a mouthful of dessert.

I realize how fortunate my family has been.  For this we are truly thankful. - Happy Thanksgiving!

Music of Thanksgiving

The Music Sandwiched In Program at the library today revolved around Thanksgiving.  We were treated to a fiddle player from the group Heartsease and Thyme. 

It was a delight hearing the melody of the fiddle and being transported back in time to that of the late 1770's.  Along with the music, we were given brief tidbits of information concerning Thanksgiving.  She read George Washington's proclamation to the Continental Congress of 1777 declaring Thanksgiving a holiday to be celebrated on December 18th.

The musician then forwarded the time period to the mid 1800's.  She recalled Lincoln's proclamation to move Thanksgiving to the last Thursday in November.  She played various songs of gratitude and thanks from that period.

The children listened intently and Little Man would become lost in the music and begin to hum along.  They recognized bits and pieces of the songs she played.

One of my favorite pieces was "Simple Gifts".  Just watching her play the fiddle was memorizing.

Again, she brought in the politics of Thanksgiving.  This time fast forwarding to 1939.  FDR was basically lobbied by Fred Lazarus, Jr (owner of the Federated Department Stores, later to become Macy's) to move Thanksgiving to the fourth Thursday in November.  This was due to November having at times five Thursdays.  It was a marketing ploy to get customers to start shopping for Christmas presents one week earlier.  This was to help stimulate the economy in the midst of the depression.  Thus, the holiday was moved and has been observed on the fourth Thursday in November.

After this brief history lesson, she then played a selection from Ken Burns' Civil War Series. 

Finally, she told us about her fiddle.  I had been eyeing it the entire performance.  It was a lovely piece.  She told us she chose to play it because it was an American made fiddle and she was playing music from America.  The fiddle was not particularly old like some violins or fiddles.  It was made by a man in Louisiana.  It was a beautiful piece.

She ended the program with a tune called "The Mockingbird".  Once again, parts sounded very familiar to us.  She could make the fiddle sound just like a bird! 

This was a wonderful program that set the mood for a thankful Thanksgiving.