A Thankful Heart

Thanksgiving is around the corner - actually around 2 corners...Today is Tuesday. Two more days, and the turkey will be in the oven (thawed, I hope), the squash will be cooked, the table set, the family coming...

Many, many things to be thankful for this year. The son is home from Iraq (his fiancee' and his family are extremely thankful for this); the daughter and son are dedicated to raising our delightful, hysterical grandson; we both have jobs; we have a warm home, clean clothes, and food in the pantry. Spending Thanksgiving NOT giving thanks would make me so uncomfortable, I would squirm and not enjoy a single second of the celebration.

Living in a free country, able to worship as I choose, go where I wish, work in my chosen career, purchase what I want, be who I dream... One could dub America as the 'Cornucopia' of the world; a horn of plenty!

How can I show my thanks? How can I give back? Certainly, when I am full of gratefulness, my heart overflows and desires to give back, to reach out to others and give them some of what I've been blessed with.

Thinking...thinking...thinking...not to jump holidays BEFORE we are out of this season of thankfulness, but as is told to Scrooge, (paraphrased) "Mankind is your business!"

Mankind. That's us. The humans. The heart and hands of thankfulness can reach out to touch and help mankind. There are certainly many that could use an extra hand or resources or a genuine smile.

Mankind. Happy Thanksgiving.

Thank You, Veterans, from the Superstars

Thank you! Superstars from Harrah Community Christian School send a huge hug and thank you for what you have done for our country. Enjoy the acrostic written as a class project in dedication of veterans. Know that students at H.C.C.S. regularly pray for soldiers and their families.

Veterans Day

V - Veterans of our country
E - Ever protecting America
T - Thank you for fighting for our freedom
E - Eager to serve
R - Really important
A - Amazing sacrifices
N - Not forgotten, but noticed and needed
S - Soldiers of our military

D - Dedicated to help
A - Awesome and admired
Y - You are loved, appreciated, and remembered

Not Forgotten

This year (and last) has given a personal and close link to Veterans Day. With our son safely home from Iraq, we deeply appreciate and respect the hard work, sacrifice, and personal cost given willingly by the soldiers who elect to serve our country. Thank you, veterans. Regardless of the political climate, elected officials, or media viewpoints, you are loved, remembered, appreciated, loved, missed, awesome, prayed for, cherished...Don't forget that we know the cost and embrace what you have given to us.

It seems too simple for such acts of unselfishness, bravery, sacrifice. But, from the depths of our hearts, thank you.

Thank you.

Time

I had time today. Time to take a walk. C'est fantastique pour moi. Refreshing, brisk, fall-ish (my favorite season). Not to mention I really need the exercise. I've missed the full trees of blazing color, but a cornucopia of autumns' bounty is strewn and piled deep along the road, wet and gooey, crunchy and fragrant.

Encountered wildlife - watchful quail,
chattering and chasing squirrels,
squeaking finches,
noisy crows,
startled woodpecker,
puffed sparrows

Time. Take a walk.

The Pumpkins Have It

Lovin' those pumpkins.

Love pumpkin spice-as in latte', pumpkin seeds, pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread (looking for pumpkin donuts), pumpkin deco...It could go back to the days, like yesterday and many years previous (wish I could find the photo of me wearing a lovely white and orange houndstooth double knit pantsuit; just picture it), where I was known for loving the color orange. Still love the color orange, particularly in trees, leaves, flowers, bushes, and produce. It's probably tied in to loving the cool weather of fall, the crunches of autumn walks, the seasonal skies, wet weather, and the promise of even more cold and Christmas around the corner. Love it when the newspaper, almost every year, shows pictures of the zoo animals having a fall treat of floating, smashed, or tossed pumpkins.

Pumpkins are in a league of their own.

Yes. The. Pumpkins. Have. It.

I vote for pumpkins.