Thanksgiving...what does it mean to you?

I've been thinking a lot about thanksgiving lately. Not just the holiday, but thanksgiving in general. To God mostly, to other people too. We like to hear someone say thanks when we do something for them. I taught my kids that it's polite to do so. How come then, we often forget to thank God for all He's done. He's done so much for each of us individually, you couldn't list it all even if you started now and continued until life left you....and maybe not even after that. Some things we don't know about, some we don't notice. Kind of like those random acts of kindness you do for others. Like picking their paper out of the yard and placing it on their porch when you notice it looks like rain...or chasing down the runaway cart in the parking lot before it smashes into someones car.

Think of a few things......five at least that you are thankful to God for. And post them here.

Mine are:
1. My salvation
2. My husband and kids
3. My friends (writerly types and other types)
4. My job
5. My talents

And that my friends is just the tip of the iceberg! I'm thankful for so many things that families in other countries don't have. A house, running water, electricity, gas for heat (and the money to pay those bills), computers, pretty clothes, cars, makeup.....the list just goes on.

Have you been taking things for granted?

Psalm 100
A Psalm for Thanksgiving
1 Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth
2 Serve the Lord with gladness
Come before Him with joyful singing
3Know that the Lord Himself is God
It is He who had made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture
4Enter His gates with thanksgiving
And His courts with praise
Give thanks to Him, bless His name
5For the Lord is good;
His lovingkindness is everlasting
And His faithfulness to all generations.

As Christians we are called to go to the Lord with thanksgiving, all through the Bible. David was always thanking God and God called David a man after His own heart.

I hope you have a happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy the family, enjoy the food, enjoy the togetherness (and like us tonight, we are going to the Plaza to enjoy the lighting of the Christmas lights and perhaps some Starbucks hot chocolate and coffee.) But during all your enjoyment, remember to keep a song of thankfulness to God running in your hearts.

And here is one more little tidbit I ran across. We basically know the story of the first Thanksgiving, but here is one about the first proclaimed one.


In 1789 President George Washington issued a proclamation that instituted the first national observance of Thanksgiving.
(I got this in an email from my Homeschool Legal Defense Association's radio show called Homeschool Heartbeat with Micheal Ferris, and thought I would share the President's inspiring words with you.)

President Geroge Washington's Thanksgiving Proclamation:

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favour . . .
Now therefore, I do . . . assign Thursday, the twenty-sixth day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of . . . the beneficent [A]uthor of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks . . . for the . . . manifold mercies [which we experienced] in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; . . . for the civil and religious liberty . . . which . . . He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also, that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions;—to enable us all . . . to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; . . . and, generally, to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

Blessings to all of you. You are in my prayers.

Don't forget to post your thankful lists. :)

Bad Idea: a novel with coyotes

by Todd and Jedd Hafer

Are we there yet?

Griffin Smith is making his first interstate road trip, an adventurous rite of passage that will take him from his Midwestern home to his freshman year at college in Southern California. Yet this is no ordinary A to B trip, as Griffin will find his attitudes and ideas challenged by some surprising evernts and an unlikely band of travel companions: his best bud, who will test the limits of their friendship; his father, who will challenge his concept of manhood; his younger brother; and his father's trophy girlfriend, who may just be too young in general.

Soon this journey begins to take random detours as he experiences a bittersweet runion with his biological mother, confronts a terrible betrayal and encounters one angry coyote. And as the states blur by, Griffin encounters life lessons that will show him the healing found in forgiveness and an unexpected model of integrity and character.

My son already requested to read the book once I'd finished. :) It's a wonderful collection of words and told in an engaging manner that keeps you riveted. It's like a chick lit only more like dude-lit. There are amusing, laugh out loud moments, sad moments and light bulb moments. And in the midst of it all is God's grace. Amazing Grace.

I recommend this book to all who enjoy a good tale.

Another view of the miscreant

Looks remarkably like a turkey. Don't you think? 

I was MUGGED!

And this is the culprit. Seriously. This little darling runs tame in the neighborhood. No one knows where she came from or anything. The cats and dogs watch her but can't catch her so they leave her alone.
Anyway. . .we were going up to the front door and I heard DS1 say, "Oh! It's the bird." Of course that didn't make it through my stressed brain. Then something big flew past my face and into my hair! It was the little guinea hen, but I didn't know that, lol. The boys laughed all night at the sound I made when it scared me. Teens!

Running for office

The voting started today.

I'm running for Vice President of ACFW. After a lot of praying, I feel God has led me here. I'm not even going to pretend to know why. But the feeling started at the conference at Dallas and persisted.

So if you belong to the ACFW, go cast your vote! Just ask God to guide your choice.

Now, on to other things He's called me to do. Write. :D

Have a blessed evening.

Have Thine Own Way Lord

Have Thine own way,
Thou are the Potter, I am the clay
Mold me and make me, after thy will
While I am waiting, yielded and still....

Everyday I drive by a site where the Mission Mall used to stand. Day by day, more and more of it disappears. The building is totally gone now and they are digging out the foundation. They are scraping out every brick, every bit of cement, every line, every string connected with the old building.

What would happen if they just stopped now, leaving part of the old foundation, and started building the new mall on it? There would be problems immediately and some later on too, I'm sure.

And I think that is what it is like with us too, when we become Christians. We sometimes try to build our new lives and selves on the old foundations that served us well until we met Christ. I think that is what trials are, Christ pointing out where we have left the old foundations that will cause us problems if left behind.

When we come to Christ we need to remove every vestige, even the tiniest bit, of our old selves and totally commit our very lives to Him. We, like the construction machinery, need to scrape out all of us, our wants, our needs, our desires and leave ourselves empty for Him to fill with His holy presence. We need to be so full of Him that there is no room for "me". We need to put everything on the alter and totally trust Him to be in charge of our lives.

It's hard to let it all go, but sometimes, it's nice to let someone else drive for awhile.

What a dish drainer's truly for. . .

Eowyn in her favorite napping place. Don't let the sweet face fool you, folks, she'll clear the drainer of dishes too, right on the floor!



Don't Forget To Vote Tomorrow!!!!!!! Let Your Voice Be Heard!