Thanksgiving is more than turkey with all the trimmings, football and pumpkin pie. It’s about gratitude for all we have. It’s basically the National Day of Gratitude, or it should be.
I’m thankful for family, God and all His blessings, friends, and all who follow this blog. I appreciate all the likes, input, and comments.
So, here’s probably the turkey who everyone would love to have for their feast, but likely wouldn’t fit in the oven.
Happy Thanksgiving!
I want to wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Remember this day is for gratitude for everything we have and cherish. Especially our freedoms and family. Please remember freedom isn’t free. Thank a Soldier and Veterans for our freedoms.
Here is President Lincoln’s proclamation making today a day of Thanksgiving in 1863:
The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added which are of so extraordinary a nature that they can not fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God.
In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign states to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere, except in the theater of military conflict, while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.
Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plow, the shuttle, or the ship; the ax has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well as the iron and coal as of our precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege, and the battlefield, and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.
No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.
It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens.
And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the imposition of the Almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the divine purpose, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and union.
I’m participating in LetsBeWild.com’s Wild Weekly Photo Challenge. This week’s Challenge is: Birds of a Feather!
Do you remember the old joke? Why did the chicken cross the road? To which there are a plethora of answers. However, the question that needs to be asked is why are the ducks crossing the sidewalk?
Of course, there can be several answers to that one. Just don’t try to figure it out because geese just don’t make sense sometimes.
Here is a strange fellow. Ever seen a duck like this? I guess you could call this a strange duck.
Yes, that is a tuft on his head and it’s natural. Not sure what type it is.
Here are some ducks lounging on the edge of the pool taking in the sights.
Of course here is the Mallard Duck sunning himself.
Here are some rare ducks that are native to the wetlands of Las Vegas, Nevada. I’m just not sure what type they are.
Here is a type of goose, just not sure what type.
Ducks do have friends. They are peacocks. Birds of a feather do flock together.
Here is another look at the peacock.
Anyone hungry? Although it’s not quite Thanksgiving yet, this one would make a family very satisfied.
And of course, just for fun. This bird isn’t real, but it represents something that is much bigger than any of the birds above, it’s our National Symbol of Freedom. The Bald Eagle.
This photo is called “The Crossing” I’m using it to say farewell to two cousins who have crossed over in the last couple of weeks. November has been a very tough month for me. Not only saying farewell to two cousins, but also remembering my dear mother who passed in November several years ago. Losing family members is very tough, but the faith that there is another realm of existence where families will be together helps a great deal. It lessens the pain of loss and sorrow. I wish to express my gratitude to these two wonderful cousins and my mother who have influenced my life and were great examples to me of how to live life to the fullest and enjoy each moment.
Life is precious. It’s important to enjoy each moment you can with family and friends, because what else is there? Without family and friends, we have nothing.
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving where we celebrate our Thanks to our Creator for all He gave us, and for the ultimate sacrifice of His Son, who gave us life that we will be lifted up perfected at the last day to be with those we love.
Isn’t that what this holiday season is really about? Giving thanks and remembering the real meaning of Thanksgiving and Christmas. I hope you remember to enjoy your time together with family and friends, and remember to slow down this holiday season and remember why we celebrate.
Kelly
Kelly Guymon Photography 