The Goose is Getting Fat!

"Thanksgiving is coming, the goose is getting fat.  Please sir, put some money in the old man's hat.  If you haven't got a penny, a ha'penny will do.  If you haven't got a ha'penny, then God bless you..."

Now don't laugh, my friends.  I know this is a Muppet Christmas song.  But it just appealed to me as I wrote this blog post.  Because when you think about it, it fits.  You've got the goose getting fat, a man putting out his hat and giving.  Why not flip this to Thanksgiving?  ;)

There are a lot of people in need.  Right now a local radio DJ, a fixture in our town, is sitting up on a cherry picker, enduring 48 hours of cold and the elements to help raise money or bikes for Toys for Tots, sponsored by the Marines.  These bikes will be given to needy children who live in our area this Christmas.  What a fabulous annual witness to our town!  I'm amazed every time I drive by this awesome spectacle on my way to work.  It truly is phenomenal.

So what is the greatest gift of Thanksgiving?  It's a celebration of survival.  A joyous feast of the harvest signaling we'll be well fed, spiritually and physically.  It's also a time to share that bounty with others less fortunate.

What are you thankful for?  I'm thankful for my family and friends.  For God's grace and the freedoms I enjoy.  For my debut book, and Jean and Stephanie's good fortune too!  Their Crimson Romance debut releases in 7 days!

So I leave you today with some quotes I found interesting:

"Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare.  They are consumed in twelves minutes.  Half-times take twelve minutes.  This is not coincidence."  Erma Bombeck

"The truth is the Super Bowl long ago became more than just a football game.  It's part of our culture like turkey at Thanksgiving and lights at Christmas, and like those holidays beyond their meaning, a factor in our economy."  Bob Schieffer

"There is one day that is ours.  Thanksgiving Day is the one day that is purely American."  O. Henry

Blessings for a peaceful day of preparation and celebration!

What are your plans for Thanksgiving?  Are you cooking?  Watching football? 

Katherine

Veteran's Day = Good Things

I'm feeling grateful these days for the good things in my life, especially after just returning from a visit with my son and his family. There's nothing like spending time with family to rejuvenate the soul, is there?

This visit was extra special. #1 is going to be deploying again the end of the month and won't be able to spend time with his family or with us during the holidays. I can't begin to count how many holidays he's missed or describe the feeling a serviceman/woman must experience being so far from home on these special occasions. I do know that by not having our oldest son and his family around for Christmas or New Year's and further into the new year, I'm reminded of all the holidays LTC couldn't be home. While those days are behind us, the memory of chaotic days raising four children alone and the never-ending lonely nights never fades.

As America recently celebrated Veteran's Day, I want to shout out how proud I am of the sacrifices given by the men and women of the United States. Men like my Great Uncles (WWII Coast Guard, Army, & Navy), my Grandpa (WWII Navy), FIL (3 years Army), father (Career Army & Vietnam Veteran), brother (3 years Army), nephew (Texas National Guard 7 years, 2 term Iraq Veteran & 2 term Border Patrol Veteran), LTC (West Point Grad & Career Army), #1 (8 years Air Force, Persian Gulf Veteran & Libya Veteran), #3 (1 year Army), and future-SIL (2 years Marines & Afghanistan War Veteran).








Secondly, there can be no sacrifice without families. Families are the backbone of the military. Without the love, trust, support and compassion of the ones that love our heroes, our Army, Coast Guard, Navy, Marines, Air Force and National Guard would be hard-tasked to do their jobs.

I've heard it said that a soldier/airman/marine/sailor does not fight for what's to come, but what they've left behind. As my son deploys again, I'm thankful that he's ensuring someone else's child can come home.

It is not what we stand to lose, but what we stand to gain by teaching children how to fly.

Are you a family member of someone in military service? Did you celebrate the military service of anyone in particular over Veteran's Day?