Today as a nation we will celebrate Thanksgiving officially for the 150th time. Up until 1863 Thanksgiving had been celebrated in some states, but not others, and on different days. Thanks primarily to the efforts of Sarah Josepha Hale, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation on October 3, 1863 declaring the last Thursday of November should be henceforward set aside as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise.

And so, today, across this country, family and friends will gather and feast and give thanks. I know in my house we will be remembering the legacy of Abraham Lincoln, and as we count our blessings we will also be giving thanks for Honest Abe and the things he did that shaped our country.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Dear Friends,

I am swamped. Between the wrapping and the baking and the shopping and the socializing, the working and the gmail migrating and on and on, well, there just isn’t much time for blogging.  On top of the general busy-ness, there has been drama. I was truly emotionally overwhelmed by some really crappy stuff that happened to my wonderful husband over the last month but I will say that the horrific events in Connecticut last week put some perspective on what’s tolerable and what’s not. And I will also say that things are much better, which is probably the only reason I can even make reference to it now. We have made some pretty good lemonade out of some really rotten lemons and I am so grateful for our ability to come through this relatively unscathed. I do need some vodka in that lemonade, though, or maybe I should just make lemontinis and be done with it.

The bottom line, though, is this: it’s Christmastime and, in spite of the busy and the crappy, I’m finding a silver lining. I’m holding my family close and I’m remembering what’s important in this world and I’m grateful for everything and everyone in my life.

And now, if you’ll excuse me, I have 6 pounds of Swedish meatballs to prepare. Ahem.

 

Thanksgiving is a week away, can you believe it? It’s my favorite holiday, a day set aside for thankfulness and food and I think I’ve really gotten into the Thanksgiving spirit this year. Our house is decorated with fall leaves and gourds, turkeys and a Thankful Tree.

You know what a Thankful Tree is, right? It’s just what it sounds like – a tree loaded with things for which you are thankful. I made mine last Sunday and it didn’t take much time at all.

I had Dale bring me a branch from the yard and I stuck it in a vase of cranberries. I used my scrapbooking supplies to cut out circles and ovals from fall themed paper.

I strung those tags on orange yarn and hung them all on the branch and now each day we take off a blank tag and write something we are thankful for on it.

So far it includes things like each other, our marriage, our jobs and our homes. We’ll continue to add to it each day until Thanksgiving and I’m sure we’ll come up with more creative and unique ideas as the days pass.

It’s good to acknowledge all that we have. It’s good to be thankful.