Thanksgiving Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Father I thank you for all of my yesterdays.
For my parents who nurtured and loved me, I thank you.
For my brothers and sister who are embedded in my heart and who share all of my childhood memories, I thank you.
For my husband who has loved and protected me for 45 years and who is still doing that today, I thank you.
For my children who are truly the greatest gifts you could have ever given me, I thank you.
For my grandchildren who make me laugh and who have my heart in their small (and not so small) hands, I thank you.
For all the experiences of my childhood and growing up years, both good and bad, I thank you. I know that each one was used by you to form my character and to deepen my love for you.

Father I thank you for all of today.
For the home that you have so graciously given us the means to have, I thank you.
For the church where we are free to worship you, I thank you.
For the friends you have sent our way and who support us in our love for you, I thank you.
For the food that you have provided, I thank you.
For the opportunity to serve you and to share your love with others, I thank you.
For whatever comes in this day, I thank you. I know that you will use my today to glorify you and to bless me.

Father I thank you for all of our tomorrows.
For whatever the future brings, I thank you.
For the good times of the future, I thank you.
For the bad times of the future, I thank you.
For your constant presence in those good and bad times, I thank you.
For the knowledge that at some point in the future we will be joining you in Heaven, I thank you. I know that I will someday be dancing in your presence and singing your praises. Oh what a day of rejoicing that will be!

Fourth = Flags, Firecrackers, Food, and Fun

Kari and Kijsa are having a party and I'm joining in!

At my house there are flags out by the lake, as you'll see if you look to the right....




and on the front door....











and on the back door....







and in the flower bed....






and on a table runner in the dining room.....









and even on our shirts!












We don't set off fireworks ourselves but we get to see them up and down the lake.....







We cook great stuff.....barbecued pork and corn on the cob and shrimp gumbo and chicken on the grill and baked beans and creamy slaw and garlic bread and apple pie and orange cake and brownies and.....the list goes on and on. And we gather as friends and family to celebrate that this is truly One Nation, Under God. And we thank Him for His great love for us, for the brave men and women who serve at home and in far away places, and for all those who have gone before us who worked and sacrificed so that we might have the unbelievable freedoms that we sometimes take for granted. God bless us every one!