Today, the fourth Thursday in November, is the day Americans celebrate Thanksgiving. We are taught in elementary school that the Pilgrims celebrated the first Thanksgiving in 1621 after their first successful corn harvest thanks to a Native American named Squanto. Governor William Bradford organized the celebratory feast to give thanks to God and to thank the Native Americans who had been so instrumental in the Pilgrim's survival that first year. It was a three day celebration that bore little resemblance food-wise to Thanksgiving in 2015 - they feasted on lobster, swan, seal and deer and there was no pumpkin pie.
The next Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1623 after a long drought threatening their crops had ended. This time Governor Bradford called for fasting and thanking God before the feast, a tradition that continued for many years. Thanksgiving celebrations were held somewhat annually from then on.
In 1789 President Washington issued the first proclamation for Thanksgiving by the national government of the United States. Many presidents issued Thanksgiving proclamations and several states instituted a Thanksgiving holiday but it wasn't until 1863, at the crux of the Civil War, that President Lincoln established a national holiday of Thanksgiving on the last Thursday of November. He called for all Americans "to ask God to commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife" and to "heal the wounds of the nation."
Somewhere along the way Thanksgiving has morphed into a gluttonous feast followed by hours of football and preparing for the Black Friday sales (some of which begin on Thanksgiving Day) - a holiday which bears little resemblance to the first 200 or so celebrations.
As a country and as individuals we ALL have much to the thankful for... freedom to celebrate and with a heart of thanksgiving, show gratitude to God, freedom to pray openly, freedom to gather with family regardless of their religious beliefs, freedom to attend a religious service of our choosing, freedom of fear (living in a safe country).
Sure, there are problems and strife in the world we live in. But just for one day, on Thanksgiving, let's focus on all that we have to be thankful for. I will be coming to the family Thanksgiving table with a grateful heart - thankful for being surrounded by family, for being loved, for the laughter in my life, for having enough.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Thursday, November 26
Wednesday, November 18
thankful thursday - diners, drive-ins and dives (#19 and #20)
As you may recall, my sweet hubby is one of Guy Fieri's biggest fans. He loves watching Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives on the Food Network and incorporates as many of those places as he can into our travels. We recently visited two, one in Arizona and one in southern California.
A friend told us about a place he saw on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives - a BBQ place at a car wash. That's right, you can get your car washed and have lunch or dinner at the same time. Ingenious, right? But how good would the food be? We had to check it out with our friends... and my car was filthy so we drove!
Tom's Thumb Fresh Market is located in north Scottsdale and boasts a gas station, car wash, coffee and pastry bar, wine and artisan gift market as well as a barbecue joint. After handing my car keys over to the car wash guys, we went inside to order lunch. We all ordered something different - mine was the sliced beef brisket sandwich. It was so tender and juicy it practically melted in my mouth! They have a BBQ sauce bar we helped ourselves to - definitely something for every taste bud! After lunch we split a couple of muffins from the pastry bar - also very good.
We strolled through the wine and gift market after lunch - lots of cute gift items, a few of which we couldn't walk away from. After paying for our purchases, we went outside to claim my car. They offer a variety of carwashes ranging in price from $11.99 to $34.99 for a hand wash. I chose a mid-range wash package and my car was clean from top to bottom.
It's too bad Tom's Thumb Fresh Market is so far from us - it could become habit-forming!
The second place we visited is in southern California. We visited Mamma Cozza's on a recent Disneyland trip - it's about two miles away. It definitely looks a little dive-ish from the outside but the inside is warm and inviting. It was obvious to us that many of the customers were locals - regulars known by name to the servers.
Our dinner included mouth-watering garlic bread, a relish tray with carrot and celery sticks and cherry peppers, soup or salad, our entree and then a small glass of anisette. The food was delicious and we went back a second night to try a different entree. I had lasagna one night and a special with half ravioli, half spaghetti.
A friend told us about a place he saw on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives - a BBQ place at a car wash. That's right, you can get your car washed and have lunch or dinner at the same time. Ingenious, right? But how good would the food be? We had to check it out with our friends... and my car was filthy so we drove!
Tom's Thumb Fresh Market is located in north Scottsdale and boasts a gas station, car wash, coffee and pastry bar, wine and artisan gift market as well as a barbecue joint. After handing my car keys over to the car wash guys, we went inside to order lunch. We all ordered something different - mine was the sliced beef brisket sandwich. It was so tender and juicy it practically melted in my mouth! They have a BBQ sauce bar we helped ourselves to - definitely something for every taste bud! After lunch we split a couple of muffins from the pastry bar - also very good.
We strolled through the wine and gift market after lunch - lots of cute gift items, a few of which we couldn't walk away from. After paying for our purchases, we went outside to claim my car. They offer a variety of carwashes ranging in price from $11.99 to $34.99 for a hand wash. I chose a mid-range wash package and my car was clean from top to bottom.
It's too bad Tom's Thumb Fresh Market is so far from us - it could become habit-forming!
The second place we visited is in southern California. We visited Mamma Cozza's on a recent Disneyland trip - it's about two miles away. It definitely looks a little dive-ish from the outside but the inside is warm and inviting. It was obvious to us that many of the customers were locals - regulars known by name to the servers.
Our dinner included mouth-watering garlic bread, a relish tray with carrot and celery sticks and cherry peppers, soup or salad, our entree and then a small glass of anisette. The food was delicious and we went back a second night to try a different entree. I had lasagna one night and a special with half ravioli, half spaghetti.
The two DDD restaurants were as different as could be yet both were really yummy. I am thankful for a variety of eating establishments that take pride in the food they serve and in making their customers feel like family. And I am thankful that God gave us taste buds so we can enjoy different flavors and textures.
Thursday, November 12
thankful thursday - veterans
On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, an armistice (a temporary cease-fire) was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in the First World War, then called the Great War. The Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919 officially ending WWI but to the public's eye, November 11th, 1918 was the end of the war and thus became known as Armistice Day, an unofficial holiday celebrated annually on that date beginning in 1919.
In 1926, Congress passed a resolution that the "recurring anniversary of November 11, 1918 should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations" and that the president should issue an annual proclamation calling for the observance of Armistice Day. In 1938, November 11th became a legal federal holiday dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as 'Armistice Day'. At that time, more than half the states had already instituted their own legal holiday.
After World War II and the Korean War, veterans' service organizations lobbied Congress to amend the 1938 act that made Armistice Day a holiday; they wanted to call the holiday Veteran's Day to honor all veterans of the United States Armed Services. President Eisenhower signed the legislation on June 1, 1954 and November 11th officially became Veteran's Day.
Until 1968 when Congress passed the Uniform Holidays Bill making several holidays observed on Mondays. (You can read more about that bill in my Memorial Day 2014 post.) But many states disapproved and continued to observe Veteran's Day on November 11th. And the veteran's organizations didn't like changing the day to one that often had no significance and once again lobbied Congress. In 1978, President Ford signed a new law returning Veteran's Day to November 11th. Incidentally, Veteran's Day was the only holiday affected by the Uniform Holidays Act to be returned to its original date.
Yesterday we celebrated Veteran's Day with flags flying and parades. People made speeches. News teams covered many events. An official wreath-laying ceremony was held at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery.
But today, November 12th, it is back to business as usual. There are no more flags flying than is usual. No parades. No news articles.
I am thankful for all the veterans who have served our country so proudly and selflessly. I am thankful for their families who have also sacrificed greatly in ways nonmilitary families can't imagine. And I am thankful for them every single day. Are you?
When you see a veteran, smile and thank them for their service. They are pretty easy to spot - they have special license plates, they stand straight and salute the flag no matter where they are, they often sport caps designating which war they fought in. Sometimes they have limbs missing or are in a wheelchair.
Pray for our veterans and their families every day. And be grateful.
In 1926, Congress passed a resolution that the "recurring anniversary of November 11, 1918 should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations" and that the president should issue an annual proclamation calling for the observance of Armistice Day. In 1938, November 11th became a legal federal holiday dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as 'Armistice Day'. At that time, more than half the states had already instituted their own legal holiday.
After World War II and the Korean War, veterans' service organizations lobbied Congress to amend the 1938 act that made Armistice Day a holiday; they wanted to call the holiday Veteran's Day to honor all veterans of the United States Armed Services. President Eisenhower signed the legislation on June 1, 1954 and November 11th officially became Veteran's Day.
Until 1968 when Congress passed the Uniform Holidays Bill making several holidays observed on Mondays. (You can read more about that bill in my Memorial Day 2014 post.) But many states disapproved and continued to observe Veteran's Day on November 11th. And the veteran's organizations didn't like changing the day to one that often had no significance and once again lobbied Congress. In 1978, President Ford signed a new law returning Veteran's Day to November 11th. Incidentally, Veteran's Day was the only holiday affected by the Uniform Holidays Act to be returned to its original date.
Yesterday we celebrated Veteran's Day with flags flying and parades. People made speeches. News teams covered many events. An official wreath-laying ceremony was held at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery.
But today, November 12th, it is back to business as usual. There are no more flags flying than is usual. No parades. No news articles.
I am thankful for all the veterans who have served our country so proudly and selflessly. I am thankful for their families who have also sacrificed greatly in ways nonmilitary families can't imagine. And I am thankful for them every single day. Are you?
When you see a veteran, smile and thank them for their service. They are pretty easy to spot - they have special license plates, they stand straight and salute the flag no matter where they are, they often sport caps designating which war they fought in. Sometimes they have limbs missing or are in a wheelchair.
Pray for our veterans and their families every day. And be grateful.
Thursday, November 5
thankful thursday - adventurous friends
Twenty-three years ago, when our youngest daughter was in first grade, she wanted to be a Brownie. And she wanted me to be her leader just like I was the leader for her older sister. The only problem was that realistically I could not be the leader for both girls' troops.
So I did the next best thing. I told the woman in charge of placing girls in troops that I was already a leader and couldn't do another one but I wanted my daughter placed in a troop that would be active, with a leader that was organized and fun. Bribery may have been involved - something about buying her a snow cone at the Fun Run on Friday.
She placed our daughter in Mrs. M's troop. Her daughter was in the same grade as ours and they quickly became friends. Mrs. M and I became friends over time.
At first I offered to help Mrs. M at the meetings so I could see how she ran things, what they did and if she was fun. I admit it... I was checking her out. She came to meetings with a plan, she encouraged the kids as they were learning to read, she was consistent in the behavior she expected - and, I learned, she was a primary teacher by profession. Boy oh boy, was she fun! She made picking up trash on the playground so fun, no one wanted to quit. Kids hung around after the meeting was over, sometimes asking their mom to be late picking them up.
As time went on, I offered to help because Mrs. M was fun to be with and I wanted to get to know her better. We'd meet for lunch to discuss the next meeting - and then the latest movie we had seen or book we had read. Pretty soon we were sharing stories about our lives and families.
Fast forward a couple of decades. Our daughters have grown up, are married and have professional jobs. Though one lives in California and the other in Arizona, they get together as couples when they can and maintain their friendship long distance.
Mrs. M and I, along with our husbands, are still good friends, as well. They live in California (to be near their daughter and her husband - and because the weather is great!) and we live in Arizona but we get together as often as we can.
We spent a long weekend with them in California a few weeks ago. As usual, Mr. and Mrs. M had planned fun, adventurous things for us to do as well as some time to just relax and "hang out!" Having balance in life is something I learned from them.
Several weeks before we went, Mrs. M asked if we might be interested in going to a concert at the Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad, California. The performer, Bian Liunian, is one of the world's leading performers on an ancient Chinese instrument, the erhu. It is like a two-stringed fiddle that is usually played with a bow but can also be plucked. This sounded like a fun adventure!
So I did the next best thing. I told the woman in charge of placing girls in troops that I was already a leader and couldn't do another one but I wanted my daughter placed in a troop that would be active, with a leader that was organized and fun. Bribery may have been involved - something about buying her a snow cone at the Fun Run on Friday.
She placed our daughter in Mrs. M's troop. Her daughter was in the same grade as ours and they quickly became friends. Mrs. M and I became friends over time.
At first I offered to help Mrs. M at the meetings so I could see how she ran things, what they did and if she was fun. I admit it... I was checking her out. She came to meetings with a plan, she encouraged the kids as they were learning to read, she was consistent in the behavior she expected - and, I learned, she was a primary teacher by profession. Boy oh boy, was she fun! She made picking up trash on the playground so fun, no one wanted to quit. Kids hung around after the meeting was over, sometimes asking their mom to be late picking them up.
As time went on, I offered to help because Mrs. M was fun to be with and I wanted to get to know her better. We'd meet for lunch to discuss the next meeting - and then the latest movie we had seen or book we had read. Pretty soon we were sharing stories about our lives and families.
Fast forward a couple of decades. Our daughters have grown up, are married and have professional jobs. Though one lives in California and the other in Arizona, they get together as couples when they can and maintain their friendship long distance.
Mrs. M and I, along with our husbands, are still good friends, as well. They live in California (to be near their daughter and her husband - and because the weather is great!) and we live in Arizona but we get together as often as we can.
We spent a long weekend with them in California a few weeks ago. As usual, Mr. and Mrs. M had planned fun, adventurous things for us to do as well as some time to just relax and "hang out!" Having balance in life is something I learned from them.
Several weeks before we went, Mrs. M asked if we might be interested in going to a concert at the Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad, California. The performer, Bian Liunian, is one of the world's leading performers on an ancient Chinese instrument, the erhu. It is like a two-stringed fiddle that is usually played with a bow but can also be plucked. This sounded like a fun adventure!
The erhu is on the left and has an amplifying device attached to the bottom. Bian plays over 200 instruments, including the Chinese zither on the right (although another performer played this one at the concert.
The concert was extraordinary! Some pieces were distinctly Chinese with hauntingly beautiful melodies. Others were classical - the Bach piece he played was exquisite. And still others were as American as apple pie. His rendition of the Eagles' Hotel California was explosive! It was hard to believe he could get that much diversity in sound from just two strings. It wasn't just a fun adventure - it was a wild one!
The next day we went to Legoland right before they closed. That's right, we went right before they closed. Knowing how much I like Lego minifigures, they suggested going then because we could get into the park without paying admission. We saw a small portion of the park and visited the largest Lego Store I've ever seen. It was huge... gigantic... gargantuan... humongous... super-sized! What a fun adventure we had looking for the new Big Bang Theory set - I think I may have whooped with delight when we found it!
We also strolled through the Legoland Hotel. I know some sweethearts who would love to stay there!
Richard, Alex (the M's nephew) and Mr. & Mrs. M
Everything is made of Lego-like pieces. It's awesome!
Behind the front desk of the hotel hangs the largest display of Lego minifigures I've ever seen. The surfer dude on the bike "rides" back and forth across the board. The wheels magnify the minifigs behind them. Everything is awesome at Legoland!
One of my favorite things to do/see in California is the beach. It is relaxing and rejuvenating. Mrs. M packed up some breakfast and we headed to the beach to watch the surfers, listen to the waves and squish our toes in the sand.
We greatly enjoyed nature - the tracks in the sand, the treasures the ocean washed up, the birds and the sand. The M's are doing an unofficial study of pelicans and have determined they most often fly in formations with an uneven number of birds. We corroborated their research.
We had a wonderful time with our adventurous friends - eating, laughing, drinking wine, talking, eating, talking, laughing,... I love that we can maintain our friendship despite the distance and that when we see each other, we pick right up where we left off.
I am thankful for friends that love adventure and laughing. And I am thankful that God orchestrated our friendship long ago when our daughter was put in Mrs. M's Brownie troop and then He wove our experiences as friends together into a beautiful tapestry. I don't believe friendships are the result of chance meetings; they are ordained appointments.
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