Have a Blessed Thanksgiving!

My yeast dough is rising....the ingredients for the pound cake are coming to room temperature, the turkeys are thawing and my brother and his family are just now getting on a plane and will arrive here in a few hours.

Thanksgiving is at my house this year and there is much yet to be done. My Mom has made her pumpkin and pecan pies (her pecan pies are WONDERFUL!) and she will be making our cornbread dressing. This is one of the most wonderful foods in the world. She has been making it for many, many decades....family tradition. I'll be cooking the turkeys, sweet potato souffle (covered with melted marshmallows of course), green beans, pound cake, caramel cake, yeast rolls (thanks to Julie) and more!

This morning I tied my apron on and don't expect to remove it until much later in the day. Tomorrow will be a wonderful day of cooking, eating and enjoying family.

Tomorrow it is our tradition to begin Christmas decorating.....a day filled with family, fun, homemade Christmas Cookies and eggnog! My boys have been looking forward to it for weeks...for some reason Christmas seems to hold more anticipation for them this year than usual and they are really excited.

I am thankful for many things this year. God has blessed my family beyond my wildest expectations....He has been a faithful traveler with me through this valley I have been walking through. Truly at times He has carried me. These last few weeks He has shown Himself mightily on my behalf and I am ever so grateful for His continual care and for the blessings He has bestowed.

This Thanksgiving please take time to remember why this day was set aside by the Continental Congress and to thank God for his blessings on this nation:

1777 National Thanksgiving Day Proclamation
Saturday, November 1, 1777

The committee appointed to prepare a recommendation to the several states, to set apart a day of public thanksgiving, brought in a report; which was taken into consideration, and agreed to as follows:

Forasmuch as it is the indispensable duty of all men to adore the superintending providence of Almighty God; to acknowledge with gratitude their obligation to him for benefits received, and to implore such farther blessings as they stand in need of; and it having pleased him in his abundant mercy not only to continue to us the innumerable bounties of his common providence, but also smile upon us in the prosecution of a just and necessary war, for the defense and establishment of our unalienable rights and liberties; particularly in that he hath been pleased in so great a measure to prosper the means used for the support of our troops and to crown our arms with most signal success:

It is therefore recommended to the legislative or executive powers of these United States, to set apart Thursday, the 18th day of December next, for solemn thanksgiving and praise; that with one heart and one voice the good people may express the grateful feelings of their hearts, and consecrate themselves to the service of their divine benefactor; and that together with their sincere acknowledgments and offerings, they may join the penitent confession of their manifold sins, whereby they had forfeited every favor, and their humble and earnest supplication that it may please God, through the merits of Jesus Christ, mercifully to forgive and blot them out of remembrance; that it may please him graciously to afford his blessings on the governments of these states respectively, and prosper the public council of the whole; to inspire our commanders both by land and sea, and all under them, with that wisdom and fortitude which may render them fit instruments, under the providence of Almighty God, to secure for these United States the greatest of all blessings, independence and peace; that it may please him to prosper the trade and manufactures of the people and the labor of the husbandman, that our land may yield its increase; to take schools and seminaries of education, so necessary for cultivating the principles of true liberty, virtue and piety, under his nurturing hand, and to prosper the means of religion for the promotion and enlargement of that kingdom which consisteth in righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.

And it is further recommended, that servile labor, and such recreation as, though at other times innocent, may be unbecoming the purpose of this appointment, be omitted on so solemn an occasion.

2 Samuel 22:50
Therefore I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the Gentiles, And sing praises to Your name.


1 Chronicles 16:8
Oh, give thanks to the LORD! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples!

1 Chronicles 16:34
Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.


Psalm 18:49
Therefore I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the Gentiles, And sing praises to Your name.

May you all have a blessed Thanksgiving holiday. I'll see you next week!