Happy Thanksgiving

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George and I are taking next week off from blogging.   Thanksgiving is next Thursday and we want to spend time with each other,   visit family and friends,  and just spend the week being very thankful for all of our many blessings.



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Thanksgiving is a special time for me... I remember,  when I was a little girl,  waiting for my two brothers to come 'home' for Thanksgiving.  My mother was an excellent cook---and the special Thanksgiving dinners (along with the stories around the table) will always be in my memory ---and bring huge smiles to my face.


I also am thankful for you,  my special blog friends...  I will close with this poem--just for YOU.

I'm Thankful for YOU

by Joanna Fuchs

Thanksgiving is the appointed time

for focusing on the good in our lives.

In each of our days,

we can find small blessings,

but too often we overlook them, 

choosing instead to spend our time

paying attention to problems.

We give our energy

to those who cause us trouble

instead of those who bring peace.

Starting now,

let's be on the lookout

for the bits of pleasure in each hour,

and appreciate the people who

bring love and light to everyone

who is blessed to know them.

YOU are one of those people.

On Thanksgiving, 

I'm thankful for you.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope all of you have a great week.  We'll be back in touch on Monday,  November 28.  God Bless ALL of you!

Hugs,

Betsy

A Very Thankful Thanksgiving

I love Thanksgiving --and enjoy celebrating all of the things in life which I am truly thankful for. This year, since George's parents were with his sister in Tullahoma, TN and since none of our other family members could join us for the day, George and I decided to do something totally different. We called a good friend in Kingsport, TN (who has MS and who also lives alone) and asked her if she had plans. She had none ---so we drove up there and took her out to dinner. She told us that we provided her with a fabulous Thanksgiving this year, but believe me, the blessing was OURS.


We had a fabulous day ---and the dinner at Cracker Barrel was excellent. But---even better than the dinner (if that is possible) was the long ride we took all over Kingsport and that area. Reida doesn't get out much these days---so she enjoyed showing off her little city to us. AND--we surprised her by taking her out in the country in search of a new waterfall (which she didn't even know was there). We found it---and Reida was amazed!!!! We all had a wonderful day---including seeing the wild turkeys on Bays Mountain.


Hope you enjoy some of our pictures from this perfect day with a special friend. Above is a picture of two childhood friends, Reida and me. We are standing in Reida's newly renovated kitchen. It is gorgeous! Below are more pictures.







George took our picture --while we waited for our delicious Thanksgiving Dinner at Cracker Barrel. And believe me, dinner was delicious--and the company was better!!!









Wild turkeys on Bays Mountain --where we took a ride on Thanksgiving afternoon; don't you know those guys were happy not to be on someone's table on that day!!!! ha ha









There were three of them in this group... Pretty, aren't they? They are quite colorful--so I assume they are all males.







Here's two more --in another area. I could almost hear the one in the rear saying: "Hey, wait for me." ha







This is the waterfall we saw on Thanksgiving Day... It was in the country -and the drive was fabulous. This waterfall is named Bays Mountain Falls. We showed it in a previous post--but wanted to show it one more time.







It was a cold afternoon ---and this girl was freezing --while getting her picture taken beside that 'weird' tree..... Is that tree PREGNANT????? ha ha







George did what he always does when we visit waterfalls... He got 'up close and personal'...


We truly had one of the nicest Thanksgiving Days we have ever had. I love doing things for others---and visiting Reida on this day was truly a blessing for US. After leaving her home that afternoon, we headed for Erwin, TN ---for a couple of fabulous days hiking and 'waterfalling'.


Hugs,

Happy Thanksgiving

I would like to take this post to wish each of you a blessed and happy Thanksgiving this year. I have enjoyed writing my "I'm Thankful For..." all month and posting it on my sidebar. I hope you have been reading it. There are some 'big' thanksgivings and some tiny ones. I will continue to do this throughout November, and encourage you to do this next year, since it keeps the real meaning of being thankful on our minds ALL month, and not just for one ONE day.

After eating all of the Thanksgiving turkey and the trimmings, George and I will be going to the mountains of East Tennessee in order to do some hiking and 'waterfalling' for a few days. The weather may not cooperate though, since snow and cold rains are predicted!!!! Brrrrrr!!!!

I will take a blogging break ---and will be back (hopfully with great pictures) on Monday, Nov. 30. Today I leave you with a beautiful poem I found on the internet.

Thanksgiving
Let us give thanks to God above,

Thanks for expressions of His love,

Seen in the book of nature, grand 

Taught by His love on every hand.


Let us be thankful in our hearts,

Thankful for all the truth imparts,

For the religion of our Lord,

All that is taught us in His word.

Let us be thankful for a land,

That will for such religion stand;

One that protects it by the law, 

One that before it stands in awe.

Thankful for all things let us be,

Though there be woes and misery; 

Lessons they bring us for our good-

Later 'twill all be understood.

Thankful for peace o'er land and sea,

Thankful for signs of liberty,

Thankful for homes, for life and health,

Pleasure and plenty, fame and wealth.

Thankful for friends and loved ones, too,

Thankful for all things, good and true,

Thankful for harvest in the fall,

Thankful to Him who gave it all.

~~Lizelia Augusta Jenkins Moorer fl. 1907


Thanks again for all of the love and friendship I have found this past year since I joined Blogger (January of 2009). I feel so blessed to have met all of you!!!! Have a fabulous Thanksgiving including the weekend. I'll be back on Monday!!!!

Hugs,