Happy Thanksgiving!
Last night at a Thanksgiving service the pastor shared about how Thanksgiving first started. Religious refugees from Europe who left to escape persecution and ended up in Netherlands. There was no persecution there, but also no real opportunity. They got in touch with John Smith about the possibility of living on the eastern coast of the US. Crossed the ocean, had a friendly relationship with Native Americans (I am thankful someone did) and they helped teach the Europeans how to grow food. During their second Fall in the new colony, they had a feast and a time to give thanks.
Another interesting tidbit that I did not know is that Thanksgiving was first declared a holiday by Abraham Lincoln on 1863- right in the middle of the Civil War. " In the midst of a bloody Civil War, President Lincoln issued a Presidential Proclamation in which he enumerated the blessings of the American people and called upon his countrymen to "set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of "Thanksgiving."
quote from http://www.archives.gov/press/press-releases/2009/nr09-25.html
For the history fan-->This site has great info and scanned copies of Lincoln's Thanksgiving Day Proclamation.
And now, for my thankful list of 2012- Just a few of the things to be thankful for!
Thank you Lord for...
Your love
David
a new ministry opportunity
running water that is safe to drink
Your forgiveness
Family
yoga
paint
craft nights
Your strength
my friends ( childhood, college, Venezuela, work, and blog friends)
AC and heat
music
Kathleen is pregnant!!!!!!!
color
adopting me into Your family
a job that I enjoy
UNC Chapel Hill
a washer and dryer
art
Your Word in my language
health insurance
the Summit Church
a warm bed to sleep in
guitar
Target
giving me strength in difficult situations
Pinterest
photography
chocolate
the Farmer's Market
stress/anxiety- how you use that to humble and teach me to depend more on You
the Promise of one day being with You in heaven
blueberries
Your faithfulness
freedom of religion
candles
pumpkin
exercise
Fall
light
knees that are healing
tea
cooking
clothes and shoes
flowers
honey
moon and stars
Lily, Sadie, and Molly (pups)
Your beautiful creation
Your perfect timing
and the ability to blog
