The One with All the Thanks

It's almost here!!! Thanksgiving gives Christmas a run for the money in my books. I LOVE this holiday! A day to relax, spend time with family and friends, and reflect on the many blessings in your life?! What a BEAUTIFUL concept! (Not to mention the Fall weather, and THE FOOD! OH MY GOSH- THE FOOD! YUM!!!) Among my favorite parts of the day: spending time with family, waking up to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, watching "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" with my husband's family (this is "the official" Thanksgiving movie), pie, pie, and more pie, and, last but not least, the fact that some radio stations start playing Christmas music 24/7. I just might explode with joy, people.

One of my favorite songs that really captures the spirit of Thanksgiving is "I Have Been Blessed" by Martina McBride. BEAUTIFUL song, BEAUTIFUL lyrics. One of my favorite parts:
"I have been blessed
And I feel like I've found my way
I thank God for all I've been given
At the end of every day
I have been blessed
With so much more than I deserve
To be here with the ones that love me
To love them so much it hurts
I have been blessed..."
-Martina McBride
I tried to find a YouTube video of the music video for you to enjoy, but no luck.:( I found a YouTube link that will simply play the song, but I unfortunately can't directly embed it into this post. Here's the link if you would like to listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDriO3MwDcc
Note: I STILL can't get links to work quite right...I'm sorry, you'll have to copy/paste!

I feel like it's only appropriate to include in a Thanksgiving post a list of some things for which I am thankful. This is definitely an abbreviated list- I am thankful for so, SO many things! Working in nonprofit, you become VERY aware of just how blessed you are.
I am thankful for: a loving, personal God; for my incredible family, both near and far; for friends, both old and new; for my best friend/husband; for my sweet, loyal dog; for the educational opportunities that have been given to me (I LOVE my TCU Horned Frogs and OCU Stars!); for my husband's and my job; for shelter, food on our table, and savings for a rainy day; for health; and finally, of course: I'm thankful for caffeine and Jesus. :)

Colossians 2:6-7 (New International Version) says: So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

I pray that you and your family are overflowing with thankfulness, and wish you a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving!

(And for those of you who are curious/are history buffs...below is an excerpt of former President George Washington's 1789 Proclamation of National Thanksgiving. Source/for full document: http://www.pbs.org/georgewashington/milestones/thanksgiving_read.html

Proclamation of National Thanksgiving

George Washington

City of New York, October 3, 1789

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor, and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me "to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness." [emphasis mine/KV's]