For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson~
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It's just so simple and so pure. No special gifts, no special decorations, just a special meal with family and friends, giving thanks for all the wonderful blessings in our lives. So as the trees lose their leaves and the air turns cool, cuddle up and smile. As I teach the students about the beginning of our country, I am in awe of the human spirit. The English colonists endured much heartache and suffering to build this great country. The Pilgrims left their homeland to worship their god and begin again. The human spirit is strong and resilient. Just for a moment, when you are feeling overwhelmed by obligations and commitments and you have a million things to do, give thanks. Give thanks to the Native Americans, British Colonists, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin and others who shaped our country and the world.
