A Thankful Thanksgiving

The America we witness today has seen much sacrifice

This sacrifice for many, has meant a total giving of life for liberty

Do all truly realize what the human cost of freedom is

All citizens should understand what has kept us whole



Should it not be the duty of each American to know this

To become familiar with the reasons of why we exist today

The notion that "that’s the way things are" is ludicrous

When a firm explanation is so easily understood



We’ve survived because of faith, determination, and great sacrifice

The backbone of this country is the strength of its good citizens

Each true American is worth more than all the gold found in history

Selfishness does not rule their home, nor does it drive their thought



And don’t just look at our military as a magnificent force

Rather look at each member of our soldiered family with pride

"Ready, willing, and able" have been the finest of each generation

Whether in Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, or any other place of danger



Whenever an American military presence moves into action

Behold the continuation of an outstanding tradition

Formed through freedom, it bravely faces all adversaries

And the flag under which it stands will always fly in freedom



We are and always will be one nation under God

He is the strength we have turned to time and time again

If we did not have Him, we would have perished long ago

God Bless America is more than a song, it is our national prayer


Finally, I wish each fine American a thankful Thanksgiving Day

May you truly realize what we are, and pray to Almighty God for continuation

Be ever thankful for our Armed Forces, and give them the total support they need

And please pray for all American families who have paid the price for freedom


©2002,2005 Roger J. Robicheau

 
Have a blessed Thanksgiving!

What are you counting?

Count your blessings instead of your crosses; Count your gains instead of your losses.

Count your joys instead of your woes; Count your friends instead of your foes.

Count your smiles instead of your tears; Count your courage instead of your fears.

Count your full years instead of your lean; Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.

Count your health instead of your wealth; Count on God instead of yourself.

~~Author Unknown~~

(Thank you, Amie, for sending me this!)

Sweet Baby Love!

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6



Check out more Wordful Wednesday posts at Forever His, Wordless Wednesday picture fun over at 5 Minutes For Mom and Wordless Wednesday!

ABCs of THanksgiving

Kim over at Homesteaders Heart challenged us to come up with alphabet things we are thankful for.

A- apples
B- babies to hold
C- children
D- Dove Dark Chocolate
E- eggs benedict
F- friends
G- God
H- house to live in
I- Ice cream
J- Joy of my salvation
K- kittens
L- love of my husband
M- Mercy of God on me a sinner
N- Naps
O- Oatmeal
P- peanut butter w/chocolate :D
Q- quarrels solved quickly
R- Reading
S- Salvation
T- Thin Mints
U- Umbrellas
V- vision (20/20)
W- Word of God
X- xrays to check out broken bones
Y- yogurt
Z- zoo to see all the wonderful animals God created! :D

WHat things can you come up with in alphabet that you are thankful for?

Had an interesting weekend...

I had gone to my dr about a week and a half ago, and from my understanding I thought he wanted me to go off my medication. My last meds were on Wednesday. Friday I was dragging and had to have 3 cups of coffee just to get through, when I usually only need 1 in the morning. Had a great Friday otherwise - watched my favorite twin girls and then later had 3 boys over while their parents went out on their anniversary dinner.

Well, Friday night I went to bed. I woke up in pure panic thinking people were downstairs and were taking things out of the house. I turned off my fan (white noise) to listen. I kept thinking I heard things. Turned on my bathroom light, still heard things. I was so scared that I didn't want to even go out of the bedroom. I climbed back in bed and kept telling myself "it isn't true, it isn't happening". I started praying, reciting Bible verses and singing hymns to try to help comfort myself and go back to sleep.

Needless to say, I only slept a little while. I got up and of course felt horrible from lack of sleep. I also felt dizzy. I then started where I was having trouble putting thoughts together. I chatted with my husband online and he said I need to call the dr. I called the after hours and they said to call my primary dr. Well, we only have a clinic so called the nurse line and she told me I needed to go to the ER. I'm like "Are you serious? Can't I just go to a clinic or something?" Then she asked if I could call 911 or get a ride, or she could call. I'm like "I'll find someone to take me." LOL! :D

I ended up calling a sweet friend of mine from church to ask her to take me to the ER. I have a hard time asking for help of any kind, but I had to ask the Lord to help me with asking for help. She was more than willing to help even though she had a lot to do I know with getting food done for our THanksgiving dinner the next day and finishing up a surprise present for our pastor. I had a hard time trying to tell her I needed help as I was still having problems with getting thoughts out into words.

Then I had to figure out what to do with my children while I was at the ER. Thankfully, dd was with a friend. I had to call and tell her what was going on (remember I'm still having issues getting words out). She was so upset. I had to tell her that I was ok and wasn't in an accident. She wanted to know specifics, but I told her I would tell her later.

One would think that goign to the ER would be a breeze when there is NO one in the waiting room. I thought for sure I would be in and out. LOL! Nope! They evaluated me in the ER then sent me over to another section. Had to talk to numerous drs, nurses, and staff. They were great though! :D I was there for 2-1/2 hours and they didn't tell me anything I didn't know. No medication or anything. Just had to promise to call my doctor on Monday morning. LOL!

I came home and slept for a while. I got to spend some time with my dd since ds was staying over at a friend's house. Love having special time with my children! :D

SONday was awesome! We had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner in the afternoon at church. We then had a service after with people giving testimonies. What a blessing to hear how so many lives God has been working on! God even gave me the courage to give mine. :D It was so hard as I do not like speaking in public, but God had really been working on me and I wanted to show how thankful I was for all He has done.  I had written up some of the things that I was thankful for to help me, but I didn't get to all of it.

For an awesome God who saved me and washed my sins away.  He loves me in spite of how many times I disappoint Him. He has been there through every valley, hill, and mountain top. 

For God's Word that shows me how I need to be in EVERY aspect of my life and the freedom to read it.

For the opportunity to serve God.

My husband who is currently deployed, his love for us, and to do right in his job even in spite of how hard it is. His desire to read the Bible through even though he has a very hard time reading (not his favorite thing)

My daughter  for how much she has changed in the past year with her Christian growth, love for the bus ministry and the kids. Her desire to serve God.

My son  for his tender heart and even more recently for seeing how God is working in his life. His desire to read the Word and apply it.

Godly parents who raised me in church.

For my best friend Amie who most of you know. She has been my “iron sharpening iron”.

For the church and how much they have been a blessing to me with prayers, encouragement, especially with this past year and a half. It has meant so much to me!

Having a great pastor who preaches the whole counsel of God!

For Mrs. Cyndi who gives good godly advice.

Bro. Ben who makes sure we are included in with the church school. Who has helped Jeffrey several times with some things he was dealing with. Who seems to take pranks well.

For Mrs. Been’s SONday school class that I help in. The children are such a blessing to me. I have so much fun with them whether hearing the Bible stories, learning verses, singing songs, or even receiving hugs.

Bro Will , Mr. And Mrs. Rich, and the Princes for teaching my children on SONdays

Monday first thing I called the dr's nurse and asked her about my medication. She was like "You must have misunderstood. You weren't supposed to go off the medication." LOL! Had a good laugh about that. LOL! She then faxed my new prescription to the local drug store, so I could pick it up. :D

Satan tried to get me down on my bday yesterday, but I'm thankful for friends who reached out to me to try to make it special. I was blessed on my birthday by several birthday wishes on Facebook and on email along with some wonderful gifts from friends and family - lots of chocolate, Starbucks gc, flower, and a CHRISTmas cactus! HUGS!!

What are you thankful for?

Share it on Heavenly Homemakers Gratituesday!

Friday Funnies - Got Coffee?!

78 Ways to know if you drink too much coffee...

You answer the door before people knock.
Juan Valdez named his donkey after you.
The only kitchen appliances you own are made by Mr. Coffee.
You ski uphill.
You get a tax cut for all the coffee you bought.
You get a speeding ticket even when you're parked.
You speed walk in your sleep.
You have a bumper sticker that says: "Coffee drinkers are good in the sack."
You haven't blinked since the last lunar eclipse.
You just completed another sweater and you don't know how to knit.
You grind your coffee beans in your mouth.
The nurse needs a scientific calculator to take your pulse.
You sleep with your eyes open.
When you open your dish cabinet, and there is only mugs.
You have to watch videos in fast-forward.
The only time you're standing still is during an earthquake.
You can take a picture of yourself from ten feet away without using the timer.
You lick your coffeepot clean.
You spend every vacation visiting "Maxwell House."
You're the employee of the month at the local coffeehouse and you don't even work there.
You've worn out your third pair of tennis shoes this week.
Your eyes stay open when you sneeze.
Your coffee cake must have coffee in it.
You chew on other people's fingernails.
Your T-shirt says, "Decaffeinated coffee is the devil's blend."
You're so jittery that people use your hands to blend their margaritas.
You can type sixty words per minute... with your feet.
The only gift you get for Valentines Day you get chocolate covered beans.
You can jump-start your car without cables.
All your kids are named "Joe".
Your only source of nutrition comes from "Sweet & Low."
You don't sweat, you percolate.
You buy 1/2 & 1/2 by the barrel.
You've worn out the handle on your favorite mug.
You go to AA meetings just for the free coffee.
You walk twenty miles on your treadmill before you realize it's not plugged in.
You forget to unwrap candy bars before eating them.
Charles Manson thinks you need to calm down.
Every shirt or blouse you own has a coffee stain on it.
You've built a miniature city out of little plastic stirrers.
People get dizzy just watching you.
You've worn the finish off your coffee table.
The Taster's Choice couple wants to adopt you.
Starbucks owns the mortgage on your house.
You're so wired, you pick up AM radio and people test their batteries in your ears.
Your life's goal is to amount to a hill of beans.
Instant coffee takes too long.
When someone says. "How are you?", you say, "Good to the last drop."
You want to be cremated just so you can spend the rest of eternity in a coffee can.
You want to come back as a coffee mug in your next life.
Your birthday is a national holiday in Brazil.
Your hand is permanently shaped to hold your mug.
You'd be willing to spend time in a Turkish prison.
You go to sleep just so you can wake up and smell the coffee.
You name your cats "Cream" and "Sugar."
You speak perfect Arabic without ever taking a lesson.
Your lips are permanently stuck in the sipping position.
You have a picture of your coffee mug on your coffee mug.
You can outlast the Energizer bunny.
You can jump to the moon.
You short out motion detectors.
You have a conniption over spilled milk.
You don't even wait for the water to boil anymore.
Your nervous twitch registers on the Richter scale.
You think being called a "drip" is a compliment.
You don't tan, you roast.
You don't get mad, you get steamed.
Your three favorite things in life are...coffee before, coffee during and coffee after.
Your lover uses soft lights, romantic music, and a glass of iced coffee to get you in the mood.
You can't even remember your second cup.
You help your dog chase its tail.
You soak your dentures in coffee overnight.
Your coffee mug is insured by Lloyds of London.
You introduce your spouse as your coffeemate.
You think CPR stands for "Coffee Provides Resuscitation."
Your first-aid kit contains two pints of coffee with an I.V. hookup.

Got coffee? :D

Grab a cup of joe and head over to Homesteaders Heart for Friday Funnies and laugh yourself through the weekend!

Pumpkin Cheesecake!

I'm so not a pumpkin pie fan. I don't know why.  However I love pumpkin cheesecake and pumpkin cake.  This is the one that I've made several years now.  :D  Have a blessed Thanksgiving!

Pumpkin Cheesecake

Crust

3/4 c graham cracker crumbs
1/2 c finely chopped pecans
1/4 c dark brown sugar
1/4 c sugar
3/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 c butter, melted and cooled

Filling
1 c pumpkin puree
3 large eggs, room temperature
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp allspice
1/8 tsp clove
1  sugar, plus 2 Tbls sugar
4 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese, softened
2 Tbls heavy cream
1 1/2 Tbls cornstarch
1 Tbls vanilla extract

Cinnamon whipped cream for garnish
1 c well-chilled heavy cream
1 Tbls icing sugar
3/4 tsp cinnamon
caramel sauce (optional)

Place rack in center of oven. Preheat oven to 350°F.

Make crust: Combine all crust ingredients in a bowl. Press onto bottom of 10 inch springform pan and bake for 10 minutes. Remove to cool.

Make filling: Whisk together pumpkin, eggs, spices, salt and ¾ cup of the sugar. Cream together cream cheese and remaining sugar. Beat in cream, cornstarch and vanilla. Carefully beat in pumpkin mixture. Pour into crust.

Lift pan 1 inch off counter and let drop (this breaks up any air bubbles in the batter that may contribute to cracking).

Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until center is set. Run a thin, sharp knife around edge of pan to release crust (this too helps inhibit cracking). Let cool, covered loosely, overnight.

Remove sides of pan and put on your prettiest serving platter.

Garnish with cinnamon whipped cream and caramel sauce (if desired); dust top of cake lightly with more cinnamon.

For cinnamon whipped cream: Beat cream until foamy. Beat in sugar and cinnamon until the cream holds soft peaks.

Note: If your cheesecake cracks, do not worry as the cinnamon whipped cream topping embellishes everything and the cheesecake is just gorgeous! ;-).

What is your favorite pumpkin dessert?


Check out more great Thanksgiving recipes at the Ultimate Recipe Swap this week!