What is Thanksgiving to me?

Amy Peck texted me today with this question, "What do you think when you hear the word Thanksgiving?" I was at work caught up in a manic production day. When I heard the "bling" that heralds a text message, my first thought was, "Oh, crud, did I forget to pay the cell phone bill?" About the only time I get a text message is from Verizon. I flipped open my phone & read her text. I immediately texted back: Food & family.

Since I've been home from work, I've thought of what Thanksgiving means to me. Most of my memories do revolve around food & family. But I have also thought how grateful I am that I have family & Thanksgiving dinners to remember.

I have been checking emails for the past half hour, mostly from Brat Factor.com I love those emails. Pam Young, author of the book Sidetracked Home Executive: From Pigpen to Paradise, sends an email a day.

I don't check her emails daily. I had over 100 that I hadn't read. Here's a thought that come with one recently:

Real things haven't changed. It is still best
to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what
we have; to be happy with simple pleasures; and have
courage when things go wrong.

Laura Ingalls Wilder

A reader sent the words to this traditional hymn & Ms. Young shared it with us:

"Tis a gift to be simple, tis a gift to be free,
Tis a gift to come 'round where we ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in a place just right
'Twill be in the valley of love and delight

When true simplicity is gained,
To bow and to bend we won't be ashamed
To turn, turn, will be our delight
Till by turning, turning we come 'round right."

Wow! And was this an eye opener:

Most people do not realize the many health benefits of gratitude. Studies indicate that thankfulness is directly linked to physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

I'm going to forward the last email to Amy. It may help her in the talk she is preparing for Sacrament Meeting on Sunday. I'm sure she is doing a great job in preparing her thoughts for her talk. Too bad she is in Inkom or I'd go listen to her & Colby talk. But I find that a little far to travel for a talk in church.