To Robert Browning by Walter Savage Landor

There is delight in singing, though none hear
Beside the singer; and there is delight
In praising, though the praiser sits alone
And see the praised far off him, far above.
Shakespeare is not our poet, but the world’s,
Therefore on him no speech! and brief for thee,
Browning! Since Chaucer was alive and hale
No man hath walked along our roads with step
So active, so inquiring eye, or tongue
So varied in discourse. But warmer climes
Give brighter plumage, stronger wing; the breeze
Of Alpine heights thou playest with, borne on
Beyond Sorrento and Amalfi, where
The Siren waits thee, singing song for song.

I wanted to share one of my favorite poems. It took me many years to understand that “No man hath walked along our roads with step.” We may share the same experiences, but we carry it with us differently. This is where we hold our memories.

 

Plant a thankful tree

Invite dinner guests to write their blessings on paper ornaments. Sign and date each ornament to create an archive. Tie ornaments each year to fallen tree branches anchored with sand in a pitcher.

I found this idea on Midwest Living at just fell in love with it. Last summer I bought a large glass water bottle at a garage sale for $2 and I think it will be perfect. You know that I love to decorate with birch branches, but I’m going to scout around the property line aka weed patch and see if I can find something that has broken off or needs cut down and place it in my jar. I’ll use this as the focal point at my Cookie Exchange Party this year and hopefully, add to it in the coming years. Now to get those invitations in the mail.

They who want milk should not sit in the middle of field and wait for the cow to back up to them. ~ Lillian Katz

 

Thanksgiving” ~ Lizelia Augusta Jenkins Moorer

Let us give thanks to God above,
Thanks for expressions of His love,
Seen in the book of nature, grand
Taught by His love on every hand.

Let us be thankful in our hearts,
Thankful for all the truth imparts,
For the religion of our Lord,
All that is taught us in His word.

Let us be thankful for a land,
That will for such religion stand;
One that protects it by the law,
One that before it stands in awe.

Thankful for peace o’er land and sea,
Thankful for signs of liberty,
Thankful for homes, for life and health,
Pleasure and plenty, fame and wealth.

Thankful for friends and loved ones, too,
Thankful for all things, good and true,
Thankful for harvest in the fall,
Thankful to Him who gave it all.

Thanksgiving Day is a jewel, to set in the hearts of honest men; but be careful that you do not take the day, and leave out the gratitude.
~E.P. Powell

 

“Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow”

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
~Thomas Ken

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This famous song of gratitude was written by Thomas Ken in 1674. Originally part of a longer hymn, it was set to a traditional tune attributed to Louis Bourgeois (about 1515). Today it is one of the most well-known hymns of Thanksgiving.

Nothing is more honorable than a grateful heart. ~ Seneca

 

“We Thank Thee”

by Ralph Waldo Emerson

For flowers that bloom about our feet,
Father, we thank Thee.
For tender grass so fresh, so sweet,
Father we thank Thee.
For the song of bird and hum of bee,
For all things fair we hear or see,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee.
For blue of stream and blue of sky,
Father, we thank Thee.
For pleasant shade of branches high,
Father we thank Thee.
For beauty of the blooming trees,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee.
For this new morning with its light,
Father, we thank Thee.
For rest and shelter of the night,
Father, we thank Thee.
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends,
Father in heaven , we thank Thee.

Thanksgiving Day is a jewel, to set in the hearts of honest men; but be careful that you do not take the day, and leave out the gratitude. ~ E.P. Powell

 

Who Am I?

Write an Instant Name Poem
Method:	Line 1 – (type your first name) Line 2 – “It means”  (write 3 adjectives that describe you) Line 3 – “It is the number” (type any number you want) Line 4 – “It is like” (describe a color but don’t name it) Line 5 – “It is ”  (name something you remember experiencing with family and friends that makes you smile to recall) Line 6 – “It is the memory of” (name a person who is or has been significant to you) Line 7 – “Who taught me” (write 2 abstract concepts, such as “honesty”) Line 8 – “When he or she ”  (write about something that person did this displayed the qualities in line 7) Line 9 – “My name is” (type your first name) Line 10 – “It means” (state something important you believe about life in 1-2 brief sentences)
Sample:	Sheila It means woman, gentle, blind, It is the number 124, It is like a reminiscence of Spring, It is Christmastime, It is the memory of Julia Stump, Who taught me Stewardship and Love, When she worked hard to support me, My name is Sheila, It means I believe that time spent with family is the best time of my life.