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MONEY UNDER THE CAR SEAT

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MONEY UNDER THE CAR SEAT AND OTHER THINGS TO THANK GOD FOR A LIGHT AND FRESH CELEBRATION OF THANKSGIVING A BOOK FOR EVERY THANKSGIVING DINNER TABLE

by Daniel Whyte III with Family and Friends 5

MONEY UNDER THE CAR SEAT AND OTHER THINGS TO THANK GOD FOR New Cover Design by Bill Hopper of Hopper Graphics Original Cover Design by Daniella Whyte and Daniel D.P. Whyte IV Š Copyright 2006 TORCH LEGACY PUBLICATIONS, ATLANTA, GEORGIA; DALLAS, TEXAS; BROOKLYN, NEW YORK First Printing, 2007 Second Printing, 2008 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner, except for brief quotations included in a review of the book. ___________________________________________________ The Bible quotations in this volume are from the King James Version of the Bible.

The name TORCH LEGACY PUBLICATIONS and its logo are registered as a trademark in the U.S. patent office.

ISBN: 0-9763487-0-5 Printed in the U.S.A.

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Dedicated to God Almighty To Whom We Give Thanks And Also to the Following People: Rev. & Mrs. Daniel White, Jr. Rev. Sammie Madison Rev. Carl Bennett Rev. Andrew Hamilton Rev. Glendy Hamilton Hermoth Dixon Rev. Val Cuthbertson Rev. Allen Foster, Jr. Dr. & Mrs. Hill Sis. Tracie Thomas Bro. Dean Steinhaus Sis. Mary Foster And to All Lovers of this Delightful Holiday Commonly Called Thanksgiving

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MONEY UNDER THE CAR SEAT CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION............................................................15 2. In a Thanksgiving State of Mind..........................................19 3. A Timeline of Thanksgiving.................................................25 4. A Light History of Thanksgiving..........................................29 5. 75 Things to do for Thanksgiving........................................35 6. Thanksgiving Traditions Around the World..............................41 7. 75 Weighty Things to be Thankful For..................................47 8. 7 Reasons Why I Thank God for Jesus Christ........................53 9. 75 Lighter Things to be Thankful For...................................59 10. A Foreigner Reflects on the American Thanksgiving Holiday..............................................65 11. 53 Thanksgiving Verses......................................................67 12. 107 Famous Quotations on Thanksgiving..............................77 13. Let God be Thanked: A Light Reflection on Thanksgiving.....................................................97 14. Thanksgiving Arts & Crafts for Children.............................99 15. Children Talk About What Thanksgiving Means to Them.......107 16. Thanksgiving Books for Children...........................................113 17. Thanksgiving Trivia................................................................117 18. Suggested Games to Play on Thanksgiving Day.....................123 19. Traditional & Non-Traditional, Last Minute Recipes that Will Help You Get Through the Thanksgiving Day Holiday...............................133 Turkey.................................................137 Stuffing................................................145 Potatoes................................................149 Vegetables............................................153 Casseroles..........................................157 Other Thanksgiving Dishes...........................163 Gravy...............................................167 Desserts.............................................. 171

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20. Well, What do I do with Thanksgiving Leftovers?.............179 21. 14 Beautiful Thanksgiving Poems.......................................189 22. My Top 12 Thanksgiving Songs...........................................201 23. Top 10 Presidential Thanksgiving Proclamations.................213 24. Prayer Models for the Thanksgiving Dinner Table..............237 25. Thanksgiving Charities.........................................................243 26. 15 Thanksgiving Websites.....................................................247 27. Your Thanksgiving Memories...............................................251 28. Thanksgiving Trivia Answers............................................253

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MONEY UNDER THE CAR SEAT ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First, I want to thank the Lord for placing within my heart a desire to do such a work as this, and for giving me an attitude of gratitude.

“To God be the glory.”

I also wish to thank my wife, Meriqua, for contributing to this book, editing the book and for typing the manuscript as well. A very special thank you goes to all of my dear children who have worked so hard with me on this project: Daniella (Danni) who contributed to the book, and who did great research; my son, Daniel IV, who also contributed to the book and also did great research; Danielle, who contributed to the book, and to Danita, Danae‘ and Daniqua who helped with researching and finding the simple recipes that we have included. Let me say thank you to my five year old son, Danyel Ezekiel, and my three year old daughter, Danyelle Elizabeth, for being good, quiet children while we all worked on this project.

A warm thank you goes to: my faithful and dutiful secretary, Mrs. Tracie Thomas, who contributed a significant portion to this project, but more importantly for being such a cheerful encouragement to me on this book as well as a host of other projects that were going on simultaneously; Mr. Louis Allen, my assistant, for his contributions and encouragement; and all of the children of Trinity Academy, where I was the proud pastor and principal, for ten years, for their contributions to this book as well.

And on this year, I want to publicly thank God for: my dad, Daniel White Jr.; my mother, Shirley L. White; my brother-in-law, Leonard A. Martin, who is my brother indeed, and who proved to be better

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than a brother; and his wife, my sister, Sheila Adele Martin, who all helped to make a recent Thanksgiving a truly miraculous one.

A special thank you goes to Bill Hopper, for designing the new, beautiful cover on this volume, and for being a great brother in Christ. “God will not forget your labor of love.� I thank God for you all and may God continue to bless your lives. May your tribe increase.

We also want to thank all those who gave us permission to use their copyrighted material for this volume.

My humble prayer is that God will receive all of the glory from our feeble efforts as well as many thanksgivings.

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MONEY UNDER THE CAR SEAT INTRODUCTION As so many American families do, my family loves Thanksgiving.

Even though our family is only twenty years old, we have made Thanksgiving a rich tradition in our home that we all look forward to each year.

This book has been in my heart and on my mind, and I have been mentally putting this book together for several years now. As all writers know, a true writer is always writing even when he is not writing. Well, I am glad now that the long pregnancy has come to an end, and the baby has been delivered.

Money Under The Car Seat is simply a light and fresh celebration of an old holiday called Thanksgiving. This book is designed to be taken seriously and it is designed not to be taken seriously. It is largely a fun book that looks at Thanksgiving through fresh eyes.

Thanksgiving is a big deal to us and we hope that it is to you as well.

This book is intentionally not about the Pilgrims, the Indians, the first Thanksgiving, and all of that “stuffing� most people think of when they think about Thanksgiving.

This book is written to help us remember Who we are thanking, and it is written to encourage people to enjoy thanking Him. We hope that this little book will rekindle an excitement for Thanksgiving in the heart of some who have allowed that fire to dim a little over the years. We also hope that this little book will inspire the Thanksgiving lovers to love this holiday even more and to celebrate it better. We hope that most importantly, it would be used by God to truly turn hearts toward Him so that they, too, can know Him and have a lot to

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be thankful for, not only on Thanksgiving Day, but every day of the year.

HAVE A GLORIOUS THANKSGIVING! —Daniel Whyte III Columbus, Georgia

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Thank God for clothes to wear; For food to eat; For people who care; And for money under the car seat. —Daniel Whyte III

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IN A THANKSGIVING STATE OF MIND

by Daniel Whyte III AUTHOR’S NOTE: When I wrote this essay some time back I left out one interesting little fact, and that is, that I am the least likely individual to write anything about a holiday, much less a book. I say that simply because throughout my adult life, I have never celebrated any holidays including Christmas, not for any religious convictions, but, probably simply because I find holidays and birthdays vain, and a colossal waste of energy, money, and time. In fact, this will shock you, there were certain holidays that I used to hate to see come around, simply because places like the bank and the post office would shut down for no good reason, in my humble opinion.

Yes, I was a literal Scrooge and still am to some degree, I guess. But for some reason, somehow the Spirit of THANKSGIVING reached out and took me in out of the “non-holiday” cold and warmed my heart in a big way, so much so, that I was compelled to write this little book. I was not looking for Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving found me. This is what I mean when I say in the essay, “Thanksgiving happens to you.” There is a power in the spirit of Thanksgiving that affects you far more than what you contribute to it. I am convinced that a person is in a spiritual coma if he or she cannot recognize a special presence of God during Thanksgiving week, when an entire nation of almost 300 million people are at least recognizing and thanking the God Who made them, whether they want to or not. When I wrote this piece, I tried to convey two things:

1. The radiant spirit of Thanksgiving in the natural, that is, the physical blessings of God that we humans (or at least I) enjoy during that time.

2. The radiant spirit of Thanksgiving in the Spirit realm, that is, the glory that our loving God deserves and receives from us during that time of the year, especially.

Believe it or not, I normally do not struggle to write anything, but this piece was strangely difficult to compose and to convey. I tried to express the emotions, the feelings, and the spirit of Thanksgiving that I, and I am sure

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others feel, with the true meaning and purpose of this wonderful holiday called Thanksgiving, simultaneously. I hope that I have succeeded.

Read On! We do not make Thanksgiving happen. Thanksgiving happens to us. What I mean by that is: even though some wise people, many years ago, prompted by God, of course, started what is now called the Thanksgiving holiday to give thanks for the mercies, blessings, and provisions of a loving God, God has taken a very special interest in this holiday called Thanksgiving, because it brings glory to Him. God is very interested in His glory. When Thanksgiving comes, I don’t know about you, but I sense more than ever the presence of Almighty God. GOD INHABITS THE PRAISE OF HIS PEOPLE Thanksgiving is a glorious holiday. For my family, the entire Thanksgiving week is an easy going, laid back time of enjoying God’s goodness and praising Him. Thanksgiving is not just a holiday to us, it is a spiritual activity; it is a state of mind; it is an emotion—a positive emotion. It is a feeling—a positive feeling. No, we don’t make Thanksgiving happen. Thanksgiving happens to us. When a group of people gather together around that theme of thanking and praising God, not only does God get the glory, but strangely, something happens to those who give Him that glory. Being in a Thanksgiving state of mind is not about the Pilgrims and the Indians. When we are truly in the spirit of Thanksgiving, or in that Thanksgiving state of mind, it is not just about family. It is not just about eating. It is not just about traveling. It is much bigger than that.

Yes, when I am in that Thanksgiving state of mind, I think of relaxation.

I think of wearing comfortable, plush sweat pants and shirt, lounging around, taking it easy, napping and watching the football game all at 20

the same time, and anticipating a great meal. However, Thanksgiving is bigger than that.

When I am in that Thanksgiving state of mind, I think about cool southern weather on the outside, with the golden leaves falling down in their order; but warm and comfortable on the inside, with heat coming from the fireplace, and not to mention the pleasant aroma and warmth coming from the kitchen. More importantly, I think about how good God has been to me.

When I am in that Thanksgiving state of mind, I also think about family. Being together as a family for Thanksgiving is a beautiful thing; and well, it should be. A Thanksgiving holiday family get together ought not to be a contest between sisters-in-law or mothers-in-law or siblings. It ought not ever to be what it commonly turns out to be—an argument about something that happened twenty years ago, or some kind of guilt trip that someone tries to place on someone, or a series of power plays put on by the Queen Bee that stirs up a sour spirit for the rest of the Thanksgiving day and weekend. No, a thousand times NO! Thanksgiving does not have to be that way and should not be that way. In my humble opinion, family members, mothers included, ought to be barred from the next Thanksgiving holiday celebration if they cause a stink during Thanksgiving and if they do not get it right. Be that as it may, Thanksgiving ought to be a happy experience from beginning to end, and God ought to be the center of it all.

When in that Thanksgiving state of mind, I also think about others.

No matter what you may think about ol’Hosea Williams from Atlanta, the former civil rights worker under Martin Luther King, Jr., he was faithful to feeding more people than you and I will feed in ten life times, each Thanksgiving. He cared about the poor and down and out during the Thanksgiving holiday, and we ought to be concerned about the less fortunate as well. As you will find later in this book, I 21

believe that each of us ought to help somebody less fortunate than ourselves, either here in America or in some foreign land, during the Thanksgiving holiday week.

Also, when I am in that Thanksgiving state of mind, I also think of the dying of another year—a year that we had never seen before and a year that we shall never see again. During Thanksgiving week, I reflect on my accomplishments and even on my failures of the past year. I normally do not set any major goals for the next five weeks or so of the dying year. Thanksgiving is the week the life support system for the dying year is cut off, and we humbly and joyfully coast to the colossal holiday we call Christmas; and then a few days after that on to the exciting holiday and new beginning of New Years Day. This entire period of ease between Thanksgiving and New Years is given by God, I believe, for relaxation and reflection and for giving thanks. I believe this period that begins at Thanksgiving is God’s way of saying, “See, I really don’t need your help. All that you were anxious about at the beginning of the year has all come to pass. I provided for you and brought you through. I love you, but I don’t need your help. All I desire is just your obedience, your praise and your thanksgiving.”

With that said, I am reminded of a poster I saw in an insurance office. It read: Good morning. I am God. I will be handling all of your problems today.

And I won’t be needing your help, So relax and enjoy your day.

—God Friend of mine, don’t fight the relaxed atmosphere and feeling that you get during this time. Enjoy it! For after January 1, the fight resumes and you will have plenty to do.

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Finally, when I am in that Thanksgiving state of mind, my spirit and my soul are overwhelmed by gratitude and thanksgiving to my God Who has “brought me from a mighty long way.” I can say with my dad, “God has smiled on me.” In spite of my failures and faults, God, in his love and mercy, has blessed me still and is still blessing me. God is a good God. God is a merciful God. God is a forgiving God. God is a delivering God and He deserves all of our praise and thanks. Let us not only do it on the fourth Thursday of the month of November, but each day of the year, let us be in a Thanksgiving state of mind.

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A TIMELINE OF THANKSGIVING

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Early Times to Present-Day Traditions Before the Pilgrims arrived in America, American Indians had many of their own traditions of giving thanks, especially the Seneca Indian Liturgy of Thanksgiving.

1621 This is the year that is most famous for the first Pilgrim feast, which was held near Plymouth, Massachusetts, in celebration of the Pilgrims’ first successful harvest. To the early Pilgrims, Thanksgiving was not just a time to eat, but also a time to pray and give thanks to God. Nevertheless, the 1621 feast has become a model for the Thanksgiving celebration in the United States of America.

1630 This year was recorded as the year of the first Thanksgiving in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. This feast was celebrated to honor the voyage of John Winthrop’s ships from England. Because the passage was difficult and stormy, Governor Winthrop declared a day of Thanksgiving for the ships’ safe arrival. Governor Winthrop said, “We kept a daye of thanksgiving in all the plantations.”

1775 A full year before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, a prayer proclamation was written to ask that the entire North American continent set aside a day of fasting and prayer. The proclamation had an amazing impact, uniting the American people in spirit.

1776 On the day set forth by Congress as a day of Thanksgiving, George Washington and his troops, moving close to Valley Forge, deliberately

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stopped, despite the open fields they were in and the bitter weather they were facing, to celebrate the first Thanksgiving. As one early surgeon so eloquently put it, “Mankind is never truly thankful for the benefits of life, until they have experienced the want of them.”

1795 President George Washington gives the first Thanksgiving proclamation.

1863 Until our country was faced with the Civil War did people again begin to consider the importance of a National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving. In 1863, Abraham Lincoln declared: “We have been recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven...we have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown, but we have forgotten God.” During some of the most tragic years our country has ever faced, Lincoln restored the neglected presidential proclamations. Since Lincoln’s speech, every President has issued a Thanksgiving proclamation.

1926 Macy’s Department Store sponsored the first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Since balloons weren’t introduced until 1927, this first parade consisted of employees in costumes, floats, bands, and live animals borrowed from the Central Park Zoo in New York.

1975 In honor of the two hundredth anniversary of a National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving, President Gerald R. Ford was presented with the book, America Prays Together, the first collection containing two hundred years of National Prayer and Thanksgiving Proclamations.

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A LIGHT HISTORY OF THANKSGIVING

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A LIGHT HISTORY OF THANKSGIVING Harvest Festivals have been an important part of world history for thousands of years throughout the world. On these days people gathered for a large feast after they harvested a good crop. They also set aside days to thank their gods for their blessings or for helping them through hard times.

The Greeks and Romans both honored their goddess—Demeter and Ceres, respectively, with their harvest gifts.

There was also the Feast of Booths celebrated by the Jews, who were called Hebrews. At harvest time the Hebrews built little booths from branches and leaves of trees. In them, they placed fruits and vegetables from their fields. They gave thanks to God for their crops.

Christians in Europe said prayers to bless the planting and reaping of the harvest. They believed that God watched over the seeds in the earth. At harvest time the farmers decorated themselves with ribbons and flowers. They sang as they walked home beside their wagons full of grain.

The first Thanksgiving drew on these traditions. The first few years after the Pilgrims landed in America they encountered a lot of hardships. Included in those hardships was not getting enough food from the ground. Thank God, that through the help of the Indians, they were able to farm the land to produce food from which to survive.

The Pilgrims and the Indians signed a treaty not to harm each other.

This treaty was kept for 54 years. That summer of the signing of the treaty, the Pilgrims worked hard and by autumn there was plenty of food. How thankful they were. They decided to invite the Indians to a Thanksgiving feast. Ninety Indians came. The Pilgrims did not have

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enough food. The Indian leader, Massasoit, sent some of his men into the forest. They returned with five deer. The oldest Pilgrim said a prayer of thanks.

Everyone sat down to eat turkey, lobster, goose, deer meat, onions, pumpkin, corn bread, and berries. The feast lasted for three days.

There was singing and games. The Pilgrims as well as the Indians had contests against each other to show off their shooting skills as well as their showmanship with the bow and arrow.

As more colonies were settled in America, each named days of Thanksgiving when they wanted to. In October of 1777, the first American government called the Continental Congress, declared the first national Thanksgiving, which meant all 13 colonies celebrated it. It proclaimed yearly Thanksgiving days until 1783.

President George Washington proclaimed November 26, 1789, as Thanksgiving Day. This was the first presidential proclamation in the United States, but Thanksgiving was still not a yearly event.

Washington declared another one in 1795. President James Madison declared two in 1815. By 1860, Thanksgiving was celebrated in all but two states. In 1863, however, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving.

During the time of Lincoln, and even before he was voted into office, a writer and editor, Sarah J. Hale, thought all states should celebrate Thanksgiving on the same day every year. For more than twenty years, she wrote articles and letters, urging the presidents to make Thanksgiving a national holiday. She thought a national holiday would bring the country back together. (The Civil War was in progress at that time—1861-1865). Because of her efforts, in 1941, the fourth Thursday in November was designated the Thanksgiving holiday for all the states to celebrate.

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Today, Thanksgiving is celebrated around a large feasting table. In the center may be a cornucopia—a horn-shaped basket filled with grapes, nuts, and other fruit. Most families eat the turkey as their main dish.

Corn has become a common symbol of Thanksgiving. People hang ears of corn on their doorway or lay it on the table as a centerpiece.

The Indians showed the Pilgrims how to plant it. They heaped dirt into little hills. Then they planted three or four kernels of corn and some fish into each hill. The fish were food for the corn to help it grow. The Pilgrims dried the corn for corn meal which was used for cornbread and corn mush.

Parades have become a popular Thanksgiving tradition. For more than 70 years, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has marched through the streets of New York City. Millions of people watch it on television.

Sports is also a major part of the Thanksgiving holiday season just as it was on the first Thanksgiving. Fall is football season. Some play football in their backyards while others watch it on their televisions.

Thanksgiving is also a time to help people. Many people volunteer at local shelters to serve meals to the hungry.

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A RECIPE FROM THE PILGRIM DAYS NASUMP 1 quart water 1 ½ cup coarse grits or hominy OPTIONS: 1 cup clam broth and ½ cup chopped green onions or 1 cup fresh strawberries, raspberries or blueberries Bring water to a boil in a large pot. Gradually add hominy, stirring until it comes to a boil. Turn down heat to low and cook very gently for 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from the heat and allow to stand one half hour to one hour. Before serving reheat over medium heat, stirring. (If you are adding clam broth and green onions or fruit, do so at this point.) The dish can also be reheated in a covered, buttered baking dish in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes.

You may need to add a bit more water.

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75 THINGS TO DO FOR THANKSGIVING

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75 THINGS TO DO FOR THANKSGIVING 1. Stay home.

2. Work at a homeless shelter mission.

3. Get up late.

4. Serve others.

5. Go jogging.

6. Go outside, stand in the cold, and thank God for His blessings.

7. Go to church.

8. Tell someone about Jesus Christ.

9. Eat jello instead of cranberry sauce.

10. Visit family—for a little while.

11. Go on a cruise.

12. Give $100.00 to the orphans in the Darfur Region of Africa through World Vision.

13. Get a hotel suite at the Hilton.

14. Spend Thanksgiving on the beach.

15. Listen to music.

16. Go out in the woods, enjoy nature and throw rocks at trees.

17. Wish your enemy a “happy Thanksgiving.”

18. Make hot chocolate instead of coffee on Thanksgiving morning.

19. Find a homeless person and bring him or her home with you.

20. Go walking and greet every person you see.

21. For Thanksgiving morning eat biscuits and gravy.

22. Enjoy an intimate moment with your mate.

23. Tell each person in your family, “I love you. I really do.”

24. Fast on Thanksgiving Day. 25. Skip breakfast.

26. Send an E-mail to your best friend.

27. Write the first chapter of that book you’ve always wanted to write.

28. Eat breakfast at I-HOP or McDonald’s.

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29. Eat Chinese food and give God thanks.

30. Leave the Internet alone for today.

31. Get up early.

32. Have a candy hunt.

33. Organize the house on Thanksgiving Day. 34. Eat at a shelter for the homeless and spend the night there.

35. Go to the park.

36. Find something to be thankful for.

37. Light up the fireplace.

38. Roast marsh-mellows.

39. Eat turkey for breakfast.

40. Keep tradition, and make sure Thanksgiving dinner is late.

41. Have an early Christmas, and exchange gifts on Thanksgiving Day. 42. Cook Thanksgiving dinner for your neighbor on Thanksgiving Eve. 43. Break tradition.

44. Read the Christmas story to your children.

45. Play tag football with your family and your neighbor’s family.

46. Start a tradition.

47. Cook for that cantankerous, mean, old lady next door.

48. Eat Thanksgiving dinner in the living room instead of in the dining room.

49. Even though your child has not called you, or visited you, call him or her.

50. Write a letter of encouragement to the President.

51. Write a Thanksgiving poem.

52. Cut your neighbor’s lawn before 8:00 in the morning.

53. Shovel your neighbor’s snow out of his or her driveway before 8:00 in the morning (providing you have snow).

54. Call your boss and wish him or her a Happy Thanksgiving, while asking him or her for a raise.

55. Make sure the ducks in the pond have Thanksgiving dinner.

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56. Take your sons fishing while the women and girls stay home and cook dinner.

57. Visit someone in jail and eat Thanksgiving dinner with him or her.

58. Play basketball.

59. Play football.

60. Play a board game with your kids.

61. Play tennis.

62. Go to the office and act like you are doing something.

63. Go to a ski lodge and spend the holiday season there.

64. Daddy, play house with your daughter and sip imaginary tea.

65. Go camping and have Thanksgiving in a log cabin.

66. Spend Thanksgiving in a foreign country.

67. Go ice-skating.

68. Spend time with your children. Really spend time with your children.

69. Invite your enemies over for Thanksgiving dinner.

70. Send food to the Sudan.

71. Have a cheerful attitude and spirit.

72. Pray seven times on Thanksgiving Day. 73. Pray morning, noon and night.

74. Do not fuss about anything.

75. Get ready for the after-Thanksgiving Day sale that starts at 6:00 a.m.

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THANKSGIVING

TRADITIONS

AROUND THE WORLD

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CANADA Celebrated on the second Monday in October, observance of a Canadian Thanksgiving officially began in 1879. Like the American Thanksgiving, it has its roots in many years of European tradition.

Most Canadians will agree that while an Englishman named Martin Frobisher had a great deal of influence on today’s Thanksgiving, the holiday is based on the traditions of many different events. It is said that the Canadian Thanksgiving was actually derived from a combination of two events in history: Around 1578, English Navigator, Martin Frobisher, initiated what is probably the first event that wove its way into current Canadian Thanksgiving tradition. Frobisher was an English explorer who founded the colony that we know today as Newfoundland. On the occasion of his arrival there, he gave a feast to give thanks for a safe journey. Later, many other settlers followed in his footsteps.

The second event to define Canadian Thanksgiving, ironically, had something to do with Canada’s neighbor to the south, the United States. In 1621 the Pilgrims celebrated a successful harvest in the New World, and in the 1750’s American settlers brought this tradition to Nova Scotia—a province of Canada.

During the American Revolution, many Loyalists—people who remained loyal to the English King—went to Canada, bringing the tradition of Thanksgiving with them.

In 1879, the Canadian Parliament declared November the 6th as a national holiday and a day of Thanksgiving. Over the years, however, the date changed several times until on January 31, 1957, the Canadian Parliament proclaimed that the “Second Monday in October be a Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God

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for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed.”

A traditional Canadian Thanksgiving meal typically includes home baked bread, apple pie, cranberry sauce, turkey, vegetables, mashed potatoes, squash and stuffing.

CHINA AUGUST MOON FESTIVAL Chung Ch’ui or the August Moon Festival is one of the most celebrated Chinese holidays. It started with the ancient Chinese people and it continues today. The festival falls on the 15th day of August and is for the celebration of a bountiful harvest; but Chung Ch’ui is also considered the birthday of the moon. In honor of this special day the Chinese make “moon cakes”—round, yellow cakes that are made to look like the moon. As a way to say thank you, the Chinese send moon cakes to one another.

In addition to celebrating the moon and a good harvest, Chung Ch’ui is a way to celebrate the gift of freedom. Legend says many years ago that many different armies were conquering China. The invaders were quickly taking over Chinese homes and land. Homeless and starving, the Chinese felt that they could do very little to protect themselves until an organization of citizens came up with a plan.

To get the message across to all of the Chinese people that it was time to stand together and fight their invaders, Chinese women baked moon cakes and distributed them to every house in each community.

Baked inside each cake was a message that told the time and the place they would gather together and fight their enemies. Thanks to that very special moon cake, and the very brave women who made them, China’s invaders were easily overthrown and defeated. It is a special day that the Chinese still celebrate.

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Besides moon cakes, Chinese families celebrate their Thanksgiving with roasted pig and fruits from their crops. (Tradition says that during the 3-day festival, flowers fall from the moon and those who see them will be rewarded with good luck.)

EGYPT MIN FESTIVALS Thanksgiving for the Ancient Egyptians was a celebration in honor of Min, the god of fertility and chief of the heavens. In addition, Min was seen as a rain god or someone who promoted the fertility of plants and especially the growing of grain.

Unlike many other festivals, the Min Festivals were usually held in the spring. Instead of a Thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest, the Egyptians celebrated the beginning of the planting season. The celebration usually included the ruling Pharaoh in a parade. The Pharaoh also presided over the celebratory feast as well. Much like Thanksgiving in the United States, the Egyptians weaved music, sports, and dancing into their celebration.

GREECE THESMOPHORIA This Grecian holiday was celebrated in the lunar month Pyanopsion.

Thanksgiving in Ancient Greece was a celebration in honor of the goddess of grain, Demeter. Although Pyanopsion has no meaning to us today, it probably was in October. While little is known about the events that went on during the festival, historians have discovered many of the celebrations and practices that the Greeks participated in.

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It is thought that the harvest centers around Demeter’s mourning over the abduction of her daughter, Persephone, by Hades or Death during which time she refused to eat or feed the world until the conflict was resolved. Once Persephone was returned to her she supposedly gave man the gift of agriculture.

In honor of this, and to ask Demeter to give them a plenteous harvest, married Greek women would set out on a 3-day celebration: The first day was called the ascent or Anodos. On this day, the women would set up camp in the hillside sanctuary of Demeter, Themophoros. They would sleep in two-person, leafy shelters.

The second day of the festival was called Nesteria or the feast. On this day, the women feasted and insulted each other. They did this because they thought that was what Demeter did when she lost her daughter, Persephone.

The last day of the festival was called Kalligeneia or the Fair Offspring.

This day was spent giving offerings to Demeter in honor of her torchlight search for Persephone. On this night the women descended down from the festival in a torchlight ceremony.

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75 WEIGHTY THINGS TO BE THANKFUL FOR

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75 WEIGHTY THINGS TO BE THANKFUL FOR There are many other things that we could have included, but this is designed to help get you started.

Several people contributed to this list.

1. I thank God for His mercy and grace.

2. I thank God for Jesus Christ.

3. I thank God for letting His Son, Jesus Christ, die on the cross for our sins and for His resurrection.

4. I thank God for spiritual leadership.

5. I thank God for my family.

6. I thank God for showing me favor in spite of myself.

7. I thank God for His chastening hand. I really do.

8. I thank God that Somebody cares for me.

9. I thank God for coming through.

10. I thank God for His goodness.

11. I thank God for the gift of His Holy Spirit.

12. I thank God for a place to call home.

13. I thank God angels are watching over me.

14. I thank God for good transportation.

15. I thank God for my pastor.

16. I thank God for my church.

17. I thank God that truth matters.

18. I thank God for good teachers and good schools.

19. I thank God for healthy children.

20. I thank God for great secretaries.

21. I thank God for ministry opportunities.

22. I thank God for leading me to confession and repentance.

23. I thank God for parents who make me go to church.

24. I thank God for the privilege of prayer.

25. I thank God He loves us in spite of...

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26. I thank God for clothes to wear.

27. I thank God for uplifting music.

28. I thank God for food to eat the other 364 days of the year.

29. I thank God for never letting us down.

30. I thank God for mothers and fathers who love their children no matter what.

31. I thank God for the peace that comes with the fall season.

32. I thank God for the smile of a baby while he is sleeping.

33. I thank God for the rising sun and the going down of the same.

34. I thank God for the laughter of children.

35. I thank God for the Internet.

36. I thank God for saving me from Hell.

37. I thank God for the Bible—God’s Word.

38. I thank God that He is a forgiving and loving God and that He will save anyone who will receive Him. 39. I thank God for dreams and visions.

40. I thank God for life, health and strength.

41. I thank God for the joy of laughter.

42. I thank God for warm, running water.

43. I thank God that I am an American.

44. I thank God for all people.

45. I just thank God. 46. I thank God that everybody is not the same.

47. I thank God for the men and women in the United States military.

48. I thank God for people who encourage you.

49. I thank God for my job.

50. I thank God for putting me in the ministry.

51. I thank God for missionaries.

52. I thank God for education.

53. I thank God for the privilege to witness for Jesus Christ.

54. I thank God that help is on the way.

55. I thank God for cool air.

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56. I thank God for helping me to do that one thing that I really did not feel like doing but needed to do.

57. I thank God for electricity, gas and water.

58. I thank God for the rain.

59. I thank God for a peaceful home.

60. I thank God for a father who puts his foot down in the house.

61. I thank God for parents who still believe in using the rod of correction.

62. I thank God for angels in disguise.

63. I thank God for a humble spirit.

64. I thank God that He is able to make a way out of no way.

65. I thank God that He is a lawyer in the courtroom.

66. I thank God that He is my burden-bearer.

67. I thank God for police officers.

68. I thank God for being able to live in a free nation.

69. I thank God that He is a doctor in the operating room.

70. I thank God for delivering us from trouble.

71. I thank God for a peaceful night of rest and sleep.

72. I thank God for patient people.

73. I thank God for second chances.

74. I thank God for the power of prayer.

75. I thank God for the assurance of living in Heaven for eternity.

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7

REASONS WHY I THANK GOD FOR JESUS CHRIST “THANKS BE TO GOD FOR HIS UNSPEAKABLE GIFT.” —II Corinthians 9:15

by Daniel Whyte III

I have a lot to be thankful for. God has truly blessed me. Again, I can say with my Dad, “God has smiled on me.” The Lord has shown me great favor and mercy down through the years, and not only me, but my entire family, and everyone living today. If you are alive, you have a lot for which to be thankful. I have the blessings of health and strength. I have the blessing of many beautiful and healthy children. I have the blessing of a beautiful wife and a son and daughter born on my birthday. I enjoy the blessings of good food to eat, clothes to wear and a place to stay. Since I first preached this devotional message, in a small church, in a little city called Apalachicola, Florida, nearly twenty years ago, I have been serving the Lord full-time, and God has taken care of me, my wife and our seven children by faith in Him. God has been good to me and it has been a joy serving Him. However, the person I thank God the most for is His Holy Son, Jesus Christ. Here is why: First, I thank God for Jesus Christ because He gave His Life that I might have Eternal Life.

He died so that I could have eternal life. He gave His life so that I could have life more abundantly. I thank God for the “blood that shall never lose its power.” Notice what the Bible says: “Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of 53

the LORD revealed? For He shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground: He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”

—Isaiah 53:1-6 Jesus Christ took my sin and shame upon Himself and allowed Himself to be crucified so that I could go free. I thank God for Jesus Christ!

Second, I thank God for Jesus Christ because He keeps me

by His grace.

Because of the keeping power of Jesus Christ, through His grace, my salvation is secure.

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. My Father which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.”

—John 10:27-30

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I thank God for the comforting security that we have in Christ Jesus, our Lord, through the grace of God. In the words of the preacher of preachers, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, “It is all of grace.”

Third, Jesus Christ also keeps us from falling.

“Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.”

—Jude 24 Praise God, He has the power to keep us from falling. If we fall, it is because we allow ourselves to. The Lord is able to keep us from falling.

Fourth, I thank God for Jesus Christ because, in His grace, mercy and love, He is still working on me.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is a gift of God: Not of works lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

—Ephesians 2: 8-10 There was a popular song, years ago, entitled: “Don’t Judge Me Yet, God is Still Working On Me.” Thank God He is still working on me by the power of His Holy Spirit and through His Word; and thank God He is still working on you as well.

Fifth, I thank God for Jesus Christ because He is constantly interceding for me.

“Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that 55

come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.”

—Hebrews 7:25 “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”

—I John 2:1 It’s a wonderful feeling to have anyone praying for you, but it’s a special blessing to know that the Lord Himself is praying for you.

Sixth, I thank God for Jesus Christ because He said He will never leave me nor forsake me.

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

—Hebrews 13:5 Friends will forsake you, family will forsake you, but, thank God, Jesus Christ will never leave you nor forsake you.

Finally, I thank God for Jesus Christ because He has promised to come back to get me and all who believe in Him, and He will gather us unto Himself into glory.

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God believe also in Me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

—John 14:1-3 56

Are we not living in perilous times? Doesn’t it appear that we are living in the last days? I don’t know about you, but I am so glad the Lord is coming back soon to get us out of this mess.

My question to you, dear friend, is, Are you going back with Him? Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour? Do you thank God for Jesus Christ because He died on the cross for your sins?

Do you believe in Him? Do you trust Him? Do you depend upon Him to save you from Hell? If not, why not trust Him today?

God’s Word says: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”

—Acts 16:31 Pray and ask Jesus Christ to save you today, and you, too, will thank God for Jesus Christ.

“Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.”

—2 Corinthians 9:15

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75 LIGHTER THINGS TO THANK GOD FOR

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75 LIGHTER THINGS TO THANK GOD FOR The Bible says: “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.”

—Proverbs 17:22 We believe that God is for His human creatures having a sense of humor. We believe that you will find the following list both true and amusing. These offerings of thanks were expressed by several persons. Their names have not been disclosed to protect the innocent and the guilty.

1. I thank God for finding money under the car seat right when I need it most.

2. I thank God for caller ID. 3. I thank God for my automatic garage door.

4. I thank God for store coupons.

5. I thank God for finding the car keys in the car ignition after searching inside the house for 2 hours.

6. I thank God for the coffee maker, toaster and waffle-maker.

7. I thank God for a friend with good credit.

8. I thank God for the car breaking down—at the house.

9. I thank God for the food that’s not good for you, but good to you.

10. I thank God for finding the remote control right beside me after having a 15 minute heated discussion with my wife about her lack of organization.

11. I thank God for driving on “E” for miles, yet not running out of gas.

12. I thank God for “instant meals.”

13. I thank God for the slow cooker.

14. I thank God for being in the right place at the right time.

15. I thank God there was another car between the police and me.

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16. I thank God you can always squeeze more toothpaste out of an “empty” toothpaste tube.

17. I thank God for driving behind the police car.

18. I thank God for good excuses.

19. I thank God I can return that ugly Christmas gift.

20. I thank God for those comfortable, but ugly clothes we “put on around the house.”

21. I thank God for the person who makes your sub sandwich perfect every time.

22. I thank God for breath mints and Listerine.

23. I thank God for real, good Chinese food restaurants.

24. I thank God for my unique beauty.

25. I thank God for food stamps.

26. I thank God that I’m not in jail—yet.

27. I thank God for cornrows.

28. I thank God for escaping from the boyfriend from hell.

29. I thank God for escaping from the girlfriend from hell.

30. I thank God for holidays, so that I can take a break from my dieting.

31. I thank God for the dollar menu at any restaurant.

32. I thank God for the reclining chair.

33. I thank God for chocolate.

34. I thank God for erasable crayons.

35. I thank God for not having long distance on my phone and for pre-paid phone cards.

36. I thank God for secured credit cards.

37. I thank God for the friend who says, “The meal is on me.”

38. I thank God for bloopers.

39. I thank God for the friend who says, “Get what you want. I’ll pay for it.”

40. I thank God for hand-me-downs and yard sales.

41. I thank God for Family Dollar stores, Dollar General stores and Wal-Mart.

42. I thank God for cordless phones.

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43. I thank God for the 89-cent, 3-liter sodas that taste great.

44. I thank God for microwave ovens.

45. I thank God I saved those Burger King napkins.

46. I thank God for hot water being left after everyone in the house takes a shower.

47. I thank God for home sweet home.

48. I thank God for the grace periods that creditors give you.

49. I thank God for the words “Check enclosed.”

50. I thank God for giving me a mind to set all of my clocks 10 minutes fast, otherwise I would be out of a job right now.

51. I thank God for sweets.

52. I thank God for children who tell you the truth the first time.

53. I thank God for leftovers.

54. I thank God for Ramen Noodles.

55. I thank God I remembered to cut the radio off when the pastor’s car pulled up in the driveway.

56. I thank God for bathroom spray.

57. I thank God I remembered to hit the save button after I finished typing on the computer.

58. I thank God for taxi cabs.

59. I thank God for the penny jar.

60. I thank God for safety pins.

61. I thank God for the snooze button.

62. I thank God for lotion and Vaseline.

63. I thank God for the “day after Thanksgiving” sale.

64. I thank God for directory assistance.

65. I thank God for junk food.

66. I thank God for mirrors so people can see what they look like before they leave the house.

62 67. I thank God for potty training being completed.

68. I thank God for fast food.

69. I thank God for reminding me to cut the stove off.

70. I thank God for grocery stores because many of us would starve 63

trying to grow our own food.

71. I thank God for the Chinese people who seem to make everything.

72. I thank God someone remembered to put the dog out.

73. I thank God for sliced bread.

74. I thank God for the food we find in the house when we think and say we don’t have any food in the house.

75. I thank God for a full belly.

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A FOREIGNER REFLECTS ON THE AMERICAN THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY

by Mrs. Meriqua Whyte Do colorful festivals, great music, delicious and spicy food, and people dressed to party sound exciting to you? If it does, then put on your costume and follow me to the Easter Regatta, or Kite Festival. Or better yet, we might just end up at the Jamaica Jazz Festival. Festivals in Jamaica run throughout the year. Even Christmas time is a festival time. People congregate in the streets in colorful costumes, parading the streets from early morning until late in the evening. Often times, this is followed by eating curry goat, jerk pork, jerk chicken, oxtails, and fried fish—all eaten with rice and peas.

There may be sno-cones for the children, if the day is hot. Yum. Yum. Feeling tyad yet? Dis a good tyadness, mon. See ya next year.

All this singing and dancing and music is quite a contrast to the peaceful day of Thanksgiving in the United States.

Thanksgiving Day has taken on more meaning now that God has blessed me with a family of my own. Before then, it was simply a time to come together with some friends and family—really just to eat an extra big meal, put on weight, then struggle to get it off over the next few days, or maybe over the next few weeks.

For my family, it is a very relaxing time, which lasts from a day or two before the actual day of Thanksgiving, up until the New Year.

We push it hard all year, looking forward to this relaxing mini-vacation time. It is a time of celebration for the things we accomplished throughout the year, for God’s glory. It is also a time of planning and goal-setting for the up-coming year. We try to keep the Thanksgiving 65

spirit alive in our home and hearts, by offering up daily prayers of thanks to God throughout the year, and not just on Thanksgiving Day. My husband has led our family to start our own Thanksgiving tradition with his Famous Royal Bacon-Wrapped Turkey being the centerpiece. Talk about something good! We gather around the dinner table and we each say one thing for which we are thankful.

My husband then would lead us in a prayer of thanks unto God, after which we would dig in.

Let’s make Thanksgiving not just a once a year occasion, but a 365 day a year commitment, thanking God each day for at least one thing.

May God bless you on Thanksgiving Day and throughout your life.

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53 THANKSGIVING

VERSES FROM THE HOLY BIBLE

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53 THANKSGIVING VERSES FROM THE HOLY BIBLE 1. “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him and bless His name.”

—Psalm 100:4 2. “O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon His name: make known His deeds among the people.”

—Psalm 105:1 3. “Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vow unto the Most High.”

—Psalm 50:14 4. “Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever.”

—Psalm 106:1 5. “Rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”

—Colossians 2:7 6. “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

—I Thessalonians 5:18 7. “And He took the cup and gave thanks, and gave it unto them, saying, Drink ye all of it.”

—Matthew 26:27 8. “Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up His eyes, and said, Father,

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I thank thee that thou hast heard Me.” —John 11:41 9. “And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to Him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever.”

—Revelation 4:9 10. “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry.”

—I Timothy 1:12 11. “I will sing unto the Lord because He hath dealt bountifully with me.”

—Psalm 13:6 12. “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.”

—Romans 1:8 13. “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.” —Colossians 3:17 14. “By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name.”

—Hebrews 13:15 15. “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

—Ephesians 5:20 16. “Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift 70

bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.”

—II Corinthians 1:11 17. “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.”

—Daniel 6:10 18. “I will give Thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise Thee among much people.”

—Psalm 35:18 19. “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers.”

—I Thessalonians 1:2 20. “And Jesus took the loaves; and when He had given thanks, He distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and like wise of the fishes as much as they would.”

—John 6:11 21. “And when He had thus spoken, He took bread, and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all: and when He had broken it, He began to eat.”

—Acts 27:35 22. “Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers.”

—Ephesians 1:15-16 71

23. “Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness.”

—Psalm 30:4 24. “Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness.”

—Psalm 97:12 25. “O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy endureth for ever.”

—Psalm 107:1 26. “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.”

—II Corinthians 9:15 27. “Saying, We give Thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art, to come: because Thou hast taken to Thee thy great power, and hast reigned.”

—Revelation 11:17 28. “For this cause also, thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.”

—I Thessalonians 2:13 29. “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.”

—Romans 7:25 30. “But thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

—I Corinthians 15:57 72

31. “I thank Thee, and praise Thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of Thee; for Thou hast now made known unto us the king’s matter.”

—Daniel 2:23 32. “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of His knowledge by us in every place.”

—II Corinthians 2:14 33. “But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.”

—Romans 6:17 34. “And fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.”

—Luke 17:16 35. “We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth.”

—II Thessalonians 1:3 36. “I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ.”

—I Corinthians 1:4 37. “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.”

—Philippians 1:3 38. “We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus 73

Christ, praying always for you.”

—Colossians 1:3 39. “But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.”

—II Corinthians 8:16 40. “Unto Thee O God, do we give thanks, unto Thee do we give thanks: for that Thy name is near Thy wondrous works declare.”

—Psalm 75:1 41. “Now therefore, our God, we thank Thee, and praise Thy glorious name.”

—II Chronicles 29:13 42. “He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.”

—Romans 14:6 43. “For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving.”

—I Timothy 4:4 44. “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks, be made for all men.”

—I Timothy 2:1 45. “Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.” —II Corinthians 9:11 74

46. “I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day.”

—II Timothy 1:3 47. “I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers.”

—Philemon 1:4 48. “Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” —Philippians 4:6 49. “Continue in prayer and watch in the same with thanksgiving.”

—Colossians 4:2 50. “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto Thy name, O Most High.”

—Psalm 92:1 51. “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.”

—Colossians 3:15 52. “And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of Him to all them who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.”

—Luke 2:38 53. “I will offer to Thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord.”

—Psalm 116:17 75

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107 FAMOUS QUOTATIONS ON THANKSGIVING

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107 FAMOUS QUOTATIONS ON THANKSGIVING

1. “I was just looking for a warm meal somewhere. Thanks for inviting me to dinner.”

—President George W. Bush, on turning up in Iraq and surprising the troops on Thanksgiving day.

2. “Remember that not to be happy is not to be grateful.”

—Elizabeth Carter 3. "When the Christian praises and gives thanks to God, this not only pleases God, but it enriches the Christian’s life with joy. It is a reciprocating transaction between God and man."

—Rick Warren 4. “‘He that eateth, eateth to the Lord; for he giveth God thanks,’ Romans 14:6. It is the custom of many Christians to bow their heads in public places and give thanks for the food that has been placed before them. I have had scores of waiters and waitresses tell me that when we bowed our heads, it was the first time they had ever seen that happen in their restaurant. Millions never pause to give a word of thanks to God for the beginning of the meal, or at any time of the day. Even at Thanksgiving time, only a minority will pause and give thanks to God. Thanksgiving is a recognition of a debt that cannot be paid. We express thanks, whether or not we are able otherwise to reimburse the giver. When thanksgiving is filled with true meaning and is not just the formality of a polite “thank you,” it is the recognition of dependence. ‘Lord God, I know that I am completely dependent on You. Thank you for daily providing all that my body needs.’”

—Billy Graham

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5. “Happiness is impossible without gratitude.”

—Dennis Prager 6. “Gratitude is our attitude.”

—Slogan, Thanksgiving Square Dallas, TX 7. “On this Thanksgiving, as we spend time with our family and friends, let's all reflect on what we're thankful for in our own lives. And let's remember those who cannot be with their loved ones because they're serving overseas. But let's also do our part to help those who have no place to go for a meal. I encourage all Americans to do what they can to help those in need—because the best way to show our gratitude for what we have is by doing our part for those who have less.”

—Senator Barack Obama 8. “When our perils are past, shall our gratitude sleep? No, here’s to the pilot that weathered the storm.”

—George Canning 9. “A one-eyed man does not thank God until he sees a totally blind man.”

—African Proverb 10. “Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty I’m free at last!”

—Martin Luther King, Jr. 11. “This Thanksgiving, Americans are especially thankful for our freedom, and we are especially thankful to you, those who keep us free.”

—President George W. Bush 12. “Like humility, the giving of thanks doesn’t always come naturally.

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Sometimes we have to pinch ourselves and be reminded to be thankful. We have to be mindful of our expressions of gratitude, just as we have to be mindful of the observance of Thanksgiving Day. We have to make an effort to stay grounded in gratitude so that the swirl of Christmas preparations will not pick us up and carry us away! I even know people who will not think of beginning to decorate for Christmas before Thanksgiving because they are so determined that they and their loved ones are going to stop on that day and at the very least, breathe a grateful prayer.

Because life can be difficult for all of us at times, you may be weathering your own personal storms right now. Perhaps there is trouble in your family, or maybe you are in such internal conflict that the turmoil is churning within your very soul. Can I tell you something that will help you? Praise through the pain. Determine that you will not be silent and that there is no circumstance on earth mighty enough to keep you from praising your Heavenly Father. If you struggle at first, look for the small, everyday blessings. You may even need to start by being thankful that you are alive and well enough to face your problem!

There is a certain kind of strength that comes from praising God, and there is a more vigorous strength that comes from praising Him when your life is not running as smoothly as you would like. I believe our ability to thank Him and to praise Him corresponds to the depth of our intimacy with Him and our loving trust in Him. When we speak of ‘the holiday season,’ we are really talking about that period of five weeks or so that begins with Thanksgiving Day and ends on New Year’s. As we move from late November into December and then on to January 1, we quickly lose our grateful focus on the goodness of the Lord and, instead, begin to concentrate on everything from filling stockings to buying a new calendar. I think the holiday schedule is really brilliant, though, because it starts off with the right emphasis: a thankful heart.

I believe we need to begin to stay thankful, not just through 81

the holiday season, but all year long. Yes, we need to live in a constant state of Thanksgiving. Honestly, thanksgiving should become a way of life and not just a code word for the year’s best meal. Let’s decide now that Thanksgiving will no longer be simply a prelude to Christmas, but a continuation of our loving appreciation of God’s goodness to us. As I think about this holiday season, I’ve realized that perhaps the key to a really great Christmas is a never ending Thanksgiving. And that’s what I wish for you.”

—Bishop T. D. Jakes 13. “I've been an imperfect servant of my country for many years.

But I have been her servant first, last and always. And I've never lived a day, in good times or bad, that I didn't thank God for the privilege.”

—Senator John McCain 14. “For this relief, much thanks.”

—Shakespeare 15. “A sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving is a sacrifice of good deeds and charity.”

—Pastor Dwight McKissic 16. “Lord for the erring thought Not into evil wrought; Lord, for the wicked will Betrayed and baffled still; For the heart from self kept, Our thanksgiving accept.”

—William Dean Howells 17. “Possessions gained by the sword are not lasting; gratitude for benefits is eternal.”

—Quintus Curtius Rufus 82

18. “Nothing is more honorable than a grateful heart.”

—Shakespeare 19. “It is strange men cannot praise the bridge they go over, or be thankful for favours they have had.”

—Roger North 20. “Thanksgiving is good, but ‘thanksliving’ is better.”

—Selected 21. “One of the tragedies today is that we don’t have enough Christians who know how to give thanks for what they already have. Jesus gave thanks for two reasons: He had something and He was anticipating more. Did Jesus need more than five loaves and two fish to feed five thousand men, plus women and children?

Of course He did. But He knew what Paul later told us. Don’t come to God with anxiety, but come with thanksgiving to let your need be known (Philippians 4:6). Don’t come to God without saying thanks first.

So Jesus broke the loaves and fish, and there was so much food that everyone on the premises ate until he was stuffed. The writer lets us know that this was not some little thing where everyone got a nibble or a crumb. So that there would be no doubt or confusion, he said that the people ate until they couldn’t hold another bite.

See, when we’re talking about our circumstances, we have to get away from worrying about the sardines and crackers we have. Otherwise, all you’ll see is what’s at the bottom of your little lunch box.

So Jesus did the job with just five loaves and two fish, because He knew what to do with them, and He knew where to go. He went to the Father, but He didn’t go griping. He went with thanksgiving.”

—Dr. Tony Evans

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22. “Beggar that I am, I am even poor in thanks.”

—Shakespeare 23. “There is no gratitude for things past. Gratitude is always for what you’re going to do for people in the future.”

—President Harry S. Truman 24. “I truly believe that America's best days are still ahead of her.

And for this, I am thankful to God. I am thankful that one day the war on terror will end, not because we have lost, but because we have won! I am thankful that one day our economy will rebound, not because of governmental micro-management, but as a result of America's entrepreneurial resolve. I am thankful that one day the born and the unborn will be equal under the eyes of the law in every state.”

—Governor Mike Huckabee 25. “There is always a reason to be thankful.”

—Pastor Dwight McKissic 26. “I need to keep pressing on until I am thoroughly thankful.”

—Joyce Meyer 27. “Appreciation is one of the rarest but one of the most beautiful virtues.”

—Selected 28. “Let never a day nor night unhallow’d pass, but still remember what the Lord hath done.”

—Shakespeare 29. “And though I ebb in worth, I’ll flow in thanks.”

—John Taylor, the Water-Poet

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30. “I’ve heard of hearts unkind, kind deeds With coldness still returning; Alas! The gratitude of men Hath oftener left me mourning.”

—Wordsworth 31. “But whether we have less or more, Always thank God therefore.”

—Unknown 32. “The key word here is expectations. They set us up for disillusionment. There is no greater distress in human experience than to build one’s entire way of life on a certain theological understanding, and then have it collapse at a time of unusual stress and pain. A person in this situation faces the crisis that rattled his foundation...he must also deal with the anguish of rejection. The God whom he has loved, worshipped, and served turns out to appear silent, distant, and uncaring in the moment of greatest need. Do such times come even to the faithful? Yes, they do, although we are seldom willing to admit it within the Christian community.

Wasn’t that precisely what happened to Job? This Godfearing man of antiquity had done no wrong, yet he suffered a series of staggering losses in a matter of hours. I have heard many sermons based on the life of this remarkable Old Testament character, but the source of Job’s most intense frustration (his inability to find God) has often been overlooked. That is a vital point in the story. Job lost everything—his children, his wealth, his servants, his reputation, and his friends. But those tragedies, as terrible as they were, did not create the greatest agitation for him. Instead, Job fell to the ground in worship and said, ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.’ (Job 1:20-21).”

—Dr. James Dobson 85

33. “The real joy of the season is found not only in memories of the past, but in the happy present, celebrating with our family. These are the times that make us truly grateful, when we put all else aside to remember how lucky we are to be together again.”

—First Lady Laura Bush 34. “When one forgets God’s blessings, then he cannot be grateful for those blessings.”

—Main St. Monitor 35. “I love Thanksgiving. I truly do. Every last thing about it is wonderful. I love getting together with family and friends. I love the meal. I love the football. I love the four-day weekend without having anything that particularly has to get done. And of course, I love the fundamental idea behind it—giving thanks for all the good people and good things in your life.”

—Governor Bill Richardson 36. “He who does not thank for little will not thank for much.”

—Estonian Proverb 37. “Come ye thankful people, come, Raise the song of Harvest-home!”

—Henry Ford 38. “Heap high the board with plenteous cheer, and gather to the feast, And toast the sturdy Pilgrim band whose courage never ceased.

Give praise to the All-Gracious One by whom their steps were led.

And thanks unto the harvest’s Lord who sends our ‘daily bread.’”

—Alice Williams Brotherton 86

39. “Too many of us are low-voiced and shallow-streamed in our gratitude.”

—Selected 40. “Thanksgiving day, I fear, If one the solemn truth must touch, Is celebrated, not so much To thank the Lord for blessing o’er As for the sake of getting more!”

—W. Carleton 41. “God is glorified, not by our groans, but by our thanksgivings.”

—Anonymous 42. “Comparison kills gratitude.”

—Michael Easl 43. “God has two dwellings: one in Heaven and the other in a meek and thankful heart.”

—Izaak Walton 44. “‘O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good: because His mercy endureth forever’ Psalm 118:1. This year, as we observe our season of thanksgiving, let us be grateful not only in word but also in deed. Let our gratitude find expression in a resolve to live a life more unselfish and more consecrated to Jesus Christ. When we sit around our tables laden with sumptuous delicacies, let us not forget that half the world will go to bed hungry. As we enjoy the comforts of our cozy homes, let us not forget that great numbers in other parts of the world have no homes to go to.

When we step into our sleek automobiles, let us not forget that most of the people in the world cannot afford even a bicycle. In the Lord’s Prayer as recorded in the 6th chapter of Matthew, we read, ‘Give us this day our daily bread.’ Scripture teaches 87

that the good things of this life are the gifts of God, and that He is the donor of all our blessings. Thanksgiving? Yes. Let us get on our knees humbly and thank God for the blessings He has given us, both materially and spiritually. They have come from His hands.

‘You bring me such abundance Almighty God. As I think of Thanksgiving Day, may my heart be completely consecrated to Your Son, Jesus Christ, so that through Him my life will show my gratitude to You.’” —Billy Graham 45. “Be careful for nothing; Be prayerful for everything; Be thankful for anything.”

—D. L. Moody 46. “An old lady said she just had two teeth and she thanked God they met.”

—Anonymous 47. “Because we cannot see just what God is saving us from, we vent our foolish reproaches; if we could see this, we would often kneel down and thank God for certain trials as the richest of His mercies.”

—Selected 48. “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 favour.”

—President George Washington 49. “God is a great giver, let us be great in giving thanks.”

—Selected 50. “If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will 88

not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man.”

—Mark Twain 51. “We have all known ingratitude, ungrateful we have never been.”

—Diane de Poitirs 52. “We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation has ever done.”

—President Abraham Lincoln 53. “I’m going to fight to make sure every American has every reason to thank God, as I thank Him: that I’m an American, a proud citizen of the greatest country on earth, and with hard work, strong faith and a little courage, great things are always within our reach.”

—Governor Sarah Palin 54. “Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the souls.”

—H. W. Beecher 55. “It is therefore recommended…to set apart Thursday the eighteenth day of November next, for solemn thanksgiving and praise, that with one heart and one voice the good people may express the grateful feelings of their hearts and consecrate themselves to the service of their Divine Benefactor.”

—Samuel Adams 56. “One finds little ingratitude so long as one is in a position to grant favors.”

—French Proverb

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57. “Let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings.”

—Henry Ward Beecher 58. “Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving.”

—W. T. Purkiser 59. “Every meal is a Thanksgiving celebration.”

—Daniel Whyte III 60. “Gratitude is a sign of noble souls.”

—Aesop 61. “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home. A stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”

—Melody Beattie 62. “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”

—President John F. Kennedy 63. “Ingratitude is nothing but a form of spiritual amnesia.”

—Selected 64. “Gratitude is the heart’s memory.”

—French Proverb 65. “Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be

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expected from us, and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds.”

—President Theodore Roosevelt 66. “Gratitude is a burden upon our imperfect nature.”

—Lord Chesterfield 67. “Being infinitely amazed, so do I give thanks to God, Who has been pleased to make me the first observer of marvelous things, unrevealed to bygone ages.”

—Galileo 68. “While I would fain have some tincture of all the virtues, there is no quality I would rather have, and be thought to have, than gratitude. For it is not only the greatest virtue, but even the mother of all the rest.”

—Cicero 69. “Gratitude is one of those things that cannot be bought. It must be born with men, or else all the obligations in the world will not create it.”

—Lord Halifax 70. “Gratitude is a fruit of great cultivation; you do not find it among gross people.”

—Samuel Johnson 71. “Justice is often pale and melancholy; but Gratitude her daughter, is constantly in the flow of spirits and the bloom of loveliness.”

—W. S. Landor 72. “While never willing to bow to a tyrant, our forefathers were always willing to get to their knees before God. When catastrophe threatened they turned to God for deliverance. When the harvest 91

was bountiful, the first thought was Thanksgiving to God. Prayer is today as powerful a force today in our nation as it has ever been. We as a nation should never forget this source of strength.

And while recognizing the freedom to choose a Godly path is the essence of liberty, as a nation we cannot but hope that more of our citizens would, through prayer, come into a closer relationship with their Maker.”

—President Ronald W. Reagan National Day of Prayer Proclamation 73. “Thank you God for angels on the nose, the tail and the wings.”

—Joyce Meyer 74. “The spirit of Thanksgiving rests in our recognizing the blessings in our lives, and as we all take stock, I hope you will join me in expressing sincerest thanks to our soldiers serving in harm's way in Iraq, Afghanistan, and around the world. May God bless you on this day of thanks, and may God protect our troops.”

—Senator Joe Biden 75. “The gratitude of most men is nothing but a secret hope of receiving greater favors.”

—La Rochefoucauld 76. “Gratitude is the memory of the heart.”

—Jean Baptiste Massieu 77. “If we pause to think, we’ll have cause to thank.”

—Selected 78. “I want to be the most thankful man on the face of the earth.”

—Ben Furrow 79. “Gratitude is a nice touch of beauty added last of all to the 92

countenance, giving as classic beauty, an angelic loveliness, to the character.”

—Theodore Parker 80. “If you do anything well, gratitude is lighter than a feather; if you give offense in anything, people’s wrath is as heavy as lead.”

—Plautus 81. “Evermore thanks, the exchequer of the poor.”

—Shakespeare 82. “God be thanked for that good and unspeakable gift. The gift unspeakable: His life, His love, His very self, in Christ Jesus.”

—Maltbie D. Babcock 83. “We give thanks for unknown blessings already on the way.”

—Ritual Chant 84. “Swift gratitude is sweetest; if it delays, all gratitude is empty and unworthy of the name.”

—Anonymous 85. “They say late thanks are ever best.”

—Francis Bacon 86. “What soon grows old? Gratitude.”

—Aristotle 87. “When you are a thankful person it releases joy.”

—Joyce Meyer 88. “Some people always sigh in thanking God.” —Samuel Johnson 93

89. “I am glad that he thanks God for anything.”

—E. B. Browning 90. “The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, never the less, set aside a day of thanksgiving.”

—H. U. Westermayer 91. “Thanksgiving is a duty before it’s a feeling.”

—Selected 92. “Thanks begins with the thankful. It is not dependent upon anyone else. Speak it. Give it. Live it.”

—William O. Vickery 93. “Accept my thoughts for thanks; I have no words.”

—Hannah Moore 94. “Though my mouth be dumb, my heart shall thank you.”

—Nicholas Rowe 95. “Such thanks as fits a king’s remembrance.”

—Shakespeare 96. “I am thankful for our democracy, liberty, and prosperity, and that so many Americans have dedicated their lives to improving our country and our world.”

—Congressman Alcee L. Hastings 97. “Praise the bridge that carried you over.”

—George Colman the Younger 98. “A thankful heart enjoys blessings twice—when they’re received, and when they’re remembered.”

—Selected 94

99. “Ingratitude is always a form of weakness. I have never known a man of real ability to be ungrateful.”

—Goethe 100. “A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all other values.”

—Cicero 101. “All our discontents spring from the want of thankfulness for what we have.”

—Daniel Defoe 102. “It is easy to be thankful when we remember just how totally dependent upon God we are.”

—Main St. Monitor 103. “Your dedication and tireless work with the hostage thing, with Central America, gave me cause for great pride in you, and thanks.

Now go get some turkey.”

—Vice President George H. W. Bush in a written expression of gratitude to Oliver North, about Thanksgiving 1985. Read by North during his interview with Ted Koppel on “NightLine.”

104. “I imagine that it saddens the heart of God when we murmur and complain, instead of being thankful after He’s been so good to us.”

—Joyce Meyer 105. “Gratitude shouldn’t be an occasional incident but a continuous attitude.”

—Selected

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106. “If you can’t be thankful for what you receive, be thankful for what you escape.”

—Selected 107. “When the song is over, the mikes turned off, the lights dimmed, all the glitter and glamour shed, and I am left alone with my own thoughts, free to contemplate the paths that led me to where I am today, I pause to give thanks.”

—CeCe Winans

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LET GOD BE THANKED: A LIGHT REFLECTION ON THANKSGIVING

by Mrs. Tracie Thomas Thanksgiving is a very special time of the year for my family and me.

It is a time when we really reflect on the many things that we should be thankful for. As my pastor has noted in this book, many of the things that we are thankful for are serious, but some of the smaller things can be humorous, and we thank God for those as well.

Now, of course, the serious things that I am thankful for include: family, health, and a place to stay. I also thank God for His provisions for us.

On the lighter side, I am thankful that I have family members who can cook better than I can for the Thanksgiving dinner. What we normally do for Thanksgiving is, we all bring something for the dinner.

My sister may bring potato salad. (I am thankful she does not bring those canned baked beans that she always brings for the Fourth of July.) My mother brings the turkey or the ham. Thank God for moms who know how to cook. As for me, I might bring vegetables. (I’m sure my sister will say she is thankful I don’t bring collard greens to the Thanksgiving dinner because I can’t cook them right.)

Thanksgiving is really a fun time for our family. The children play together. The men are thankful not only for the food, but also for the television set as they love to look at the football games that are on all day long.

Yes, Thanksgiving is a lot of fun. But let us all remember that it is His

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day, the Lord’s Day, and we should really honour Him and thank Him for all that He has done for us on Thanksgiving Day. ON THANKSGIVING DAY AND EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR—LET GOD BE THANKED!

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THANKSGIVING

ARTS & CRAFTS FOR CHILDREN

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“IT’S A PARTY ” INVITATIONS YOU WILL NEED: Construction paper (different colors) Leaf Pencil Scissors Decorating materials such as colored markers and glitter 1. Fold a sheet of construction paper in half the short way.

2. Place base of leaf on the fold and trace around the leaf.

3. Cut out the construction paper leaf. You will cut through 2 layers of construction paper.

4. Repeat steps 1 –3 to make as many invitations as you need.

5. Use materials such as colored markers and glitter to decorate your invitations. Be sure to write the date, time and place of your party.

THANKFUL HANDS PILGRIM GIRL YOU WILL NEED: Paper plate without plastic coating Black & white construction paper Construction paper in the skin color of your choice Yarn for hair Ribbon Scissors White glue Markers 1. Draw a face on your paper plate. Cut bits of yarn and glue them on for hair.

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2. Cut a triangle-shaped piece from black paper and glue the point behind the head so that the bottom forms shoulders.

3. Trace your hands onto skin-colored construction paper and cut them out. Glue them on each side of the Pilgrim as though they were being held “palms up” in front of her. Cut cuffs and collar from white paper and glue them in place.

4. On the right hand write “On this Thanksgiving I am thankful for…” and on the left-hand write what you are thankful for and the date.

5. Cut 3 long rectangles from white paper and glue them across the top and sides of the head to make a hat. While the glue is still wet, fold the bottom corners of the hat up and glue a piece of ribbon under each side of the hat. Tie the ends of the ribbon in a bow at the bottom of the face. Glue the bow to the plate. (If you are making a Pilgrim boy, cut out a black hat and do not use ribbons.)

6. You might want to make a boy Pilgrim as well and hang them together.

HEADBAND NAPKIN RINGS YOU WILL NEED: Construction paper scraps Markers Cardboard paper towel tube Scissors White glue 1. Cut a cardboard circle from the tube about ¾ inch wide for each napkin ring you want to make.

2. Use markers to draw a Native American design on the tube.

3. Cut a tiny feather from construction paper. Fringe both sides to make it look more feather-like. Glue the base of the feather inside the band. *Make lots of napkin rings using different designs and colors.

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CORNUCOPIA DOOR HANGING YOU WILL NEED: 5 white paper plates with ruffled edges White glue Brown poster paint Stapler Newspaper to work on Hole puncher Paintbrush Yarn Scissors Pictures of food from magazines and supermarket flyers 1. Overlap and staple 4 paper plates together in a row so that the ruffled edge of each one is showing on the right. Cut the plates into a horn-shape that curves on the end.

2. Cut the center out of paper plate and staple the rim to the left side of the cornucopia to form the opening. Paint the cornucopia brown and let it dry.

3. Cut out pictures of fruits and vegetables from magazines and supermarket flyers. Fill the opening of the cornucopia with the pictures. Glue the pictures in place.

4. To hang your cornucopia, punch two holes at the top and run a piece of yarn through them. Knot the ends together. This cornucopia would look wonderful on your front door this Thanksgiving.

TURKEY WREATH YOU WILL NEED: Paper plate without plastic coating Hole puncher 103

Brown poster paint Paintbrush Newspaper to work on Scissors Pencil White glue Yarn Red, orange, blue, green, yellow and brown construction paper 1. Cut the center out of a paper plate so that the rim forms a wreath.

Paint the rim brown and let it dry. Punch a hole in the plate and tie a loop of yarn through for a hanger.

2. Cut a head for the turkey from brown paper and glue it to the bottom front of the wreath. Cut eyes, a beak, and a wattle from paper and glue them in place on the head. Cut legs from orange paper and glue them so they hang below the head.

3. To make feathers for the turkey, cut lots of 4-inch strips from different colors of paper. Wrap each strip tightly around a pencil and carefully slide the pencil out of the rolled paper. Fill the entire wreath with paper curls.

SET THE TABLE PLACE-MATS YOU WILL NEED: Yellow construction paper – 12 X 18 inch Blue construction paper Paper napkins Colorful paper plates and cups White glue Scissors Crayons

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1. The large sheet of yellow paper will be the place mat. Decorate it with crayons and write your name at the top.

2. Glue the paper plate to the middle of the mat and the cup to the top right-hand corner. If your plate and cup are plain, you can decorate them with crayons.

3. Cut knife, fork and spoon shapes from blue paper. Use real silverware as patterns for tracing.

4. Fold a paper napkin and glue it shut. Glue the napkin to the mat on the left side of the plate. Glue the fork on top of the napkin and the knife and spoon on to the mat on the other side of the plate.

FALLING LEAVES CENTERPIECE YOU WILL NEED: 5 large leaves (different shapes and sizes) Construction paper of different colors Pencil Scissors 1 toilet paper tube White liquid glue Masking tape Tracing paper 1. Place a leaf on construction paper and trace around it. Repeat with remaining 4 leaves using different colors of construction paper.

Cut out leaves.

2. Cut toilet paper tube in half lengthwise. Cut each half into 1 inch curved strips.

3. Glue one or two of the curved strips to the back of each construction paper leaf to give it a curved surface. Secure the glued strips with tape (You can cover the curved strips with construction paper if you like.)

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4. Group your leaves in an interesting arrangement and glue them together on the underside. Secure the leaves with tape.

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CHILDREN TALK ABOUT WHAT THANKSGIVING MEANS TO THEM A 12 YEAR OLD REFLECTS ON THANKSGIVING

by Daniella (Danni) Whyte THANKS—A SENSE OF PRAISE Thanks, to me, is a sense of praise; something that you look at and say, “Thank you Lord.” We have thousands of things to be thankful for. Many human souls are not as blessed as we are, but yet we complain of all our problems. Thanksgiving is a time for giving thanks.

A time for giving thanks to God. I thank God for so many things: a home, a family, food, health and life. As I look around, I see so many homeless people who stand on the street corner. Do you know that these people are some of the most grateful people in America? And we, the fortunate, say I have nothing to thank God for. Don’t look at others with their wealth and gold, but look up and remember that Jesus said: “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.”

—John 14:1-4 When Thanksgiving time comes around, it is a time to give the ultimate thanks to God—just plainly thanking Him for allowing me to see another day. Thanksgiving is also a time to spend with your family—

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to have a big feast of Thanksgiving food. Thanksgiving is a relaxed time, a moment to recognize the year is coming to its end; a period of time has past. It is a time to look and see all the accomplishments we have completed and all the failures we have overcome. It is a time to look back with tears of joy and a bounty of laughter and say, “Oh, boy, I can’t believe I did that,” and, “I sure won’t do that again.” It is a time to plan for the New Year so that on New Year’s Day we can say, “What a great year this is going to be! What a new day!” with all thanks to God and Jesus Christ.

May the joy of Thanksgiving be around you and yours this new Thanksgiving.

A 10 YEAR OLD REFLECTS ON THANKSGIVING

by Daniel Whyte IV WHAT THANKSGIVING TRULY IS What Thanksgiving traditionally is about, is also what it is not about.

Truthfully, the holiday Thanksgiving is not all about the turkey.

Thanksgiving is not all about relaxing and watching a football game.

In a sense it is about those things as well, because they are a custom among Americans.

Thanksgiving is not all about the Pilgrims. As of itself, it is a fact of history. They did help in starting this great country called America.

The Thanksgiving dinner they had started this great holiday called Thanksgiving. But why did they call this holiday Thanksgiving? Turn it around and you get giving thanks. Who were they giving thanks to? God. That is what Thanksgiving is all about—giving thanks to God. We thank God for all of the things that have happened to us during the

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past year. We thank Him for the good, the bad and the ugly. We thank Him for the blessings and the troubles.

Thanksgiving also is a time to reflect and to plan. You reflect on all of the things that have happened, and you see what God has brought you through. You can also plan what you will do in the next year.

Last of all, I believe Thanksgiving is a time to spend with family, and just have fun. I have a lot to thank God for and if I made a list, it sure would be long. I hope you have a blessed and happy Thanksgiving.

REFLECTIONS ON THANKSGIVING FROM A 10 YEAR OLD, AN 8 YEAR OLD AND A 6 YEAR OLD. Danita, Danae‘ & Daniqua Whyte Thanksgiving to us is a time to give thanks to God for all He has done for us this past year, and it is also a time to help others and let them have a Happy Thanksgiving, too.

We thank God for our family, home, clothes, and for His Son, Jesus Christ, saving all of our souls. The main things that we like to do on Thanksgiving Day is celebrate our sister’s birthday, write cards to our family, watch movies with our family, and help bake all the cakes, pies, cookies, and biscuits, but most importantly we give thanks to God for allowing us to see another Thanksgiving. We are wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving!

REFLECTIONS ON THANKSGIVING FROM A 5 YEAR OLD AND A 3 YEAR OLD. Danyel Ezekiel and Danyelle Elizabeth Whyte Thanksgiving is a beautiful holiday to us. I thank God for my family.

I thank God for my toys and play time.

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WHAT OTHER CHILDREN HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THANKSGIVING

Vanessa Thomas (age: 7): 1. I thank God for my mommy, daddy and brother, John.

2. I thank God for Jesus Christ.

3. I thank God for arms to hug John.

4. I thank God for food to eat every day.

5. I thank God for the trees, grass, and sunshine.

6. I thank God for legs to walk to church.

7. I thank God for my long hair.

8. I thank God for everyone in my class.

Sophia Craword (age: 8): Thanksgiving is a day when you have fun with your family thanking God for giving you food and life. If it were not for God, I would not be here. So I thank God for my life and for everyone.

Megan Wiltshire (age: 9): I thank God for food and for a place to live. I love God because He is always with me and He will always be there. God will always be good to me.

Marquez Jackson (age: 8): 1. I thank God for my mom, dad, sister and brother.

2. I thank God for my school.

3. I thank God for my hands.

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Maria Crawford (age: 8): Thanksgiving is a time for thanking God because if it were not for God nobody would be here. God is all about love and family. On Thanksgiving I get to play, eat and sleep. I thank God also for my family and friends.

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THANKSGIVING

BOOKS FOR CHILDREN

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1. Old Fashioned Thanksgiving, by Louisa May Alcott 2. 1621—New Look at Thanksgiving, by Catherine O’Neall Grace & Margaret M. Bruchac 3. Crafts for Thanksgiving, by Kathy Ross 4. The Thanksgiving Book, by Lucille Recht Penner 5. The Thanksgiving That Almost Wasn’t, by Daniella Whyte with Daniel D.P. Whyte IV 6. N. C. Wyeth’s Pilgrims, by Robert San Souci 7. Why We Have Thanksgiving, by Margaret Hillart 8. Thanksgiving Day, by Anne Rockwell 9. Fat Chance Thanksgiving, by Patricia Lakin 10. The First Thanksgiving, by Linda Hayward 11. Eating The Plates: A Pilgrim Book Of Food And Manners, by Lucille Recht Penner 12. If You Sailed on the Mayflower in 1620, by Ann McGovern 13. In November, by Cynthia Rylant 14. Thanks & Giving: All Year Long, by Marlo Thomas 15. Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving, by Dav Pilkey 115

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THANKSGIVING

TRIVIA

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So you think you know your Thanksgiving history.

Test yourself and see how much you really know.

1. Which President made Thanksgiving Day the 4th Thursday of November?__________________________________ 2. Which writer and author wrote over 20 letters to Presidents suggesting a national holiday for Thanksgiving? ____________________________________________________ 3. Which President made the first Thanksgiving proclamation? ____________________________________________________ 4. What is the Native American word for corn?_____________ 5. What is a male turkey called?________________________ 6. What is a female turkey called? ______________________ 7. What is a baby turkey called?________________________ 8. What was the first meal eaten by astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin while they were on the moon? ____________________________________________________ 9. Name the nation’s two leading turkey-producing states. ___________________________________________________ 10. What three states lead the nation in cranberry production? ____________________________________________________ 11. When is the busiest travel day of the year?______________

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12. Pilgrims had buckles on their clothes, shoes, and hats.

TRUE or FALSE 13. What did Pilgrim boys and girls wear until they were seven years old? ____________________________________ 14. What were children expected to do to all adults, including their parents? ________________________________________ 15. How many baths did Pilgrims take a year? Why? ____________________________________________________________________________________________ 16. How many people do you estimate travel between the Wednesday and the Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend? ____________________________________________________ 17. There are three towns in the United States named after the star of the Thanksgiving feast. Can you name them? _____________________________________________________________________________________________ 18. The first Thanksgiving Day pro football game was played in 1934. Which two teams played? ____________________________________________________ 19. In the popular Thanksgiving television special, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, Chef Snoopy strays from the traditional to serve the gang what? _______________________________ 20. How many passengers on the Mayflower still have descendants living today?______________________________

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21. Eight Presidents are said to be descendents of Mayflower passengers. Can you name all eight of them? ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ 22. How many millions of people watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade on television each year?_____________________ 23. At 78 feet, which television character is the longest balloon to ever be featured at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade? ___________________________________________________ 24. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade first occurred in what year? __________________________________________________ It was only canceled one time so that the rubber from the balloons could be donated to the war effort. Between which years was it canceled? _________________________________ 25. What was the first balloon character to appear in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade? _____________________________ 26. What year was the first time he took flight? ______________ 27. What cat has the record for the most appearances in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade? _______________________ 28. What year was its sixteenth parade appearance? ___________________________________________________

***Turn to page 249 for answers.

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SUGGESTED

GAMES TO PLAY ON THANKSGIVING

DAY

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GIVING THANKS After everyone is seated at the table and the blessing has been said, there is no better way to spend Thanksgiving Day than to have each person in the family say what they are thankful for.

This is a tradition that everyone from the smallest child to the oldest grandpa can participate in. It doesn’t matter what you are thankful for—it can be for your health, your family, your new job, or even that it is not raining.

If you are the host or hostess of the dinner you may want to start so that everyone can get an understanding of the game. You can start by saying something like, “I am thankful for…” and then you can name one or two things that you are thankful for.

AN ALPHABET OF THANKS For a variation on the idea of giving thanks, it would be fun to make it easier by asking every visitor to give thanks starting with A and ending with Z. Start with the eldest guest, or the person seated at the head of the table. This person begins by saying something he or she is thankful for that starts with the letter “A,” the next person “B,” the next person “C,” and so on.

For a real brain-teaser, you can require each person to repeat what everyone else has said. For instance, “I’m thankful for eggplant, Aunt Velma is thankful for dogs, Grandma Louise is thankful for chocolate, Dad is thankful for bread, and Christopher is thankful for the apple pie.”

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BEING GLAD In the book Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter, Pollyanna is the relentlessly, optimistic little orphan, who is forced to live with her unhappy aunt. If anyone had mastery over Being Glad, it was Pollyanna.

One Christmas, Pollyanna breaks both her legs and says, “I’m so glad, glad, glad it happened! For you have to lose your legs to really love them!” That’s where Being Glad comes in.

To play Being Glad, think of something “terrible” that happened to you during the past year, and tell everyone at the Thanksgiving table why you are glad it happened. You can start by saying something like, “I’m very glad that our electricity went out last month. If it hadn’t happened I wouldn’t have learned all of the constructive and great things that I can do without the TV and the Internet.”

THANKSGIVING TOUCH FOOTBALL Thanksgiving and football go hand in hand. Not only is it a great way to burn off some of those extra Thanksgiving pounds, it is also a great time for family exercise and bonding. Whether you choose to play before or after dinner (we suggest that you play before so that no one will get an upset stomach), follow these rules to make sure that everyone is on the same level.

First, choose a grassy area to be your playing field. Look for something not too close to a road (just in case your quarterback is a little wild). Set your playing field’s boundaries. Mark them off with bright colored rags or cones. The playing field should be rectangular with end zones at every end.

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Second, divide players evenly into two teams. When playing with family members of different ages, try to make sure that the ages are evenly divided between teams.

Third, give each team a few minutes to decide on who will play the various positions of the team (quarterback, tight-end, running back, etc). You might want to let each person play a little of each position to find out where he or she fits in best.

Fourth, discuss between the two teams if you will play one-or twotouch football. This will determine whether or not you need to “tackle� the ball carrier by tagging him or her with one or two hands.

(Two-hand touch is a little harder than one-hand touch and tends to make a longer game.) If you have a number of younger children it would be easier to play one-hand touch.

Fifth, decide how you will determine the winner. The best ways are to (1) have a set time, and the team who has the highest score at the end of that time becomes the winner; or, (2) have a set score and the team who has that score first wins.

Sixth, make a decision on whether or not you want to earn new first downs. Traditionally, in football games there are four downs, or tries, to gain 10-yards. If they do so they gain a new set of downs and have another try for 10 more yards. Downs might be difficult for you to play if your playing ground does not have yard markers.

The rules that follow describe a game without downs: 1. Flip a coin to decide which team will begin playing offense.

2. To play the game, place the ball in the middle of the field.

3. Each team should now gather into separate huddles to plan a strategy for the play.

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4. Once strategies have been made, line the two teams up facing one another on opposite sides of the ball.

5. The offensive player in the center, should pass the ball to the quarterback between his legs. If you don’t have enough players, you can eliminate the “center” and allow the quarterback to handle the ball himself.

6. While the “offensive linemen” block the defensive line, the quarterback hands off the ball to a running back or passes the ball to a receiver, who then runs with the ball toward the opposite end zone while defensive players try to tag him or her.

7. Other offensive players try to keep defenders from tagging the ball carrier by blocking him or her.

8. Once the player has been tagged, play stops and the ball is dropped where the tag was made. This counts as a down and play is repeated. Downs are also ended when a ball is dropped or a player runs out-of-bounds.

9. Once 4 downs have been completed, possession of the ball is switched and the defense then becomes the offense at the point where the ball was last in play. The new offense gets 4 attempts to move the ball toward the opposite end zone.

10. If a team scores, earning them 7 points, possession of the ball is also switched. After a touchdown is made, play begins again by setting the ball in the middle of the field and lining the teams up as before.

Continue playing touch football until the point or time limit is reached or until grandma calls everyone in for dinner. Have fun!

CHARADES Charades is a terrific family game for kids of all ages. While it started out as a riddle game where you guessed a word, it eventually evolved

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into the acting game we know today. It can be played with 4 (or more) players, 2 (or more) teams.

You will need: 1. A three minute timer 2. Pen and paper to keep track of score and to write your charade words on 3. A neutral player to keep the time and the score The objective of Charades is for players to act out a word, an idea, the name of a person, song, book, movie, or television show in the shortest amount of time possible.

Pick some categories that will be fun to guess. Write the titles on small scraps of paper and throw them into a hat for the other team to pull out. The first team pulls a scrap of paper from the title that the other team has created. A team member has to act out the title or word without speaking. Team members guess until they get the answer right, when they get the answer right the timer stops immediately. When a player guesses part of the answer correctly, point to him or her and nod excitedly. One point is scored per correct answer per team. The team with the most points wins! When the time is up you are out—even if you did not get the answer correct and no points were scored.

Here are some helpful hand movements to help your team members guess the correct word or title: A movie: Pretend you are cranking a projector.

A TV show: Make a box in the air with your hands in front of your body.

A book: Hold open your hands, palms up, as if you are holding a book.

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Quote or phrase: Make quotation marks in the air with your fingers.

Song: Pretend that you are singing, open your mouth wide.

Length of word: Make a little or big sign with your hands; hold your index and thumb close together to make the little sign, and hold hands wide apart (as if measuring a fish) to make the big sign.

First word, second word, etc.: Hold up your finger to show what word you are acting out (one finger to signify the first word, two to signify second word, etc.).

Numbers: Show on your fingers.

Sounds like: Pull at your ear lobe.

Number of syllables: Hold up fingers to show number and then tap fingers on opposite outstretched arm.

SHARING THE THANKS After reading all about what the Pilgrims had to go through during their first few years in the New World, and then sharing all of the things that you and your family have to be thankful for, it is only fair that you feel compelled to share your wealth.

Volunteering during the holidays, especially Thanksgiving, is popular, but, surprisingly, there are still a number of organizations that need your help (see our “Thanksgiving Charities� chapter). Whether you decide to work in a soup kitchen or help out at your local church, volunteering to help those who are less fortunate than we are, is something that the whole family can do together.

If you are volunteering, ask the organizers of the event or organization if there is a special need that young children can fulfill. If not, plan something that will make the young kids feel needed. They could

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decorate the house, set the table, or clean the dishes. If you are putting together a Thanksgiving basket make sure that you include the children in getting things that they would like to donate as well.

Whatever you decide on doing remember that there are people and organizations that need your help. Here are a few things that you can do that can get the whole family involved: ♦ Call a local shelter, soup kitchen, or your local church and volunteer to work on Thanksgiving Day. Many organizations have great places for children to work. ♦ Contact a nursing home or senior center to see if any of the seniors would want to spend Thanksgiving Day with your family. Or see if you can bring Thanksgiving dinner over to a senior. ♦ Invite a homeless person or family, a family from a battered shelter, or a homeless shelter to spend Thanksgiving dinner at your house. ♦ Ask all of the people who come to your Thanksgiving dinner to bring food and/or clothing that can be given to the homeless, a homeless shelter or your local church. ♦ Make Thanksgiving dinner for a person who is sick and can’t make his or her own Thanksgiving meal. ♦ Prepare a Thanksgiving basket for a civic or social service agency that can give it to a foodless family who would otherwise have nothing to eat. Or you can give it to them yourself. ♦ Contact a local church or organization and ask them if they know of a family in need. Make a gift basket for that family or buy them a gift certificate or shopping card from your local store and give it to them. ♦ Look into your local Meals-on-Wheels organization.

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TRADITIONAL & NONTRADITIONAL

LAST MINUTE RECIPES THAT WILL HELP YOU GET THROUGH THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY

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A THANKSGIVING PRAYER O Lord, help me to survive this holiday week! Keep me from nibbling on all the ingredients as I prepare this festive meal. Stop me from continuing to taste-test the stuffing long after I know it is seasoned correctly. Help me to remember that onion dip is only an appetizer and that soon I will be eating a full meal. Keep me from using bleu cheese dressing on my salad instead of diet French.

Let me remember that although mushrooms have little or no caloric value, the gravy that they are floating in does. Guide my hand away from the butter that I would like to glob on the vegetables. Allow me to admit I know that an average yam has more calories than a medium-sized baked potato, and that a third of a cup of cranberry sauce is more fattening than both of them combined.

Prevent me from forcing down a piece of pumpkin pie when I am already filled beyond belief. And if I don’t heed the message, don’t let me put whipped cream on top. Guide my feet away from the refrigerator in the days that follow, that I may not repeat the sins of my weak will with the leftovers.

—Ruth Rosenfeld in The Austin-American Statesman

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TURKEY Safety Tips for Cooking Turkey 1. Never fry or grill a turkey indoors, in a garage, or on a wooden deck. This can cause a fire. Always place your fryer or grill on level dirt or grassy area.

2. Do not stuff turkey for deep-frying.

3. When choosing a pan to roast your turkey in, make sure it is a high-sided roasting pan with handles. The sides will prevent the juices from overflowing and making a mess. The handles are very important for helping you carry and move the heavy bird.

4. Do not use a disposable or lightweight pan. They can leak.

They are flimsy and can be dangerous when trying to lift your turkey from the oven.

5. You do not need to truss your turkey, as this will prevent hot air from circulating around the leg and thigh. They will not cook at the same rate as the breast.

Key points to keep in mind while shopping: Canned pumpkin vs. canned pumpkin pie mix: The pie mix contains spices and sugars. To make a pie, you add evaporated milk and eggs – and be sure you put it in a deep-dish pie pan.

Evaporated milk vs. sweetened condensed milk: Evaporated milk is milk that has been cooked down to remove about half the water, making it thicker than fresh milk. Sweetened condensed milk

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also has had water removed, but it contains added sugar. They are not interchangeable in recipes, so read your recipe and your label carefully.

Here’s Who to Call if You Need Help with Your Turkey Toll-free telephone services and websites offer a variety of specialist answers to cooking and questions during holiday preparation times.

1. U.S. Department of Agriculture Meat and Poultry Hotline: 1-888-674-6854. Year round Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., except Thanksgiving Day, when hours will be from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. www.fsis.usda.gov.

2. Empire Kosher Poultry Customer Hotline: 1-800-367-4734, or 1-717-436-5921. Year round Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; Friday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. www.empirekosher.com.

3. Ocean Spray Consumer Help Line: 1-800-662-3263. Year round, weekdays (open Thanksgiving Day; but not Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and other major holidays) 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. www.oceanspray.com.

4. Reynolds Turkey Tips Line: 1-800-745-4000. Year round 24-hour automated hot line. www.reynoldskitchens.com.

5. http://www.turkeyhelp.com

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PAPA WHYTE’S FAMOUS ROYAL BACON-WRAPPED TURKEY Ingredients: Turkey Onions Bragg Liquid Aminos Bacon Celery Spike Pork Sausage Garlic Vegesal Stuffing Black Pepper (Some of these seasonings are found at your local health food store.)

1. Wash turkey, sausage and bacon.

2. Slice sausage.

3. Slice onions, celery and garlic in abundance. Generously sprinkle seasonings all over turkey.

4. Layer bottom of pan with generous amounts of bacon, sausage, onions, celery and garlic. Wrap generous amounts of bacon around turkey. Use skewers to hold bacon on to turkey. Using toothpicks, place sausage, celery, onions and garlic all over turkey and let marinade overnight.

5. Stuff turkey with seasoned stuffing, mixed with small pieces of bacon, sausage, celery, and onions. Cover loosely with foil.

6. Bake at 350 degrees for about 4 hours or until tender. Baste often with resident juices and with Bragg and Soy Sauce.

7. Add more seasoning throughout the baking process.

(Warning: Too much of this great tasting turkey will raise your blood pressure, give you a heart attack and put you in the hospital or kill you. But you will die happy.)

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FABULOUS FRIED TURKEY Ingredients: 12-15 lbs. Turkey 2 Tbsp Tony Chachere’s seasoning 3 Tbsp Chef Paul’s Poultry seasoning 1 Tbsp red pepper 1 chicken bouillon cube ½ stick butter 1 tsp garlic powder 2 tsp accent seasoning 4½ cups water 1. While stirring, boil all ingredients except butter. Let ingredients cool for one hour to let the water absorb the seasoning.

2. Boil and stir the water once more.

3. Strain the water to remove large pieces of seasoning to keep the needle from clogging.

4. Add the butter, stir until melted.

5. When the water is cool enough to handle, inject the turkey all over at different depths.

6. Use the paste left over to coat the outside of the turkey.

7. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Use the wire brace hooked around the legs of the turkey to lift it in and out.

8. Fry in peanut oil at 300 degrees for 45 to 55 minutes for a 12 to 15 pound turkey.

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SOUTHERN DOWN-HOME DEEP-FRIED TURKEY You Will Need: 40 to 60 quart pot with basket, burner, propane gas tank Meat thermometer Heavy wire to lift turkey in and out of pot Oil (for an 8 to 10 pound turkey you will need appr. 5 gallons of oil) 1. Add oil and heat to 350 degrees. This normally takes between 45 min. to 1 hour.

2. Remove built-in thermometer from turkey.

3. Rub the outside of turkey with a dry rub. To season turkey, place it in a pan and fill your favorite marinade into a hypodermic meat injector. Inject the marinade in several places on the turkey.

4. When done, massage a big handful of dry rub onto the outside and all around the cavity.

5. Once oil is at required temperature, slowly lower turkey into pot. When cooking time is up, remove turkey and check internal temperature with a meat thermometer by sticking the thermometer into the thigh and breast. The temperature should reach 170 degrees F in the breast and 180 degrees F in the thigh.

6. Let turkey stand for 15 minutes before carving.

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GRILLED TURKEY CHARCOAL GRILL: 1. Remove the giblets and neck, drain all juices and pat the turkey dry with paper towels. Do not stuff.

2. Tuck legs and turn wings back. Brush all sides of the turkey with vegetable oil.

3. Prepare grill by removing cooking grate and opening all vents.

Place the drip pan in the middle of the charcoal grate and place 25 to 30 briquettes along each lengthwise side of pan. Burn until they are covered with a gray ash, about 30 minutes. When ready, place the cooking grate back in the grill.

4. Place unstuffed turkey, breast up on a cooking grate over the drip pan. Cover grill leaving all vents open. Add 6 to 8 briquettes, not infused with lighter fluid s every 45 to 60 minutes.

5. Cook the turkey to an internal thigh temperature of 180 degrees F and breast temperature of 170 degrees F on a meat thermometer. A 10 to 18 pound turkey will take between 2 to 3 hours.

GAS GRILL: 1. Make sure turkey fits under the lid of your grill with at least 1 inch of space between the top of the turkey and grill.

2. Prepare turkey as given above. Once the grill has been preheated, turn temperature down to medium (about 350 degrees F). Place turkey breast up on the cooking grate and over a drip pan. Close lid and cook. You may need to turn turkey half way around about midway through the cooking time to cook evenly. Let stand 15 minutes before carving.

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TOFU TURKEY Ingredients: 1 lb. firm tofu 1 slice bread, cubed 1 tsp. Vegesal ½ tsp. sage ¼ tsp. dried marjoram ½ tsp. rosemary ¼ tsp. dried savory ½ tsp. thyme ¼ tsp. spike/pepper 2 tbsp. water ¼ cup butter 1 tsp. BBQ sauce ½ red onions, finely diced ½ tsp. prepared mustard ½ cup celery 1 tbsp. orange jam ¼ cup chopped mushrooms 1 tbsp. sesame seeds 1 clove garlic, minced 1 tsp. orange juice 2/3 cup water 2 tbsp. vegetable oil 1 (12 ounce) package dry bread stuffing mix (unseasoned) 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. 2. Drain and rinse tofu; in a food processor or blender, process tofu until smooth. Stir in salt, marjoram, savory and spike/pepper.

Line a strainer with cheesecloth and place over an empty bowl.

Place tofu mixture in strainer and press against sides to form a deep well in the middle. Place more cheesecloth over tofu and refrigerate for 2 hours.

3. In medium frying pan, saute` onions, celery and mushrooms in butter until tender. Add garlic, 2/3 cup water, vegesal and spike to taste. Add stuffing mix, bring to a boil; lower heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes.

Fluff with fork. Add bread cubes, sage, rosemary, thyme and 2 tbsp water to stuffing.

4. After chilling tofu for 2 hours, preheat oven to 350 degrees. 142 Grease baking sheet with vegetable oil.

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5. Remove top layer of cheesecloth. Keep tofu in the shape of a well. Spoon the stuffing mix into the well and smooth the surface with a spoon. Invert tofu mold on to a prepared baking sheet.

Remove remaining cheesecloth and shape tofu if it has lost its shape.

6. Bake for 30 minutes.

7. Prepare the glaze by combining the barbecue sauce, mustard, orange jam, orange juice, sesame seeds and oil. After baking for 30 minutes, brush with glaze. Return to oven and bake another 20 minutes.

8. When finished, broil for 3 to 5 minutes or until tofu is browned and crispy.

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STUFFING GRANDMA’S CORNBREAD DRESSING Ingredients: ½ cup finely chopped onions (yellow/white) 5 cups cornbread, broken into small chunks 3 tbsp. butter coarse black pepper Spike Salt ¼ cup grated onions (optional) chicken stock or broth 6 tbsp. butter 3 slices of regular white or wheat bread, cubed 1 1/2 cups green onions 4 garlic cloves (pressed) 2 cups chopped celery 1. Prepare your fresh cornbread.

2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

3. Saute` garlic, celery, and onions in 3 tbsp. butter. Add to baking dish. In the same baking dish, crumble the cornbread and white or wheat bread together. Add salt, black pepper, and spike to fit your taste. Put 5 tbsp. of butter on top of the dish. If you really like the taste of raw onions, add ¼ cup of grated raw onions.

4. Put enough chicken stock/broth to thoroughly soak all the bread.

When you touch the top of the dish little pools of stock should rise to the top.

5. Bake this dish for 25 minutes or longer if the stuffing seems too soupy.

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PECAN STUFFING Ingredients: 2 tbsp. butter turkey giblets 6 cups whole wheat bread crumbs 4 eggs, beaten 2 tbsp. honey 2 cups boiling water 1 tsp. coarse black pepper 1 tsp. cloves ¼ tsp. cayenne pepper ½ melted butter 1 ½ tsp. vegesal 3 cups chopped pecans 1. Melt two tablespoons of butter in a skillet pan on medium heat.

Add the turkey giblets and brown on all sides. Cut up the cooked turkey giblets into small pieces and set them aside.

2. Mix the vegesal, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cloves, and bread crumbs together. Stir in the boiling water, melted butter, and honey. Set aside to cool.

3. Add the beaten eggs to the other ingredients. Mix well. Stir in the cooked turkey giblets and chopped pecans. Now you have your pecan stuffing!

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SWANSON’S MOIST & SAVORY STUFFING Ingredients: 1 can (14 oz) Swanson’s Chicken Broth (1 ¾ cups) Generous dash pepper 1 stalk celery 1 small onion 4 cups Pepperidge Farm Herb Seasoned Stuffing Mix broth, pepper, celery and onion in saucepan. Heat to a boil.

Cover and cook over low heat 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Add stuffing. Mix lightly.

MEXICAN CORN STUFFING CASSEROLE Ingredients: 5 cups crumbled corn bread 1 (15 ounce) can creamed corn ¾ cup diced onion ¾ cup diced red bell pepper 1 (4 ounce) can diced green chiles ¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese ¼ cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese 1 large egg, lightly beaten 2 tsp. finely chopped fresh cilantro ½ tsp. ancho chile powder 1. Preheat oven to 350F. Grease a 2-quart baking dish.

2. Bake the crumbled corn bread on a baking sheet, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes, or until lightly toasted.

3. Combine remaining ingredients in a large bowl. Add corn bread; toss to evenly combine. Do not over mix.

4. Transfer to prepared baking dish. Cover. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes; uncover. Bake an additional 10 minutes or until heated through and top is brown.

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COUNTRY SAUSAGE and CORN BREAD STUFFING Ingredients: 1 pound pork sausage 4 tbsp. butter or margarine 3 stalks celery, coarsely chopped 1 large onion (12 ounces), coarsely chopped 1 red pepper, coarsely chopped 1 (14 ½ ounce) can chicken broth or 1 1/3 cups homemade chicken broth ½ tsp. coarsely ground black pepper ¾ cup water 1 (14 ounce) package corn bread stuffing mix ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley 1. Heat 12 inch skillet over medium-high heat until very hot. Add sausage and cook, breaking up meat, until browned, about 10 minutes. With slotted spoon, transfer sausage to large bowl.

Discard all but 2 tablespoons sausage drippings.

2. Add butter or margarine, celery, onion, and red pepper to skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are golden brown and tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in chicken broth, black pepper and water. Heat to boiling, stirring until browned bits are loosened from bottom of skillet.

3. Add vegetable mixture, corn bread stuffing mix and parsley to sausage in bowl; stir to combine well. Spoon stuffing into greased 9x13 inch baking dish. Cover with foil. Bake for the last 30 minutes of the turkey roasting time at 325F.

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POTATOES GARLIC MASHED POTATOES Ingredients: 24 small red peeled potatoes 1 ½ cups milk ½ tsp. ground white pepper Vegesal to taste 1 head of garlic Olive oil ¾ cup butter 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Boil a large pot of water, add potatoes, and let them cook until soft (approximately 25 minutes). Drain well.

3. While boiling water, brush the garlic with olive oil, wrap the olive oil covered garlic in foil, and place in the preheated oven for 1 hour. When finished, gently squeeze the garlic out from each of the cloves, leaving behind the skin.

4. Put all the potatoes, butter, vegesal, ground white pepper, garlic pulp, and milk in a bowl. Blend them together to your desired consistency.

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HONEYED MASHED SWEET POTATOES Ingredients: 12 sweet potatoes ½ cup butter Cinnamon to taste Nutmeg to taste Coarse black pepper to taste Vegesal to taste Honey to taste

1. Peel the sweet potatoes. Cut them into small, bite-size pieces (the smaller the pieces, the quicker the cooking time).

2. Put the potato pieces into a large pot and cover them with cold water. Boil until soft.

3. Drain the water. Sprinkle the potatoes with vegesal and black pepper. Add the butter and mash until it has the desired texture.

4. After you have mashed all the potatoes, add cinnamon and nutmeg to your taste. Then mix in honey to your taste.

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CHEESEY MASHED POTATOES Ingredients: 1 lb. potatoes ½ cup butter ½ cup garlic Vegesal and spike to taste

2 ½ cups Parmesan cheese 1 ½ cup cream cheese 1 cup freshly chopped chives

1. Peel all the potatoes. Cut them into small chunks preferably bite-size pieces. Place potato pieces into a large pot and cover with cold water. Boil until the potatoes are tender but keep the potatoes firm. Drain.

2. Add the cream cheese, chives, Parmesan cheese, butter, garlic, vegesal, and spike. Beat until smooth and then serve.

MOCK MASHED POTATOES Ingredients: Nonstick cooking spray 20 oz cauliflower 2 tbsp. heavy cream White pepper, to taste 1 tbsp. mayonnaise ½ tsp. salt 2 tbsp. butter (melted ¼ stick), plus 1 tbsp non-melted Preheat oven to 350. Coat a casserole dish with cooking spray.

Steam the cauliflower until very soft. Drain thoroughly, cool slightly.

Puree in a food processor with all the remaining ingredients except the 1 tablespoon of butter until completely smooth. Place in the casserole dish and set aside for 20 minutes. Dot the top of the mock potatoes with butter, and bake uncovered for about 20 minutes.

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SCALLOPED POTATOES Ingredients: 1 cube butter Âź cup Bisquick 2 cups milk 2-3 tsp. Cheese Whiz

6 potatoes Salt to taste Pepper to taste Garlic to taste

Melt butter, add Bisquick, milk and Cheese Whiz. Bring to boil until thick. Sprinkle over potatoes with salt and black pepper and garlic.

Put in cake pan. Pour sauce over potatoes. Bake at 350 for 1-1/2 hours.

ORANGE PECAN SWEET POTATOES Ingredients: Mazola Pure Cooking Spray 2 tbsp. butter ½ cup chopped pecans, toasted 1 cup brown sugar 2 tbsp. Argo corn starch 1 cup orange juice 1 tsp. Spice Islands Pure Vanilla Extract 3 lbs. (4 large) sweet potatoes, peeled, chunked and cooked 1. Spray 3-quart (13x19 inch) baking dish with cooking spray.

Add sweet potatoes and pecans.

2. Combine brown sugar and corn starch in a small saucepan.

Gradually add orange juice, whisking to blend.

3. Cook over high heat, stirring constantly, until mixture boils. Reduce heat and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat; add butter and vanilla. Pour over sweet potatoes.

4. Bake in a preheated 350F oven for 45 minutes, until edges are browned and bubbly.

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VEGETABLES IROQUOIS SUCCOTASH Ingredients: 1 ½ cups fresh corn kernels 1 lb. stew meat, diced in bite-sized pieces 3 tbsp. butter 1 ½ cups fresh lima beans 2 tbsp. cream Coarse ground pepper to taste Salt to taste Cornstarch 1. Boil ¼ cup of water. Add the fresh lima beans to the pot and return to boil. Cover beans, reduce the heat of the stove, and simmer until soft for about 30 minutes. Drain well.

2. Boil 2 tbsp. of water. Add the fresh corn and return to boil.

Cover, reduce the heat of the stove, and simmer until soft for about 30 minutes. Drain well.

3. Melt the 3 tbsp. of butter. Add the stew meat and brown on all sides over medium heat. Sprinkle with a dry seasoning (salt, pepper, spike, etc.) of your choice to taste.

4. Stir the cooked lima beans and corn into the meat.

5. Add the cream.

6. Mix the cornstarch with ¼ cup of water, stir until smooth.

7. Add to the meat and stir gently until the sauce thickens (this should take about 3 minutes).

8. Serve at once.

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COUNTRY-STYLE CABBAGE Ingredients: 1 large head cabbage 2 tbsp. water 他 tsp. chicken bouillon granules 1/8 tsp. ground black pepper 2 tbsp. cider vinegar 1. Clean and trim cabbage. Cut into 1 inch pieces.

2. Place water in bottom of skillet or Dutch oven. Add cabbage, bouillon granules, and black pepper. Cover and cook over medium heat. Stir occasionally for 15 minutes or until cabbage is wilted and tender.

3. Stir in vinegar and serve hot.

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SOUTHERN GREENS Ingredients: 5 to 6 pounds assorted greens—collards, kale, mustard, turnip 1 cup chopped onion 1/4 cup vegetable oil 1 or 2 jalapeno or serrano chile peppers, seeded and minced 1 smoked turkey leg, smoked pork chops, or ham hock Seasoned salt and ground black pepper or seasoned pepper 1. Tear the greens into large pieces. Wash the greens well in a sink full of cold water, lifting greens out and letting grit stay on bottom of sink. Drain sink, change water and wash again; repeat washings until there is no grit on the greens.

2. Cut away tough stems; roll large leaves and cut in strips or chop.

3. In a large kettle, combine the chopped onions, 2 cups water, oil, and chile pepper, if using. Bring to a boil over high heat.

4. Gradually stir in the greens, allowing each batch to wilt before adding more greens.

5. Put turkey leg or smoked meat in greens. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

6. Cover and reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 45 minutes to 1 hour, to your taste.

7. Remove meat from bone; chop and return to pot. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the greens to a serving dish; serve hot.

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CASSEROLES CHICKEN, SAUSAGE, BEEF CASSEROLE Ingredients: Canned white chicken meat Cream of mushroom Sausage (pork or beef) Garlic Ground beef Onions French onions Green pepper—cubed Butter Mozzarella cheese Black pepper Soy sauce Kraft sharp cheddar cheese Canned green peas Elbow macaroni (can substitute with white rice or spaghetti) 1. Boil macaroni adding salt, butter, black pepper, soy sauce, some onions to season. Drain and keep warm. Cut into cubes generous amounts of onions, green pepper and garlic – set aside.

2. Brown ground beef adding onions, garlic, soy sauce and black pepper to taste.

3. Lightly boil sausage, slice, then cut in quarters; saute` in a little butter.

4. Drain canned chicken; saute` in a little butter, add seasoning to taste.

5. Add water to cream of mushroom but still maintain some amount of thickness, then add to macaroni in a casserole dish.

6. Gently stir in drained ground beef, saute`ed sausage and 156 saute`ed chicken. Also stir in cheddar cheese, cubed onions, cubed green pepper, canned green peas drained, butter. Sprinkle

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on salt, black pepper and soy sauce to taste.

7. Single layer of sliced mozzarella cheese on top.

8. Sprinkle on French onions.

9. Bake at 350 degrees until cheese begins to melt and begins to crust around edges.

10. Remove from oven and let cool. Dig in!

GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE Ingredients: 2 cans whole cut green beans 1 ½ tsp soy sauce 1 can cream of mushroom 1 can fried onion rings 4-6 tsp Cheeze Whiz or Velveeta Mix ingredients in ovenproof casserole dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Top with onion rings and bake 10 more minutes.

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DANNI’S SHRIMP ‘N’ NOODLE CASSEROLE Ingredients: 3 lbs. shrimp 12 packages Ramen Noodles 6 cloves garlic 1 white onion 1 yellow onion 2 large cans French Onions 1 green, yellow and red pepper Oil 2 tbsp. Bragg Liquid Aminos or soy sauce 1 small box fish fry 1 medium bottle lemon or lime juice 1. Cook noodles adding 3 tsp lemon or lime juice and 2 cloves garlic.

2. Clean shrimp, batter in fish fry and fry; drain; add to noodles.

3. Cut up peppers, and half of each onion; add to noodles. Stir together.

4. Place one layer of French Onions on bottom of baking pan; add layer of shrimp/noodle mixture. Alternate French onion and shrimp/noodle mixture.

5. Place in oven and bake until lightly brown. Lightly sprinkle lemon juice on top. Serve warm.

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HARVEST VEGETABLE & CHEESE CASSEROLE Ingredients: 1 tsp. Olive or Canola oil 1 cup onion peeled and chopped 1 large clove peeled and minced 1 small jalapeno minced (optional) 2 large tomatoes chopped 2 lbs. zucchini or yellow squash, cut into ½ inch pieces 1 ½ - 2 cups corn kernels (can be frozen) 6 oz. Monterey Jack cheese, grated Salt (optional) Black pepper 1. In large skillet heat oil, add onion and saute` until softened (Medlow).

2. Add garlic, jalapeno, tomatoes, squash, corn and cook stirring, 8-10 minutes or until squash is tender.

3. Reduce heat to low, stir in cheese, salt and pepper, cover the pan, simmer 30 seconds to melt cheese.

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PINEAPPLE-SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE Ingredients: 3 lbs. sweet potato (6 med/large) 2 cans (8 oz each) crushed pineapple in juice undrained ¼ tsp. ground cinnamon 4 tsp. ground butter-flavored sprinkles 1/3 cup chopped pecans or golden raisins (optional) 1 ¾ cups miniature marsh-mellows 1. Bake sweet potato at 400F for about 45 minutes or until tender.

Set aside to cool; peel then cut into bite-sized pieces.

2. Place in large bowl, toss with remaining ingredients except marshmellows. Coat a 2 ½ quart casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray. Place mixture in dish. Top with marshmellows.

3. Bake at 350F for 35-40 minutes or until mixture is bubbly and top is lightly browned. If top browns too quickly, loosely cover with aluminum foil during last 10 minutes. Serve hot.

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OTHER THANKSGIVING DISHES BAKED MACARONI & CHEESE Ingredients: 4 cups water 1 tbsp. salt 3 cups of elbow macaroni ½ cup butter + 1Tbsp softened 2 large eggs 2 cups evaporated milk 1 tsp. salt 2 dashes of Tabasco sauce 1 lb extra sharp cheese grated & mixed with ½ cup American cheese ½ tsp. sweet paprika 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Boil water and salt; add macaroni; boil until tender; about 12 minutes—stirring occasionally. Drain and rinse with a little cold water. Mix with butter and set aside.

2. In small bowl beat eggs until light yellow. Add milk, salt, Tabasco sauce. Grease a 9 inch casserole dish; alternate layers of cooked macaroni with layer of mixed cheeses, ending with cheeses on top. Pour egg mixture slowly and evenly over macaroni & cheese.

3. Sprinkle with paprika. Bake 30-40 minutes until egg custard topping is firm, bubbly and golden brown.

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MERIQUA’S JAMAICAN STYLED STEAMED CHICKEN Ingredients: Chicken Onions Black Pepper

Bragg Liquid Aminos Oil

1. Cut up the chicken.

2. Season with generous amounts of black pepper and bragg.

3. Brown pieces in small amount of oil.

4. Drain and add chicken to pot.

5. Add in generous amounts of onions and bragg.

6. Add water to cover and cook until tender.

7. Serve with rice.

CRACKLING CORN BREAD Ingredients: 2 cups yellow cornmeal 2 eggs beaten 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder 2 tbsp. bacon or ½ tsp. baking soda Ham drippings 1 1/2 tsp. salt ½ cup commercially prepared cracklings Preheat oven to 400F. Sift cornmeal, baking soda, baking powder and salt together. Add crackling, eggs, drippings and milk. Spread batter in a greased 8 inch square pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes.

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PAPA WHYTE’S POOR MAN’S MEAL Ingredients: Ramen Noodles Onions 1 lb. Ground beef Fried Okra

1 can corn (drained) 1 can peas (drained) Garlic

1. Boil water; add onions, garlic and noodles. Cook until tender (about 3 minutes); drain.

2. Brown ground beef and drain.

3. Mix noodles, ground beef and seasoning packet together. Add one can of corn and one can of peas. Can be added as a side dish or eaten by itself.

4. Sprinkle fried okra on top.

JAMAICAN FRIED DUMPLINGS Ingredients: Flour Oil

Baking Powder Salt

1. Heat generous amount of oil in frying pan.

2. Combine flour, salt and baking powder; add water and knead into a semi-stiff dough.

3. Break off and shape into medium sized balls. Flatten slightly.

4. Place into frying pan and brown on all sides. Can be served at breakfast time with bacon, sausage, eggs or as a bread at dinner time.

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PAPA WHYTE’S BAKED MACARONI & CHEESE Ingredients: Whole Wheat macaroni Butter Black Pepper Chopped Onions Chopped Garlic Ground Beef

Bragg Liquid Aminos Vegesal Spike ž cups milk Velveeta Cheese Sausage

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bring water to a boil. Add Whole Wheat macaroni, chopped onions, chopped garlic, butter, black pepper, spike, vegesal, and bragg to taste.

2. Boil, stirring constantly to desired tenderness. Do not over cook.

Drain. Add more seasoning to taste.

3. Brown ground beef. Drain. Boil sausage. Slice, and cut into quarters.

4. Add ground beef and sausage to macaroni mixture. Stir in Velveeta cheese.

5. Place a layer of Sharp Cheddar cheese on top.

6. Bake until crust forms.

HOMEMADE CRANBERRY SAUCE Ingredients: 1 cup water 1 cup sugar 1 12oz. pkg, fresh or frozen cranberries, rinsed and drained Bring water and sugar to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add cranberries and return to boil. Reduce heat and boil gently for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Pour sauce into bowl, cover, and cool completely at room temperature. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

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GRAVY OLD-FASHIONED TURKEY GRAVY Ingredients: Milk or canned turkey or chicken broth ½ cup of flour or ¼ cup of cornstarch Turkey giblets (if desired) 1. Pour turkey drippings from the pan into a 4-cup measuring cup.

2. Remove ¼ cup of fat from the top of the drippings in your measuring cup. Place the drippings back into the roasting pan.

3. Use a piece of bread to soak up the rest of the fat on the top of your measuring cup. To do this: simply place the bread on top of the drippings and toss out when soaked.

4. Add broth or milk to the drippings in the measuring cup until it equals 4-cups.

5. Using a whisk, blend ½ cup of flour or ¼ cup of cornstarch with the fat in the pan. Gradually blend in liquid from the measuring cup until smooth.

6. Bring to a boil, stir, and simmer about 5 minutes.

7. Add finely chopped, cooked giblets if desired.

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PERFECT TURKEY GRAVY Ingredients: 1 package McCormick Turkey Gravy Mix 2 tbsp. all purpose flour 1 ½ cups cold water ½ cup turkey pan drippings on turkey broth ½ cup cooked, chopped turkey giblets 1. Combine Turkey Gravy Mix and flour in a medium saucepan.

Using a whisk, gradually stir in water, turkey drippings and turkey giblets.

2. Bring to boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes or until thickened.

CRANBERRY TURKEY GRAVY Ingredients: 3 ½ tbsp. of flour 1 ¼ cups of canned chicken or turkey broth 7 ½ tbsp. of turkey pan drippings ¼ cup of cranberry juice Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste ½ cup of whole berry cranberry sauce 1. Heat pan drippings in a large skillet over medium heat.

2. Add the flour, stirring constantly with a whisk; cook for one minute (be careful not to let the flour mixture brown).

3. Slowly whisk in the turkey or chicken broth until smooth.

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4. Whisk in the cranberry juice and continue to stir until the mixture comes to a boil and thickens.

5. Reduce heat to low and stir in the whole berry cranberry sauce until thoroughly mixed.

6. Season the gravy to taste with salt and pepper.

7. Keep warm over very low heat until ready to serve.

VEGETARIAN GRAVY Ingredients: ½ cup of vegetable oil 1/3 cup of chopped onion 5 cloves of garlic, minced ½ cup of all-purposed flour 4 tsps nutritional yeast 2 cups of vegetable broth ¼ tsp. of ground black pepper ½ tsp. of salt ½ tsp. of sage 4 tsps. all-purpose flour 4 tbsp. of light soy sauce or Bragg 1. In a saucepan over medium to low heat, combine the oil, garlic, and onion; cook until onion is translucent.

2. Add the flour, yeast, and soy sauce to make a paste.

3. Gradually mix in the broth, stirring constantly.

4. Put in the seasonings.

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DESSERTS CHEESE CAKE Ingredients: 10 oz Graham cracker 5 tbsp. butter 12 oz cream cheese 3 eggs separated ½ cup granulated sugar 6 tbsp. lemon juice ½ cup heavy cream 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place Graham cracker into a clean plastic bag and roll out with a rolling pin until crumbly.

2. Melt butter and add crumbs. Stir until butter is well mixed in.

3. Pour mixture into an 8 inch greased spring form pan. Press flat with back of spoon. Bake 10 minutes.

4. Beat cheese and egg yolk. Add sugar, cream and lemon juice.

5. Wisk egg whites until it forms peaks.

6. Make cutting movements with metal spoon, gently add egg whites to creamy mixture.

7. Pour mixture into the crumb crust and cook 45-50 minutes until firm. Refrigerate 1 hour before removing the outside of pan.

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OLD-FASHIONED APPLE PIE Ingredients: 2 9-inch unbaked pie crusts ¾ cup of white sugar 2 tsp. of lemon juice 1 tbsp. of butter ½ tsp. of ground cinnamon 2 tbsp. of all-purpose flour ¼ tsp. of ground nutmeg 7 cups of thinly sliced apples ½ tsp. of lemon zest 4 tbsp. of milk (if desired) 1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

2. Mix together the sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon zest; set aside.

3. Line one crust in a 9-inch deep-dish pie pan.

4. Layer 1/3 of the apple into the pie crust. Sprinkle with sugar mixture and repeat until done.

5. Sprinkle with lemon juice and dot with butter.

6. Place second pie crust on top of filling and flute the edges. Cut vents in the top crust and brush with milk if desired for a glazed appearance.

7. Bake at 425 degrees for 40 to 50 minutes.

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OATMEAL CAKE Ingredients (found at local health food store): 1 ¼ cups boiling water 1 cup quick oats ½ cup soy margarine 1 ¼ cups sucanat or turbinado sugar 2 tsp. vanilla flavoring ½ tsp. cardamon 1 cup unbleached white flour ½ cup whole wheat flour 2 ½ tbsp. energy baking powder 1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. ground coriander 1. In a large mixing bowl, combine hot boiling water, quick oats and margarine. Cover bowl and let mixture stand for about 20 minutes.

2. Add remaining ingredients and mix well.

3. Place batter in a 9 x 13 pan.

4. Bake at 350 degrees (oven already preheated) for 35 minutes or until done.

5. Spread topping onto cake and put cake under broiler briefly only until slightly browned.

TOPPING FOR OATMEAL CAKE Mix in bowl: ½ cup soy margarine at room temp.

2 cups unsweetened coconut flakes 1 tbsp. vanilla flavoring 1 cup sucanat or turbinado sugar Enough Vitasoy milk to mix and to hold ingredients above together to get a nice spreading consistency.

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CHOCOLATE PECAN PIE Ingredients: 1 (9-inch) unbaked pie crust 3 eggs 2/3 cup of white sugar ½ tsp. of salt 1/3 cup of margarine, melted 1 cup of light corn syrup 1 cup of pecan halves 2 cups of sweet chocolate chips 1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Prepare the pie shell.

2. Beat the eggs, sugar, salt, margarine, and syrup with a hand beater.

3. Stir in the pecans and the chocolate chips. Pour into pie shell.

4. Bake until set (40 to 50 minutes). Let cool before cutting.

GRANNY’S CRANBERRY BREAD Ingredients: 2 cups of sifted all-purpose flour 1 cup of sugar 1 ½ tsp. of baking powder 1 tsp. of salt ½ tsp. of baking soda ¼ cup of butter/margarine 1 egg, beaten 1 tsp. of grated orange peel ¾ cup of orange juice 1 ½ cups of light raisins 1 ½ cups of fresh or frozen cranberries, chopped

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1. Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda into a large bowl. Cut in butter until mixture is crumbly.

2. Add egg, orange peel, and orange juice all at once. Stir until mixture is evenly moist.

3. Fold in raisins and cranberries.

4. Spoon into a 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 10 minutes or until a toothpick or butter knife inserted into the middle comes out clean.

5. Remove from pan and cool on a wire rack.

If you want to, you can substitute cranberries for the raisins if you want an all cranberry bread.

AUTUMN PUMPKIN MUFFINS Muffin Ingredients: 1 ½ cups All-Purpose Flour 1 tsp. baking powder 2 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. ground cloves 1 tsp. ground cinnamon 1 tsp. ground nutmeg ½ tsp. salt 2 cups canned pumpkin 1 cup Crisco Canola Oil 3 cups sugar 3 eggs 1 cup chopped walnuts 1 cup raisins Crisco No-Stick Cooking Spray (or your favorite Crisco oil) Orange Glaze Ingredients: 1 ½ cups confectioners’ sugar 6 tsp. orange juice

1 tsp. grated orange peel Additional chopped walnuts 175

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Using Crisco No-Stick Cooking Spray, spray 18 muffin tin openings.

2. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in medium bowl. Set aside.

3. In bowl of an electric mixer, combine pumpkin, Crisco Oil, sugar and eggs, and then mix until well blended.

4. Add the set-aside dry ingredients and mix well.

5. By hand, stir in walnuts and raisins.

6. Pour batter evenly into prepared muffin tin openings. Bake 2023 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

7. Cool in pan for 15 minutes. Remove from pan and cool completely.

For Orange Glaze: Combine confectioner’s sugar, orange peel and orange juice in small bowl. Stir with spoon to blend. Spoon glaze over top of cooled muffins, letting excess glaze run down sides.

Sprinkle with additional nuts before glaze hardens.

SPICED HOLIDAY SUGAR COOKIES Ingredients: 1 cup butter, softened 1 Âź cups sugar 1 egg 2 tsp. McCormick Pure Vanilla Extract 2 1/3 cups flour 1 tsp. baking soda

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¼ teaspoon McCormick Ground Nutmeg 1/8 teaspoon salt Colored sugars or jimmies Glaze Ingredients: 3 to 4 tsp. milk ½ tsp. McCormick Vanilla Extract 3 to 4 drops McCormick Food Color 1 cup confectioners’ sugar 1. Beat butter in large bowl with an electric mixer on medium high speed for 30 seconds. Add sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Mix flour, baking soda, nutmeg and salt; gradually stir into mixture. Chill dough until firm, about 1 hour.

2. Preheat oven to 375F. Roll to 1/8 inch thickness on lightly floured surface. (Note: Thicker cookies will yield fewer cookies). Cut into shapes with favorite cookie cutters. Sprinkle with colored sugar, if desired.

3. Bake on greased baking sheet 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool cookies 1 minute on cookie sheet then remove to wire rack. Cool. Glaze and decorate.

Glaze: Mix all ingredients. Add additional water or milk as needed to thin or more powdered sugar to stiffen. Blend in 3 to 4 drops of food color. If desired, divide the icing among separate small bowls and tint each one with different colors by stirring in 1 to 2 drops food color.

Tip: Combine ¼ cup flour and ¼ cup confectioners’ sugar to use for dusting surface.

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EASY UPSIDE DOWN CAKE Ingredients: 1 can (20 oz) Dole Pineapple Slices in Juice ¼ cup butter or margarine, melted 2/3 cup packed brown sugar 10 maraschino cherries 1 package (18.25 oz) yellow or pineapple-flavored cake mix 1. Drain pineapple slices; reserve ¾ cup juice.

2. Stir together melted butter and brown sugar in 12 inch skillet with heat proof handle. Arrange pineapple slices in sugar mixture.

Place cherry in center of each pineapple slice.

3. Prepare cake mix according to package directions, replacing some of the water with reserved ¾ cup juice that is needed to prepare the batter. Pour batter evenly over pineapple.

4. Bake at 350F for 35-40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes. Loosen edges and invert onto serving platter. Makes 10 servings.

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WELL, WHAT DO I DO WITH THANKSGIVING

LEFTOVERS?

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Figuring out what to do with the leftovers after that great Thanksgiving Day can become a source of major concern for mothers. After all, how many turkey sandwiches can a person eat? Well, we have the solution. Below is a collection of recipes that will make eating that day-old or maybe that week-old turkey so exciting, you will want to eat turkey all year round.

TURKEY AND POTATO CASSEROLE Ingredients: 2 ( 2 pounds) packages frozen hash brown potatoes ½ cup chopped onions 2 (10 ¾ ounce) cans condensed cream of chicken soup 1 (10 ¾) can condensed cream of mushroom soup 2 tbsp chopped chives ¼ pound butter, melted 1 (8 ounce) container sour cream ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese 2 cups shredded leftover turkey ½ cup crushed potato chips or bread crumbs Soy sauce/bragg to taste 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. In a 6-quart casserole dish, mix together all the ingredients except the potato chips. Bake the casserole covered for 45 minutes.

3. Uncover, sprinkle with potato chips, and bake for an additional 15 to 25 minutes or until the casserole has just begun to bubble around the edges.

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PILGRIM’S PIE Ingredients: 2 pounds potatoes (or 2 pounds leftover mashed potatoes) 2 tbsp. butter Ÿ cup milk 3 onions 1 pound leftover turkey, cut into small pieces 1 (10 ounce) package frozen peas, thawed 1 (10 ounce) package frozen corn kernels (or the leftover corn from your dinner) 1 tbsp. paprika 1 pinch ground nutmeg 1 pinch dried sage 1 pinch vegesal 1 pinch ground black pepper 1 pinch spike 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. 2. If you do not want to use leftover mashed potatoes, boil some potatoes and mash with milk and 2 tbsp butter or margarine. Add seasoning. Set aside.

3. Saute` the onions with the paprika and vegesal and spike.

Add the leftover turkey and sage, and toss until the turkey is well coated.

4. In a saucepan, blanch the frozen vegetables for 5 minutes in boiling water. Drain.

5. Spread a thin layer of potatoes in the casserole dish. Add half the peas and corn, then the turkey, then the rest of the peas and corn. Top with mashed potatoes.

6. Dot the top with flakes of butter, nutmeg, paprika, vegesal, spike and pepper. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until golden brown.

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TURKEY ENCHILADAS Ingredients: 1 (10-ounce) can enchilada sauce 1 (10 他 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup 1 (7-ounce) can diced green chiles 2 cups shredded turkey 2 cups grated cheddar cheese 10 large flour tortilla shells 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 2. In a small bowl, mix together enchilada sauce and mushroom soup. Set aside.

3. Place each tortilla shell flat on the counter and fill with one heaping teaspoon each of the green chiles, turkey and cheese.

4. Roll and place in a 9x11-inch pan. Continue until the tortillas fill the pan.

5. Pour your sauce mixture over the tortillas, being careful that each one is thoroughly covered. Bake.

6. If desired, serve with sour cream, guacamole, diced tomatoes, and shredded lettuce. Broil 2 to 3 minutes until the top of the scallop is browned.

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CRISP TURKEY SCHNITZEL Ingredients: 1 ¼ lbs. turkey breast slices (1/4 inch thickness) 1 ½ tsp. ground cumin ½ tsp. paprika ½ tsp. turmeric ½ tsp. salt ¼ tsp. ground black pepper Pinch of cayenne pepper ¾ cups dry bread crumbs unseasoned 2 large eggs 1/3 cup vegetable oil Lemon wedges for serving 1 . Arrange turkey single layer on plate. Mix cumin, paprika, turmeric, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper together.

Sprinkle on both sides of turkey meat and rub into meat.

2. Preheat oven 275F. Spread flour on plate. Spread bread crumbs on second plate. Beat eggs in bowl. Lightly coat turkey slices in flour. Shake to remove excess. Dip in egg.

Then dip both sides in bread crumbs. Completely cover turkey. Handle lightly so coating does not fall off.

3. Heat oil medium-high heat. Sauté turkey until golden brown on both sides. About 1 minute per side. Turn carefully. Keep warm in oven. Serve hot.

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PAPA WHYTE’S TURKEY SUB Ingredients: Sub bread (wheat) Lettuce Pickles Spicy mustard Parmesan Cheese Banana peppers Oregano Salt & Pepper

Leftover turkey Tomato Miracle Whip Oil & Vinegar Swiss Cheese Bragg Liquid Aminos Black Olives Onions

1. Finely shred lettuce; thinly slice tomato; and thinly slice onions. Slice turkey.

2. Warm bread in oven if desired.

3. Spread Miracle Whip on bread. On the top bread sprinkle lettuce, add tomato slices and onions. Add pickles, black olives, and banana peppers.

4. On the bottom bread add a single layer of Swiss Cheese.

Place turkey on top of cheese.

5. Pour on oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, oregano, and Parmesan cheese. Also, put on Bragg and spicy mustard.

6. Enjoy!

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DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING FIESTA SALAD Combine in Large Bowl: ½ cup Hellmann’s Real Mayonnaise ½ cup prepared salsa Add: 6 cups torn Romaine lettuce leaves 2 cups diced cooked turkey 4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled Salad Fixin’s Toss and Serve Note: Try tomatoes, cheese, onions, black beans and/or olives.

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PAPA WHYTE’S TURKEY SALAD Ingredients: Iceberg Lettuce Boston Lettuce Onions Carrots (thinly sliced) Ken’s Ranch Dressing Bragg Liquid Aminos Kraft Sharp Shredded

Redberg Lettuce Tomatoes Garlic Turkey (Cubed) Black Pepper Real Bacon Bits Cheddar Cheese

1 . Wash lettuce, tomato, carrots, and onions.

2 . Lightly grill cubed turkey with onions, garlic, black pepper, and Bragg.

3 . Finely cut up lettuce, onions, garlic, and carrots. Cut the tomatoes in bite-size pieces.

4 . Toss all ingredients together in one bowl. Add grilled turkey to the bowl and toss.

5 . Sprinkle on top of salad black pepper, real bacon bits, Bragg, and Kraft cheese.

6. After all this has been put in individual serving bowls add Ranch dressing to one’s taste and

ENJOY!

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14 BEAUTIFUL THANKSGIVING

POEMS

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BEAUTIFUL THANKSGIVING POEMS THANK GOD FOR THE SMALL THINGS Thank God for clothes to wear; For food to eat; For people who care; And for money under the car seat.

—Daniel Whyte III

GOD LOVED AND GAVE HIS SON How often do I wonder That Christ should love me so; But never can I answer Why He such love should show; It passeth understanding, Outreaching human thought, That, He, the Lord of glory My soul with blood hath bought.

—E.G. K. Wesley

THANK YOU LORD FOR LOVING ME Thank you Lord for loving me, Taking my sins to Calvary, Making a way so I could be free, Thank you Lord for loving me.

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Thank you Lord for saving me, From this hell-bent world to the Heavenly, Forever I’ll sing and shout with Thee, Thank you Lord for saving me.

Thank you Lord for being my Friend, Holding me strong until the end, Making me fit for Your Heaven, Thank you Lord for being my friend.

Thank you Lord for loving me; Love so deep— Deeper than the deepest sea.

Love greater than— All the powers that be.

Thank you Lord for loving me.

—Daniella Whyte COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS 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.

—Selected

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CHRIST MAKES THE DIFFERENCE Heaven above is softer blue, Earth beneath is sweeter green, Something lives in every hue, Christless eyes have never seen!

Birds with sweeter songs o’erflow Flowers with newer beauty shine, Since I know as now I know I am His and He is mine!

—Selected I GIVE THEE HUMBLE THANKS For all the gifts that Thou dost send, For every kind and loyal friend, For prompt supply of all my needs, For all that’s good in word or deed, For gift of health along life’s way, For strength to work from day to day, I give Thee humble thanks.

For ready hands to help and cheer, For listening ears Thy voice to hear, For yielded tongue Thy love to talk, For willing feet Thy paths to walk, For open eyes Thy Word to read, For loving heart Thy will to heed, I give Thee humble thanks.

For Christ who came from Heaven above, For the cross and His redeeming love, For His mighty power to seek and save, 193

For His glorious triumph over the grave, For the lovely mansions in the sky, For His blessed coming by and by, I give Thee humble thanks.

—Selected DO GIVE THANKS We do thank God For this life on earth— This one that we count so small.

We do thank God, For fire in the hearth— That warms us one and all.

We do thank God, For clothes to wear— To keep us warm.

We do thank God. For the brownest mare— The one that plows the farm.

We do thank God, For the rain that falls— That causes fruit to bear.

We do thank God, For people who share— And always show us love.

We do thank God, For His wonderful care— And Who sheds His grace from above.

—Daniel Whyte IV

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“IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS!” Mid sunshine, cloud or stormy days, When hope abounds or care dismays When trials press and toils increase, Let not thy faith in God decrease— “In everything give thanks.”

All things we know shall work for good, Nor would we change them if we could; ‘Tis well if only He commands; His promises will ever stand— “In everything give thanks.”

He satisfies the longing heart, He thwarts the tempter’s cruel dart, With goodness fills the hungry soul, And helps us sing when billows roll— “In everything give thanks.”

—Selected

WHAT GLORY GILDS What glory gilds the sacred page!

Majestic, like the sun, It gives a light to every age; It gives, but borrows none.

The power that gave it still supplies The gracious light and heat; Its truth upon the nations rise; They rise, but never set.

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Lord, everlasting thanks be Thine For such a bright display, As makes a world of darkness shine With beams of heavenly day.

My soul rejoices to pursue The steps of Him I love, Till glory breaks upon my view In brighter worlds above.

—William Gardiner THANKSGIVING Once again our glad thanksgiving Rise before our Father’s throne As we try to count the blessings Of the year so swiftly flown; As we trace the wondrous workings Of His wisdom, power and love And unite our “Holy! Holy!”

With the seraphim above.

As we gather round our firesides On this new Thanksgiving Day Time would fail to count the blessings That have followed all our way.

Grace sufficient, help and healing, Prayer oft answered at our call; And the best of all our blessings, Christ Himself, our All in all.

He has blessed our favoured country With a free and bounteous hand;

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Peace and plenty in our borders, Liberty through all our land.

And although our sins and follies Oft provoke Him to His face, Mercy still restraints His judgements, And prolongs our day of grace.

While we love to count the blessings, Grateful for the year that’s gone, Faith would sweep a wider vision, Hope would gaze yet farther on.

For the signals all round us Seem with one accord to say, “Christ is coming soon to bring us Earth’s last, best, Thanksgiving Day!” —A. B. Simpson NOVEMBER IN THE SOUTH The livelong day I listen to the fall Of hickory nuts and acorn to the ground, The croak of rain crows and the blue jays’s call, The woodman’s ax that hews with muffled sound.

And like a spendthrift in a threadbare coat That still retains a dash of crimson hue.

An old woodpecker chatters forth a note About the better summer days he knew.

Down in the orchard hang the yellow pears, Half honeycombed by yellowhammer beaks; Nearby a dwarfed and twisted apple bears Its fruit, brown-red as Amazonian cheeks.

—Walter Malone 197

A SONG It is a little thing—a song, And yet it brings the warmth of May, And helps to make a faint heart strong, And gives a joy to each new day.

It is a little thing—a song, A lullaby to soothe the young; A cheerful hum when tasks are long; A hymn of hope when hearts are wrung.

It is a little thing—a song, Yet Heaven would be a lonely place, Despite the vastness of its throng, Without a choir to praise God’s grace.

—Dorothy R. Larson THE PRAISE OF GOD Speak, lips of mine!

And tell abroad The praises of my God. Speak, stammering tongue!

In gladdest tone, Make His high praises known.

Speak, sea and earth!

Heaven’s utmost star, Speak from your realms afar!

Take up the note, And send it round Creation’s farthest bound.

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Speak, heaven of heavens!

Wherein our God Has made His bright abode. —Selected

EVERYDAY THANKSGIVING Even though I clutch my blanket and growl when the alarm rings each morning, Thank you, Lord, that I can hear.

There are those who are deaf.

Even though I keep my eyes tightly closed against the morning lights as long as possible, Thank you, Lord, that I can see.

There are many who are blind.

Even though I huddle in my bed and put off the physical effort of rising, Thank you, Lord, that I have the strength to rise.

There are many who are bed-fast.

Even though the first hour of the day is hectic, when socks are lost, toast is burned and tempers are short, Thank you, Lord, for my family.

There are many who are lonely.

Even though our breakfast table never looks like the pictures in the ladies’s magazines, and the menu is at times unbalanced, Thank you, Lord, for the food we have.

There are many who are hungry.

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Even though the routine of my job is often monotonous, Thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to work.

There are many who have no work.

Even though I grumble and bemoan my fate from day to day, and wish my modest circumstances were quite not so modest, Thank you, Lord, for the gift of life. —Selected

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MY TOP 12 THANKSGIVING

SONGS

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MY TRIBUTE

by Andre Crouch How can I say thanks for the things You have done for me Things so undeserved yet You give to prove Your love for me?

The voices of a million angels Could not express my gratitude All that I am or ever hope to be I owe it all to Thee.

To God be the glory To God be the glory To God be the glory For the things He hath done.

With His blood He has saved me, With His pow’r He hath raised me; To God be the glory for the things He hath done.

Just let me live my life; Let it be pleasing Lord, to Thee.

And should I gain any praise, Let it go to Calvary.

With His blood He has saved me; With His power He has raised me; To God be the glory for the things He has done.

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FREE AT LAST Free at last, free at last Thank God Almighty I’m free at last.

Surely been ‘buked and surely been scorned, Thank God Almighty, I’m free at last.

But still my soul is a heaven born, Thank God Almighty, I’m free at last.

If you don’t know that I been redeemed, Thank God Almighty, I’m free at last.

Just follow me down to Jordan’s stream, Thank God Almighty, I’m free at last —Old Negro Spiritual

GIVE THANKS Give thanks with a grateful heart.

Give thanks to the Holy One Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ His Son. And now let the weak say I am strong Let the poor say I am rich Because of what the Lord hath done for us.

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COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS

by Johnson Oatman When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed; When you are discouraged thinking all is lost, Count your many blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

CHORUS Count your blessings, name them one by one; Count your blessings, see what God hath done; Count your blessings, name them one by one.

Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?

Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?

Count your many blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

When you look at others with their lands and gold, Think that Christ hath promised you His wealth untold; Count your many blessings money cannot buy Your reward in Heaven, nor your home on high.

So amid the conflict, whether great or small, Do not be discouraged, God is over all; Count your many blessings, angels will attend Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

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THANKS TO GOD Thanks to God for my Redeemer, Thanks for all Thou dost provide!

Thanks for times now but a mem’ry, Thanks for Jesus by my side!

Thanks for pleasant, balmy springtime, Thanks for dark and dreary fall!

Thanks for tears by now forgotten, Thanks for peace within my soul!

Thanks for prayers that Thou hast answered, Thanks for what Thou dost deny!

Thanks for storms that I have weathered, Thanks for all Thou dost supply!

Thanks for pain, and thanks for pleasure, Thanks for comfort in despair!

Thanks for grace that none can measure, Thanks for love beyond compare.

Thanks for roses by the wayside, Thanks for thorns their stems contain!

Thanks for home and thanks for fireside, Thanks for hope, that sweet refrain!

Thanks for joy and thanks for sorrow, Thanks for heav’nly peace with Thee!

Thanks for hope in the tomorrow, Thanks through all eternity.

—Swedish Hymn

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WE GATHER TOGETHER We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessings, He chastens and hastens His will to make known; The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing, Sing praises to His name, He forgets not His own.

Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining, Ordaining, maintaining His Kingdom divine; So from the beginning the fight we were winning, Thou, Lord, wast at our side, the glory be Thine!

We all do extol Thee, thou Leader in battle, And pray that Thou still our Defender wilt be.

Let Thy congregation escape tribulation; Thy name be ever praised: O Lord, make us free!

—Anonymous

NOW THANK WE ALL OUR GOD

by Martin Rinkart Now thank we all our God, With heart and hands and voices, Who wondrous things hath done, In whom His world rejoices; Who, from our mother’s arms, Hath blest us on our way With countless gifts of love, And still is ours today.

O may this bounteous God, Thro’ all our life be near us, With ever joyful hearts, And blessed peace to cheer us; And keep us in His grace, And guide us when perplexed And free us from all ills, In this world and the next.

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All praise and thanks to God, The Father now be given, The Son, and Him who reigns, With them in highest heaven, The one eternal God, Whom earth and heav’n adore; For thus it was, is now, And still be evermore.

COME, YE THANKFUL PEOPLE, COME

by Henry Alford Come, ye thankful people, come; Raise the song of harvest home!

All is safely gathered in, Ere the winter storms begin; God, our Maker, doth provide, For our wants to be supplied; Come to God’s own temple, come. Raise the song of harvest home.

We ourselves are God’s own field, Fruit unto His praise to yield; Wheat and tares together sown, Unto joy or sorrow grown; First the blade, and then the ear, Then the full corn shall appear Lord of harvest, grant that we, Wholesome grains pure may be.

For the Lord our God shall come, And take His harvest home; From His field shall purge away, All that doth offend that day; Give His angels charge at last, In the fire the tares to cast; But the fruitful ears to store, In His garner evermore.

Even so, Lord quickly come, Bring Thy final harvest home; Gather Thou Thy people in, Free from sorrow, free from sin; There, for ever purified, In Thy presence to abide; Come, with all Thine angels, Raise the glorious harvest home.

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GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS

by Thomas O. Chisholm “Great is Thy faithfulness,” O God my Father, There is no shadow of turning with Thee; Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not; As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest, Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above, Join with all nations in manifold witness, To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide; Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, Blessings, all mine, with ten thousand beside!

“Great is Thy faithfulness!

Great is Thy faithfulness!”

Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed Thy hand hath provided— “Great is Thy faithfulness,” Lord, unto me!

AS MEN OF OLD THEIR FIRST FRUIT BROUGHT

by Frank von Christierson As men of old their first fruits brought, Of orchard, flock and field, To God the Giver of all good, The source of bounteous yield, So we today first fruits would bring; the wealth of this good land, Of farm and market, shop and home, Of mind, and heart and hand.

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A world in need now summons us, To labor, love and give; To make our life an offering, To God, that man may live.

The church of Christ is calling us, To make the dream come true; A world redeemed by Christ-like love; All life in Christ made new.

In gratitude and humble trust, We bring our best to Thee, To serve Thy cause and share Thy love with all humanity.

O Thou, who gavest us Thyself, In Jesus Christ Thy Son, Teach us to give ourselves each day, Until life’s work is done.

LET ALL THINGS NOW LIVING

by Katherine K. Davis Let all things now living A song of thanksgiving To God the Creator triumphantly raise.

Who fashioned and made us, protected and stayed us, Who guideth us on to the end of our days His banners are o’er us, His light goes before us, A pillar of fire shining forth in the night, ‘Til shadows have vanished and darkness is banished As forward we travel from light into light.

His law He enforces, the stars in their courses, The sun in His orbit, obediently shine.

The hills and the mountains, the rivers and fountains, The deeps of the ocean proclaim Him divine.

We too, should be voicing our love and rejoicing, With glad adoration a song let us raise, ‘Til all things now living unite in thanksgiving To God in the highest, hosanna and praise.

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SING TO THE LORD OF HARVEST

by John S. B. Monsell Sing to the Lord of Harvest, Sing songs of love and praise; With joyful hearts and voices Your alleluias raise.

By Him the rolling seasons In fruitful order move; O sing to the Lord of Harvest, A song of happy love.

Bring to His sacred altar The gifts His goodness gave, The golden sheaves of harvest, The souls He died to save.

Your hearts lay down before Him When at His feet you fall; And with your lives adore Him, Who gave His life for all.

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TOP 10 PRESIDENTIAL THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATIONS 1. First Known Thanksgiving Proclamation 2. George Washington 3. Abraham Lincoln 4. Franklin Delano Roosevelt 5. Harry S. Truman 6. John Fitzgerald Kennedy 7. Jimmy Carter 8. Ronald Reagan 9. William Jefferson Clinton 10. George W. Bush

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COPY OF FIRST KNOWN THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATION 1676 (SEAL) At a Council, Held in Charlestown, June the 20th, 1676.

The holy God having by a long and Continued Series of his Afflictive dispensations in and by the present Warr with the Heathen Natives of this land, written and brought to pass bitter things against his own Covenant people in this wilderness, yet so that we evidently discern that in the midst of his judgments he hath remembred mercy, having remembred his Footstool in the day of his sore displeasure against us for our sins, with many singular Intimations of his Fatherly Compassion, and regard: reserving many of our Towns from Desolation Threatened, and attempted by the Enemy, and giving us especially of late with our Confederates many signal Advantages against them, without such Disadvantage to our selves as formerly we have been sensible of, if it be of the Lords mercies that we are not consumed, It certainly bespeaks our positive Thankfulness, when our Enemies are in any measure disappointed or destroyed: and fearing the Lord should take notice under so many Intimations of his returning mercy, we should be found an Insensible people, as not standing before him with Thanksgiving, as well as lading him with our Complaints in the time of pressing Afflictions: The COUNCIL have thought meet to appoint and set apart the 29th day of this instant June, as a day of Solemn Thanksgiving and praise to God for such his goodness and Favour, many Particulars of which mercy might be Instanced, but we doubt not those who are sensible of Gods Afflictions, have been as diligent to espy him returning to us; and that the Lord may behold us as a People offering praise and thereby glorifying him; The Council doth Commend it to the Respective Ministers, Elders and people of this Jurisdiction; Solemnly 215

and seriously to keep the same. Beseeching that being perswaded by the mercies of God we may all, even this whole people offer up our bodies and Souls as a living and Acceptable Service unto God

by Jesus Christ. —BY THE COUNCIL, EDWARD RAWSON, Secr.

Copy of the earliest known extant Thanksgiving Proclamation.

Original Broadside in the Possession of Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston, Mass.

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THANKSGIVING DAY—1789

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA— A PROCLAMATION GEORGE WASHINGTON, PRESIDENT

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.”

Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, and that will be—That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks—for his kind care and protection of the People of this country previous to their becoming a Nation—for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his providence, which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war—for the great degree of tranquillity, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed—for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted, for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers

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and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions—to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually—to render our national government a blessing to all the People, by constantly being a government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed—to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord—To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and Us—and generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

—George Washington

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THANKSGIVING DAY—1862

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA— A PROCLAMATION ABRAHAM LINCOLN, PRESIDENT

It has pleased Almighty God to vouchsafe signal victories to the land and naval forces engaged in suppressing an internal rebellion, and at the same time to avert from our country the dangers of foreign intervention and invasion.

It is therefore recommended to the people of the United States that at their next weekly assemblages in their accustomed places of public worship which shall occur after notice of this proclamation shall have been received they especially acknowledge and render thanks to our Heavenly Father for these inestimable blessings, that they then and there implore spiritual consolation in behalf of all who have been brought into affliction by the casualties and calamities of sedition and civil war, and that they reverently invoke the divine guidance for our national counsels, to the end that they may speedily result in the restoration of peace, harmony, and unity throughout our borders and hasten the establishment of fraternal relations among all the countries of the earth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be fixed.

Done at the city of Washington, this 10th day of April A. D. 1862, and of the Independence of the United States the eightysixth.

(Seal) Abraham Lincoln.

By the President: William H. Seward, Secretary of State.

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THANKSGIVING DAY—1933

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA— A PROCLAMATION FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT, PRESIDENT

I, Franklin D. Roosevelt, President of the United States of America, do set aside and appoint Thursday, the thirtieth day of November 1933, to be a day of Thanksgiving for all our people. May we on that day in our churches and in our homes give humble thanks for the blessings bestowed upon us during the year past by Almighty God. May we recall the courage of those who settled a wilderness, the vision of those who founded the Nation, the steadfastness of those who in every succeeding generation have fought to keep pure the ideal of equality of opportunity and hold clear the goal of mutual help in time of prosperity as in time of adversity.

May we ask guidance in more surely learning the ancient truth that greed and selfishness and striving for undue riches can never bring lasting happiness or good to the individual or to his neighbors.

May we be grateful for the passing of dark days; for the new spirit of dependence one on another; for the closer unity of all parts of our wide land; for the greater friendship between employers and those who toil; for a clearer knowledge by all nations that we seek no conquests and ask only honorable engagements by all peoples to respect the lands and rights of their neighbors; for the brighter day to which we can win through by seeking the help of God in a more unselfish striving for the common bettering of mankind.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. Done at the City of Washington this twenty-first day of November, in the year of our Lord nineteen

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hundred and thirtythree and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and fifty-eighth.

(Seal)

窶認ranklin D. Roosevelt.

By the President: William Phillips, Acting Secretary of State. ________________________________________________________ *This Thanksgiving Proclamation was signed unusually late that year (not until after the President arrived at Warm Springs, Ga., when and where he was spending a short vacation). His Secretary, Mr. Earley presented the final copy to him, as he sat in his car standing in front of Georgia Hall, and he signed it with the automobile steering wheel as a desk.

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THANKSGIVING DAY—1945

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA— A PROCLAMATION HARRY S. TRUMAN, PRESIDENT

In this year of our victory, absolute and final, over German fascism and Japanese militarism; in this time of peace so long awaited, which we are determined with all the United Nations to make permanent; on this day of our abundance, strength, and achievement; let us give thanks to Almighty Providence for these exceeding blessings.

We have won them with the courage and the blood of our soldiers, sailors, and airmen. We have won them by the sweat and ingenuity of our workers, farmers, engineers, and industrialists. We have won them with the devotion of our women and children. We have bought them with the treasure of our rich land. But above all we have won them because we cherish freedom beyond riches and even more than life itself.

We give thanks with the humility of free men, each knowing it was the might of no one arm but of all together by which we were saved.

Liberty knows no race, creed, or class in our country or in the world.

In unity we found our first weapon, for without it, both here and abroad, we were doomed. None have known this better than our very gallant dead, none better than their comrade, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Our thanksgiving has the humility of our deep mourning for them, our vast gratitude to them.

Triumph over the enemy has not dispelled every difficulty. Many vital and far-reaching decisions await us as we strive for a just and enduring peace. We will not fail if we preserve, in our own land and throughout the world, that same devotion to the essential freedoms and rights of mankind which sustained us throughout the war and brought us final victory.

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Now, Therefore, I, Harry S. Truman, President of the United States of America, in consonance with the joint resolution of Congress approved December 26, 1941, do hereby proclaim Thursday November 22, 1945, as a day of national thanksgiving.

May we on that day, in our homes and in our places of worship, individually and as groups, express our humble thanks to Almighty God for the abundance of our blessings and may we on that occasion rededicate ourselves to those high principles of citizenship for which so many splendid Americans have recently given all.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States of America to be affixed. Done at the City of Washington this 12th day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred forty-five and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and seventieth. —HARRY S. TRUMAN

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THANKSGIVING DAY—1961

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA— A PROCLAMATION JOHN FITZGERALD KENNEDY, PRESIDENT

“It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord.”

More than three centuries ago, the Pilgrims, after a year of hardship and peril, humbly and reverently set aside a special day upon which to give thanks to God for their preservation and for the good harvest from the virgin soil upon which they had labored. Grave and unknown dangers remained. Yet by their faith and by their toil they had survived the rigors of the harsh New England winter. Hence they paused in their labors to give thanks for the blessings that had been bestowed upon them by Divine Providence. This year, as the harvest draws near its close and the year approaches its end, awesome perils again remain to be faced. Yet we have, as in the past, ample reason to be thankful for the abundance of our blessings. We are grateful for the blessings of faith and health and strength and for the imperishable spiritual gifts of love and hope. We give thanks, too, for our freedom as a nation; for the strength of our arms and the faith of our friends; for the beliefs and confidence we share; for our determination to stand firmly for what we believe to be right and to resist mightily what we believe to be base; and for the heritage of liberty bequeathed by our ancestors which we are privileged to preserve for our children and our children’s children.

It is right that we should be grateful for the plenty amidst which we live; the productivity of our farms, the output of our factories, the skill of our artisans, and the ingenuity of our investors.

But in the midst of our thanksgiving, let us not be unmindful of the plight of those in many parts of the world to whom hunger is no

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stranger and the plight of those millions more who live without the blessings of liberty and freedom. With some we are able to share our material abundance through our Food-for-Peace Program and through our support of the United Nations Freedom-from-Hunger Campaign. To all we can offer the sustenance of hope that we shall not fail in our unceasing efforts to make this a peaceful and prosperous world for all mankind.

Now, Therefore, I, John F. Kennedy, President of the United States of America, in consonance with the joint resolution of Congress approved December 26, 1941, which designates the fourth Thursday in November of each year as Thanksgiving Day, do hereby proclaim Thursday, the twenty-third day of November of this year, as a day of national thanksgiving.

I urge all citizens to make this Thanksgiving not merely a holiday from their labors, but rather a day of contemplation. I ask the head of each family to recount to his children the story of the first New England thanksgiving, thus to impress upon future generations the heritage of this nation born in toil, in danger, in purpose, and in the conviction that right and justice and freedom can through man’s efforts persevere and come to fruition with the blessing of God. Let us observe this day with reverence and with prayer that will rekindle in us the will and show us the way not only to preserve our blessings, but also to extend them to the four corners of the earth.

Let us by our example, as well as by our material aid, assist all peoples of all nations who are striving to achieve a better life in freedom.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States of America to be affixed. Done at the City of Washington this twenty-seventh day of October in the year of our

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Lord nineteen hundred and sixty-one, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and eighty-sixth. —JOHN F. KENNEDY

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THANKSGIVING DAY—1977

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA— A PROCLAMATION JIMMY CARTER, PRESIDENT

Although the first years of America’s struggle for independence were often disheartening, our forebears never lost faith in the Creator, in their cause, or in themselves. Upon learning of the American victory at Saratoga in 1777, Samuel Adams composed the first National Thanksgiving proclamation, and the Continental Congress called upon the governors of every state to designate a day when all Americans could join together and express their gratitude for God’s providence “with united hearts.” By their actions they extended a revered regional custom into a national tradition.

Precisely two centuries have now passed since that time. We have tamed a continent, established institutions dedicated to protecting our liberties, and secured a place of leadership among nations. But we have never lost sight of the principles upon which our Nation was founded. For that reason we can look to the future with hope and confidence.

Now, Therefore, I, Jimmy Carter, President of the United States of America, in accord with Section 6103 of Title 5 of the United States Code, do hereby proclaim Thursday, November 24, 1977, as Thanksgiving Day. I ask all Americans to gather on that day with their families and neighbors in their homes and in their houses of worship to give thanks for the blessings Almighty God has bestowed upon us.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this eleventh day of November, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred seventy-seven,

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and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and second. —JIMMY CARTER

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THANKSGIVING DAY—1981

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA— A PROCLAMATION RONALD REAGAN, PRESIDENT

America has much for which to be thankful. The unequaled freedom enjoyed by our citizens has provided a harvest of plenty to this nation throughout its history. In keeping with America’s heritage, one day each year is set aside for giving thanks to God for all of His blessings.

On this day of thanksgiving, it is appropriate that we recall the first thanksgiving, celebrated in the autumn of 1621. After surviving a bitter winter, the Pilgrims planted and harvested a bountiful crop.

After the harvest they gathered their families together and joined in celebration and prayer with the native Americans who had taught them so much. Clearly our forefathers were thankful not only for the material well-being of their harvest but for this abundance of goodwill as well.

In this spirit, Thanksgiving has become a day when Americans extend a helping hand to the less fortunate. Long before there was a government welfare program, this spirit of voluntary giving was ingrained in the American character. Americans have always understood that, truly, one must give in order to receive. This should be a day of giving as well as a day of thanks. As we celebrate Thanksgiving in 1981, we should reflect on the full meaning of this day as we enjoy the fellowship that is so much a part of the holiday festivities. Searching our hearts, we should ask what we can do as individuals to demonstrate our gratitude to God for all He has done.

Such reflection can only add to the significance of this precious day of remembrance.

Let us recommit ourselves to that devotion to God and family that has played such an important role in making this a great Nation, and

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which will be needed as a source of strength if we are to remain a great people.

Now, Therefore, I, Ronald Reagan, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim Thursday, November 26, 1981, as Thanksgiving Day. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this twelfth day of November, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eightyone, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and sixth. —RONALD REAGAN

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THANKSGIVING DAY—1993

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA— A PROCLAMATION WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON, PRESIDENT

From the beginnings of our Nation, we have sought to recognize the providence and mercy of God with words and acts of gratitude, indeed with effort and energy toward helping others wherever need occurred. In the colorful days and weeks when the autumn of the year brings ripe and fruitful harvest across our land, Americans give thanks for many blessings. It is a time of bounty and generosity, a time to come together in peace.

This is the true spirit of Thanksgiving: acknowledging God’s graciousness, and in response, reaching out in service to others. This spirit was apparent in Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1621, when Pilgrim immigrants sat down with native Americans and celebrated their common harvest.

This same spirit of Thanksgiving inspires our great nation and our people to act with justice and concern toward all the peoples of the world and toward one another here at home. We are grateful for the dramatic progress made towards a comprehensive peace in the Middle East and for the Agreement signed in our United States; we are thankful for the relief efforts that our Nation and others have undertaken where natural disasters have struck unmercifully. Still, in this final decade of the twentieth century, we face great challenges.

The troubled areas of our world continue to challenge our ability to find peaceful and equitable solutions. On this Thanksgiving Day, the hospitality and harmony of loved ones, friends, and neighbors, remind each of us that we belong to the larger family of mankind.

As we gather together during this sacred and cherished time, let us pledge to build a new America where everyone will have a place at

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the table, and no one will be left out. In this way we will truly maintain the spirit of thanksgiving that has enriched our country since its beginnings. While recognizing the importance of individual responsibility, we will continue to place the strength and benevolence of this great Nation at the service of all its people, indeed of all the peoples of the earth. Then, in these richer years, we will reap a true and fruitful harvest.

Now, Therefore, I, William J. Clinton, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Thursday, November 25, 1993, as a National Day of Thanksgiving. I encourage the citizens of this great Nation to gather in their homes, places of worship, or wherever they may choose to express heartfelt thanks for the abundance bestowed on us throughout our history. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this seventeenth day of November, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and ninetythree, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and eighteenth. —WILLIAM J. CLINTON

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THANKSGIVING DAY—2001

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA— A PROCLAMATION GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT

Nearly half a century ago, President Dwight Eisenhower proclaimed Thanksgiving as a time when Americans should celebrate “the plentiful yield of our soil…the beauty of our land . . . The preservation of those ideals of liberty and justice that form the basis of our national life, and the hope of international peace.” Now, in the painful aftermath of the September 11 attacks and in the midst of our resolute war on terrorism, President Eisenhower’s hopeful words point us to our collective obligation to defend the enduring principles of freedom that form the foundation of our Republic.

During these extraordinary times, we find particular assurance from our Thanksgiving tradition, which reminds us that we, as a people and individually, always have reason to hope and trust in God, despite great adversity. In 1621 in New England, the Pilgrims gave thanks to God, in whom they placed their hope, even though a bitter winter had taken many of their brethren. In the winter of 1777, General George Washington and his army, having just suffered great misfortune, stopped near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, to give thanks to God. And there, in the throes of great difficulty, they found the hope they needed to persevere. That hope in freedom eventually inspired them to victory.

In 1789, President Washington, recollecting the countless blessings for which our new Nation should give thanks, declared the first National Day of Thanksgiving. And decades later, with the Nation embroiled in a bloody civil war, President Abraham Lincoln revived what is now an annual tradition of issuing a presidential proclamation of Thanksgiving. President Lincoln asked God to “heal the wounds

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of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity, and Union.�

As we recover from the terrible tragedies of September 11, Americans of every belief and heritage give thanks to God for the many blessings we enjoy as a free, faithful, and fair-minded land. Let us particularly give thanks for the self-less sacrifices of those who responded in service to others after the terrorist attacks, setting aside their own safety as they reached out to help their neighbors. Let us also give thanks for our leaders at every level who have planned and coordinated the myriad of responses needed to address this unprecedented national crisis. And let us give thanks for the millions of people of faith who have opened their hearts to those in need with love and prayer, bringing us a deeper unity and stronger resolve.

In thankfulness and humility, we acknowledge, especially now, our dependence on One greater than ourselves. On this day of Thanksgiving, let our thanksgiving be revealed in the compassionate support we render to our fellow citizens who are grieving unimaginable loss; and let us reach out with care to those in need of food, shelter, and words of hope. May Almighty God, who is our refuge and our strength in this time of trouble, watch over our homeland, protect us, and grant us patience, resolve, and wisdom in all that is to come.

Now, Therefore, I, George W. Bush, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Thursday, November 22, 2001, as a National Day of Thanksgiving. I encourage Americans to assemble in their homes, places of worship, or community centers to reinforce ties of family and community, express our profound thanks for the many blessings we enjoy, and reach out in true gratitude and friendship to our friends around the world.

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In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this sixteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand one, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-sixth. —GEORGE W. BUSH

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PRAYER MODELS FOR THE THANKSGIVING

DINNER TABLE

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PRAYER MODELS FOR THE THANKSGIVING DINNER TABLE OUR THANKS TO THEE For food and shelter and for toil, For all Thy gifts from sun and soil; For cares that help us to grow strong, For thought that guides toward right from wrong, For tears that cleanse, and the need to be Closer in our touch with Thee, For every care Thy love bestows, For every joy each glad heart knows, For all good things we feel or see, Dear loving God, our thanks to thee!

—Solveig Paulson Russell

THANKSGIVING PRAYER Help us, dear Lord, our good to share With those who have no one to care, So that they, too, may say This is a blest Thanksgiving Day! —Edna Mae Busch

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A PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING Lord, behold our family here assembled.

We thank Thee For this place in which we dwell; For the peace accorded us this day, For the hope with which we expect tomorrow; For the health, the work, the food, And the bright skies that make our lives delightful, For our friends in all parts of the earth, and our friendly helpers…

Let peace abound in our small company.

—Robert Louis Stevenson

PRAYER FOR THE DAY Almighty God, you have given me real life Through Jesus Christ.

My soul praises You. Lord God, I know that I am Completely dependent upon you.

Thank you for daily providing All my body needs.

You bring me such abundance, Almighty God. As I think of Thanksgiving Day May my heart completely consecrated To your Son, Jesus Christ So that through Him My life will show my gratitude to You. —Billy Graham

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A THANKSGIVING PRAYER We thank Thee, Lord, for all the good That we have had this year: For raiment, shelter, and for food, For all the friends so dear.

We praise Thee for Thine only Son, Who died to set us free; We praise Thee for the victories, And for the light we see.

We thank Thee for Thy keeping power, And for Thy saving grace; For blessing us each day and hour, With Thy sweet, smiling face.

We praise Thee for Thy blessed truth, And for Thy love divine, That leads us from our very youth Until our years decline.

We thank Thee for Thy guiding hand, And for the way of life, That guides us safely through this land, Of darkness and of strife.

We praise Thee, Lord, for peace and rest, That fills our very hearts; For blessing us with all the best That Heaven can impart.

We thank Thee for Thy precious Word, That feeds our hungry souls; We thank and praise Thee, blessed Lord, Who keeps us well and whole. —Author Unknown

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THANKSGIVING

CHARITIES

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1. WorldVision 34834 Weyerhaeuser Way, South P.O. Box 9716, Mail Stop 207 Federal Way, Washington 98063-9716 http://www.worldvision.org WorldVision exists to feed the hungry and help those who are in need worldwide, as well as tell them the Good News that Jesus saves.

2. America’s Second Harvest 35 East Wacker, Suite 2000 Chicago, IL 60601-2200 http://www.secondharvest.org America’s Second Harvest has a national network of more than two hundred food bank and rescue programs nationwide.

3. Feed the Children PO Box 36 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73101-0036 http://www.feedthechildren.org Feed the Children is a worldwide organization that is dedicated to helping children who live in poverty.

4. The American Red Cross PO Box 37243 Washington, DC 20013 http://www.redcross.org The American Red Cross is a humane organization. Its purpose is to help people stop, prepare for, and respond to emergencies.

5. Action Against Hunger 875 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 1905 New York, NY 10001 http://www.aah-usa.org 245

This organization provides a worldwide humanitarian relief network.

It focuses on famine and malnutrition internationally.

6. American Jewish World Service, Inc. 45 West 36th St., 10th Floor New York, NY 10018 This is a nonsectarian organization founded to help ease human suffering, poverty, hunger, and disease.

7. Life Today P.O. Box 982000 Fort Worth, TX 76182-8000 http://www.lifetoday.org Life Today is a ministry dedicated to taking the Gospel and love of Jesus Christ to all nations.

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15 WEBSITES FOR THANKSGIVING

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1. www.ThanksgivingLovers.org 2. www.Thanksgiving.org 3. www.FoodNetwork.com 4. www.KiddyHouse.com/Thanksgiving/ 5. www.EatTurkey.com 6. www.Plimoth.org 7. www.History.com/minisites/thanksgiving/ 8. www.Holidays.net/thanksgiving 9. www.TheHolidaySpot.com/thanksgiving/ 10. www.Scholastic.com/scholastic_thanksgiving/ 11. www.Kate.net/holidays/thanksgiving 12. http://home.Aristotle.net/thanksgiving 13. www.InfoPlease.com/spot/thanksgiving.html 14. www.Wilstar.com/holidays/thanksgv.htm 15. www.Rats2u.com/thanksgiving/thanksgiving_index.htm 16. www.TheThanksgivingThatAlmostWasnt.com 249

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YOUR THANKSGIVING

MEMORIES

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Date: __________________________ Place: __________________________ ___________________________________ Guests: _________________________ ___________________________________ Notes: _________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________

Date: __________________________ Place: __________________________ ___________________________________ Guests: _________________________ ___________________________________ Notes: _________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________

Date: __________________________ Place: __________________________ ___________________________________ Guests: _________________________ ___________________________________ Notes: _________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________

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ANSWERS TO TRIVIA QUESTIONS

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1. Abraham Lincoln 2. Sarah J. Hale 3. George Washington 4. Maize 5. Toms 6. Hens 7. Poults 8. Roast turkey & trimmings 9. Minnesota & North Carolina 10. Wisconsin, Massachusetts, New Jersey 11. Friday after Thanksgiving 12. False 13. Gowns 14. Bow and/or curtsy 15. Few….unhealthy 16. 32 million 17.Turkey, Texas; Turkey Creek, Louisiana; Turkey, North Carolina 18. Detroit Lions & Chicago Bears 19. Popcorn and toast 20. 25 21. John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Zachary Taylor, U.S. Grant, James A. Garfield, F.D. Roosevelt, George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush 22. 60 million 23. Spider-man 24. 1924…1942 – 1944 25. Felix the Cat 26. 1927 27. Garfield

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Visit us on the Web at: www.ThanksgivingLovers.org or www.MoneyUndertheCarSeat.com

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