Every year we tell ourselves of all the things we are thankful for.   Typically we are sure to include in amongst them, are our loved ones and our many superficial blessings.    But do we do this only as a holiday tradition?   Why do we have to have a date preset on the calendar to make us appreciate what we have?

Over the years I have always said how thankful I was for my family and friends and how I cherished the moments spent together.   I too have always been thankful for my health and the many other blessings that had been bestowed upon me over the span of the past years.   But as I begin to think of the quickly approaching holiday season and all the wonderful moments it holds in store, I thought with all the commercialism of the season, do we really get an opportunity to let the season be part of us? 

Don't get me wrong, I am truly thankful for my family, my friends, my animal friends, colleagues, and so on and all the great times we have had.    I do give thanks for being able to stay healthy and to be able to do the things I like to do.   I am blessed with all of this and  am very grateful.   But there is still much more!

For years I have hunted and fished in the great outdoors of our commonwealth.   Not once have I ever taken game that I did not take the time to stop and be thankful for that opportunity.   For the ability to enjoy the outdoors; to partake of the wild; to benefit from what nature had to offer me.   I tried to install this concept to those young people that I would take camping, hiking fishing or hunting.   That when game was taken, realize that another living creature has given its life to better ours.   Be thankful to that creature and be thankful you have had such an opportunity blessed upon you.   And never take for granted all the wonders of nature.   From the tiny pesky little mosquito to the awesome racked whitetail deer.    Every thing that nature has to offer can be amazing if you let it.  

As the holidays so quickly descend upon us, let us never forget to be thankful for all that we are blessed with but let's not ever let that thankfulness have to wait till the following year.   Each time you are in the great outdoors, realize the beautiful sunset, the wonderful smell of the wildflowers, the "flitting" of the birds at the feeder, the multicolored leaves you are raking, the purity of a new fallen snow, the warming rays of the sun, a lovely ice formation, or even the changing of the seasons, are mother natures way of sharing blessings with you.   Be grateful to be able to witness all of that and hopefully you will be able to witness that with family and or friends and make it even more special.   Enjoy the beauty of nature that surrounds you, enjoy the love of family and friends, enjoy all you are capable of doing and be thankful for all of it - all year long.   May the holiday season of 2005 be one of best ones yet and become a memory never to be forgotten in years to come.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

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Christmas Wishes:

It is hard to believe that this joyous time of year is upon us again!   It just seems like last week we were doing all those special little things that make the holiday time of the year so unique.    Often we reflect on and recall the wonder year's when that special gift was found under the tree, or that special tree that wound up being an adventure to get.   And can't ever forget getting woke up on Christmas morning by someone more anxious than you to rush to see the brightly colored wrapped secrets under the tree!  

I will never forget growing up and going out to cut a tree, gathering moss and other items to decorate under the tree.   Sam's mother would always go to extreme to make every holiday uniquely special.   Yes, even when she was 8+ months pregnant with Sam she was out tromping through the woods gathering greenery to decorate under the tree!    The memories just go on and on.    Like the year when instead of wrapping paper, "Santa" wrapped every thing in Sunday comics!   Yep the comics - he was full of surprises!    I am sure we all have memories of that present that when we saw it, it just took our breath away.   That is what holidays are all about - making memories - special times that can never be forgotten or even repeated for that matter!

This year we will grudgingly, get out the decorations.   Freeze putting them up but enjoy seeing them all season long.   Spend more money than we can afford, but justify it in some silly way.   We will try to get everyone something that will put their jaw to the floor (key word try!) - then fight our disappointment if it doesn't happen! Of course we will eat way too much wonderful food and reflect upon Christmas' past, but most importantly, we will take time to sit down and appreciate the season for what it is about - love, giving, sharing, celebrating Christ and so much more than the presents, the tree and all the wonderful memory making things that will accompany the season.    We can promise you this:  Christmas eve the lights on our tree will be on,  the oil lamps will be burning, the decorations of the season will be all around and the warmth of being loved will be in the air.   No doubt there will be smells of wonderful food already drifting about, colored wrappings under the tree, there may even be white stuff on the ground (great for sleighs to land in) - may be ... but we KNOW there will be plenty of memories, love and blessings no matter what!

As we prepare to spend our first Christmas at the Lazy B Homestead, we look forward to all the new memories that will be made.   It will no doubt be a little bland in decorations (don't even know where some are packed!) and will lack much of the holiday luster of previous years due to not quite being settled in yet, but there will be the most important things surrounding us - love, the many blessings that have been bestoed upon us, and the joys of giving and sharing and celebrating the birth of our Lord.   Beth will find time to cook something fantastic, the kids will find time to visit, and Sam will find time to jsut let things go for a little bit and enjoy everything around us!   There will be something special for everyone this season, even our animal friends and no how minor it may be, we know it will accompanied with lots of love!

From all of us here at TURTLE WORLD and the LAZY  B  HOMESTEAD, to all of you where ever you may be - Happy Holidays and wishing you a great 2008!!

Remember those in the armed services who, over the holiday are spending the season away from family and in more often than not hostile areas.   May God's blessing be on them and their families through out the holiday season and may they all be safely united soon.

Please be safe and never drink and drive!

Sam, Beth and the entire gang!

HOLIDAY PICTURES

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