Happy Birthday Stefani!

Today is Wednesday, November 21, 2012, and we are excitedly looking forward to a time of family and feasting tomorrow. Part of our celebration tomorrow will be to recognize the 19th birthday of our granddaughter, Stefani. Folks whose birthdays land near big holidays no doubt feel like they are often not the primary focal point. However, that does not mean they are forgotten by those who love and appreciate them. Our Stefani is a senior in high school. She, like all our offspring, is a one-of-a-kind. We are blessed with tremendous diversity in our clan. We feel blessed to have lived near all of our children for their entire lives. This has given us access to our grand kids and we thank God that it has worked that way. We have been so privileged to watch our Stef grow into the young woman that she is today. We thank God for her and look forward to seeing all that He has planned for her life. Happy birthday Sweetheart! Love, MiMi and Poppy.

I have not offered up any prayers for Twinkies but I've heard the shelves have been cleared and folks are even paying up to $50 for a box of these little calorie loaded confections. I am concerned for the 18,000 people who will be laid off as a result of the Hostess Company going out of business. The union was offered a deal to try and keep the company going. They refused and went on strike even though the enterprise was in bankruptcy. The union representative said he felt good about someone stepping in to buy the company and that means his people would be eventually working again. Not so fast, the most likely buyer at the moment is headquartered in Mexico and it's not clear where they would operate the business once the brands are purchased. I can't remember if I was ever a huge Twinkie fan but I at one time did love those coconut snowball thingies. This company also produced Wonder Bread and Ding Dongs so there's a lot of shelf space that might be freed up at the supermarket. I guess folks will just have to find another source for their gooey goodness fix.

Original handwritten document.

As we approach our time of family gathering, I do want to wish each one a most wonderful Thanksgiving Day celebration. In honor of this day set aside to honor God with our thanks, I want to once again share the words of our First President, George Washington. May God bless each one, and Lord willing, I will see you again right here on this same station, next Monday. Amen.  ....More later.

Thanksgiving Proclamation

By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation.

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, or 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 tranquility, 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 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