We are Thankful!

 Psalm 100:4

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, 

and into His courts with praise: 

 be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.

"The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies.  To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added which are of so extraordinary a nature that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God... No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things.  They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.
It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people.  I do therefore invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday on November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens..."
President Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation
Washington, DC - October 3, 1863


Thanksgiving is not just a time to eat with the family, or a day off from work, but a time to praise our Great God for the provisions He has blessed us with!  We pray that you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving this year and are mindful of what God has done for you and your family.  Happy Thanksgiving!  Praise God for his provisions!

It has been a while since our last post, but it seems like yesterday it was just summer!  Where did the time go?  We are working on some Thanksgiving projects today and the kids are walking through the house right now pretending they are on the Mayflower ship as Pilgrims on their way to America.  The lesson I reviewed this morning must have sparked some creativity.  They learned about the Puritans and Separatists who were looking for religious freedom ~ and what those names really mean, and also what the First Thanksgiving was like once the Pilgrims arrived in America.  Also about the Thanksgiving Proclamation in 1863 by President Lincoln.  What an awesome God we serve!  Let us be Thankful!

Now for some pictures of what we have been up to during Harvest time...

 Corn Harvest Time!

 Look at those little corn people

 William, Bella and Robert got to ride along in the harvesting trucks

 Watching the truck go by

 William in the truck

 Will's prize from Harvest!

 Now for some Almond farming - time to rake almonds!

 Will working hard raking almonds from around the trees

Bella Hard at work

 Our little tired workers

Little Sophia!!!

Time to pick some pumpkins for harvesting - Winston in the pumpkin patch

Robbie

   

 Bella blue

 Will looking cool in his glasses

 Carving time

 Will's creation

 Bella's scared pumpkin

 Rob's bearded pumpkin

 Oh, yeah, Fear the Beard!

 More bearded creations

 Our crew

 And finally, we ended up bearding the kiddos too

 Even the baby... :)

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!