Blessed...

As we approach Thanksgiving, I wonder how many people TRULY are taking note of the blessings in their lives. Are they worried about how to pay for Christmas, how they can get around the holiday traffic, how to cope with the stress of the holidays, or when they are going to get their shopping done?

Unfortunately, I think that with the "commercialization" of Christmas, I think Thanksgiving is often overlooked. Christmas lights are up before Thanksgiving hits, right after Haloween ends, Christmas displays go up, and the advertising begins.

So, just for those of you who didn't know, I've included some facts about this "forgotten holiday".

Take some time to relect on what you have in front of you right now.

I have been blessed with a wonderful family, and an outstanding family life. I am thankful to have a roof over our heads, clothing on our backs, and food on the table. I am thankful for all of the laughter we have shared, and for the fact the we do everything as a family. These among lots of other things I am thankful for...as this is just the start of my list of things I am thankful for.

Here are some facts about Thanksgving...

The First American Holiday

1621: The first American holiday, Thanksgiving, was celebrated in Plymouth. Plymouth, America’s first colony, is now Plymouth Massachusetts. The Thanksgiving consisted of 50 Pilgrim settlers and 90 Wampanoag Indians, including their Chief, Massasoit. They shared a feast of fowl (could have been turkeys as they are native to America), deer and crops from their fields. They gave thanks to their Creator because after landing at Plymouth Rock in 1620, they had survived a very harsh winter. Sadly, half of them had succumbed to disease and cold.

1777: The first time Thanksgiving was celebrated by all 13 states (colonies) was when the Continental Congress declared a day of thanksgiving because the British were defeated at Saratoga.

1817: The Governors of New York and Pennsylvania made Thanksgiving an official state holiday. A few years later, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa did the same.

1846: A very determined lady, Sarah Hale, began a crusade for a nationwide Thanksgiving holiday.

1863: Abraham Lincoln heeded Sarah Hale's request to create a federal holiday, and made the last Thursday in November, a day of Thanksgiving.

2008: America will have celebrated 387 years of Thanksgivings. We are currently experiencing a temporary 'bump in our economic road', but we are still the most blessed nation in the world. And we have much to be thankful for …