Happy Thanksgiving!

"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 at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens.

... commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged..." A. Lincoln, 1863, on the declaration of Thanksgiving Day.

OK, it's no surprise, President Lincoln could write better than I ever will, so I thought it fitting to include a bit of the text from his declaration when Thanksgiving was made a national holiday. Hmmmmm, he made that declaration while we were engaged in the Civil War.

So, here are some things I'm thankful for while "sojourning in foreign lands."

I'm thankful for a wonderful family. Ruth, Naomi, and Jonah bring an indescribable joy to my life. Sometimes when I'm skyping with them, I don't really want to talk, I just want to watch them move and talk and laugh. I already daydream about our reunion and getting tackled by Naomi and Jonah and rolling around on the floor with them. I'm thankful for Ruth. She keeps the family running when I'm there and even more so when I'm gone. To quote Jack Nicholson, she "makes me want to be a better man."

I'm thankful for friends and family. I'll admit, I'm not the best at keeping in touch. But the memories of times spent with friends and family are precious to me. I look forward to making more.

I'm thankful for our dog, Lilly. Many of you know that we had to put our first dog, Dorsett, to sleep this year. That is a loss that I still feel. For those of you that are dog people, you know that you can't replace a dog. But if you're lucky, you get a new dog who is a new friend and that makes you happy. I'm happy.

Finally, I'm thankful for the opportunity to serve. The military serves a vital role for our nation. Part of that role involves sending young men and women into harm's way to do a job that is sometimes unpopular. If they are going to get injured in some corner of a foreign field (with apologies to Rupert Brooke), then they deserve the best care they can get and that is what we are giving them.

"For peace in our hearts, for peace in our homes, for friends and family. For life and for love, for work and for play, let us pray to the Lord, let us pray to the Lord."