The characteristic of genuine heroism is its persistency. All men have wandering impulses, fits and starts of generosity. But when you have resolved to be great, abide by yourself, and do not try to reconcile yourself with the world. The heroic cannot be common, nor the common heroic.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

We read a lot of these sappy stories like the one below which I just received by email, and it’s hard to know whether they are actually true or not. I have a slightly similar story about my son John to relate that I do know is true.

His first year playing summer baseball he did really good and enjoyed it a lot. However, his second year he was in a tougher league, and he really struggled. For the first few games, when at bat, he would just stand there and not try to hit because he was so afraid of striking out. So, unless the pitcher unintentionally walked him, he would strike out on call strikes. We talked about it a lot after the games, and he finally worked up enough courage to swing at the ball. And he did swing, three times, and he missed each time. However, when he walked back to the bench after striking out, his coach and team cheered and “high-fived” him just was much as if he’d made a home run. They knew what an achievement his swinging was for him personally. After that he was able to swing and learn how to hit the baseball and have a good baseball season.

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At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question:

‘When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do.

Where is the natural order of things in my son?’

The audience was stilled by the query.

The father continued. ‘I believe that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.’

Then he told the following story:

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Jessica and Delilah made this lovely centerpiece.

Andy helped entertain the kids while we cooked.

Here’s the breakfast feast: Sourdough pancakes, fruit salad, bacon, eggs, pigs-in-a-blanket, and hash brown casserole!

And here’s the breakfast crowd: Laura, Sheldon, Delilah, Andy,
Emma, Jessica, Curtis, Byrce, Jennifer, Tina, and Richard

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 favors. —George Washington, Thanksgiving Proclamation, 3 October 1789

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. —John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Nothing is more honorable than a grateful heart. —Seneca

I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends, the old and new. —Ralph Waldo Emerson

Pride slays thanksgiving, but a humble mind is the soil out of which thanks naturally grow. A proud man is seldom a grateful man, for he never thinks he gets as much as he deserves. —Henry Ward Beecher

Thanksgiving is a typically American holiday. The lavish meal is a symbol of the fact that abundant consumption is the result and reward of production. —Ayn Rand

God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say ‘thank you?’ —William A. Ward

Only a stomach that rarely feels hungry scorns common things. —Horace

Gratitude is the sign of noble souls. —Aesop

Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others. —Cicero

True thanksgiving means that we need to thank God for what He has done for us, and not to tell Him what we have done for Him. —George R. Hendrick

How wonderful it would be if we could help our children and grandchildren to learn thanksgiving at an early age. Thanksgiving opens the doors. It changes a child’s personality. A child is resentful, negative, or thankful. Thankful children want to give, they radiate happiness; they draw people. —Sir John Templeton

Delilah’s kindergarten class sings a song during the Thanksgiving program today.

Click here to see some great photos I took of Emma today!

Here’s Richard and the first deer he’s ever shot here on the farm in the 15 years he’s lived here! Tuesday morning we saw deer out the house window, Tuesday evening we saw deer in the same pasture. This morning Richard got up early and sat out in the pasture to try and shoot one. I watched him out the window and saw a deer not very far away and wondered why he didn’t shoot the deer. When he got back to the house he said he thought he had seen a deer briefly, but the hill crested and the weeds were high and he couldn’t see the deer as good as I could from the house. So, this evening. we moved the deer stand over to a good spot, and Richard climbed up in it to see if they might come back. And, this nice, fat buck walked right into the path of the first bullet!

My computer is still in the computer hospital (don’t even ask!) but at least my digital camera is back from the camera hospital. I took some photos on my walk to the mailbox this afternoon. It was COLD and windy, so I didn’t take many shots!

Can you see the bird in this shot?

Here he is cropped closer.

Richard and I drove home from Burlington, CO and saw some great country along the way.

This is a huge dairy all under the roof.

I’m thinking these cows don’t ever see the sun.

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Richard and I finished the drive to Burlington, CO this morning, watched the Pharo Cattle Company heifer sale, and then spoke to their producers about stockmanship in the evening.

Click here for more photos.

Richard and I drove from Dallas to Wichita Falls last night and then drove from there to Goodland, Kansas today. North of Garden City I saw this really neat statue, and Richard stopped so I could zoom in a photo it.

The forecast was for rain and snow the next day, so the corn and milo combines were running full bore.