November's Theme: Thankfulness

Today I'm thankful for all those who died in the service of their countries. I'm thankful for all those who served without paying the ultimate price, too.

I'm thankful for the teacher (a former coworker of my husband's) who took youngest son aside yesterday to tell him some of the specifics of my husband's service in Viet Nam. We know some of the stories, but we don't understand the context, and this man, being a military historian, does.

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

---by John McCrae

[Update: The Crusty Curmudgeon has been posting letters home from Winnie: 23th August 1916, 6th October 1916, 6th November 1916, Feb 1917, 29th March 1917, 16th April 1917. Update 4: Finish off the series with "It will be one of the biggest things in Canadian history". And then thank Scott for letting us in on some of his family history.]

[Update 2: Chris is thankful for his home fellowship group.]

[Update 3: Julana is thankful for family.]

What are you thankful for?