Yesterday was Thanksgiving in the USA which a
lways signals the unofficial beginning of our Christmas holiday on December 25 and the New Year’s Eve and Day celebration one week later. Then the festivities continue in February with Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day in March, and finally Easter and Memorial Day rounding out the important spring holidays. In the summer we celebrate our independence day on July 4, honor our American workers on the first Monday in September, have fun trick or treating in October, and honor our Veterans in November. We also honor the Reverend Martin Luther King in January, our presidents in February, our mothers in May, and our fathers in June. Finally, we share other special days with our families for those events that are unique and meaningful to us.
Since I am continuing to celebrate our long Thanksgiving holiday weekend with my family, this will be a short blog. I will share a poem I wrote about the wonderful feelings that holidays create for families. If you are an American, happy holidays to all of you…….and God bless you and your family. 
CELEBRATING FESTIVE OCCASIONS
By Randi D. Ward
Holidays are a special time of the year.
They fill our lives with happiness and cheer.
The special memories we make with family and friends, old and new,
Help to brighten these precious days and keep us from feeling blue.
A party full of dancing, singing, and great food starts our new year
And ends with amazing fireworks and toasts of hope and good cheer.
We make resolutions and promises that we know we may not keep,
And feel so positive and renewed when later that night we finally sleep.
February soon arrives and we share our genuine love for others
By giving special gifts of love to our spouses, sisters, and brothers.
Red roses and yummy chocolate can be found everywhere
And smiles and hearts also reveal how much we really care.
July follows quickly and we celebrate our glorious independence and our country
And proudly carry and wave our flags to show how truly happy we are to be free.
We end the day with booming firecrackers and colorful sparkles in the air
And ooh and ahh at the incredible sky as we sit in amazement and stare.
Late fall is now approaching, and a very special day for giving thanks will soon arrive.
We give thanks for having our family and friends, for having good health and for being alive.
Our families gather closely together from very far places and very near
for one of the most spectacular and most wonderful times of the year.
A gourmet dinner table full of delicious cuisine, prepared with loving care
By wonderful and kind people whose culinary talents they wish to share,
Delight us immensely and provide us with a warm and inviting family night
To laugh, give thanks, and savor a cup of punch and many a tasty food bite.
Of course, there are special occasions we never want to forget
And so many wonderful events we have not even experienced yet.
The birth of a child, a college graduation, a high school reunion,
a religious event, a new job promotion, a happy marriage union.
All of these festive occasions provide us with great moments of joy.
They give us time to get together with those we love and to enjoy
Our family, friends, good food, good talk, and their own unique thing
That each and every holiday or special occasion can and will bring.
Randi D. Ward
November 29, 2013
