Thursday, November 23, 2006 was a beautiful sunny warm day in Oklahoma. Thanksgiving day at Mom's house was great. The turkey was golden brown and the cornbread dressing was wonderful. Everyone loves mom's dressing. No matter how hard we try to match the taste and texture of her great dish, we can't quite achieve such perfection. The house was packed with family. As usual there was standing room only. The cabinet top was filled with all the trimmings of great dishes prepared by such wonderful cooks. There were all our favorite deserts but especially the one that only Mom prepares and that is the best prune cake ever topped with her own special jello chopped with delicious pecans from the Thomas Pecan Farm.

Mom sold her house this year but will continue living here until a place becomes available to her at the Collinsville Retirement Center. This may be the last Thanksgiving at this house but not the last Thanksgiving at Mom's. It is hard to get all the Thomas clan together in one place as we are spread out across this great USA. But those that can, get together and have a great time and wonder why we don't do it more often. We have been blessed with a great family with lots of children. As I sat on the ole rocking chair that has been in the family longer than most of the family, I thought about the days when my children were little. I am looking at our kids kids and thinking when did this happen. How could this have happened. It just seems like yesterday when Mary, Arnold, Mike, Pat, Charlie, Cliff, and Susan were getting together for good times with their babies. I am thankful for many things such as living in a free land, having a good job with plenty of money, lots of things, driving good cars, having a bountiful table full of great food, being able to take wonderful vacations, and so on and so on. But, the one single and best thing I am thankful for is Mom and Dad for raising their kids to believe in Jesus Christ and teaching us the value of the blood of Jesus Christ. We were very fortunate to be raised in a Christian home with Christian values. I am thankful for this. I hope and pray every son, daughter, grand child, and great, great grandchild, and those to come feels the same. Granny and Mom in that little white church house in White Rock, Arkansas causes me to remember my roots.