Happy Thanksgiving one and all...!

Another Turkey Day come and went!!! I sure thought this photo sure told the truth about the day in lots of way. It's about getting together, sharing with those you love... and sometimes it's the little things, like the hand on the shoulder that seem to mean the most! Amazing how simple life can be sometimes, if we just take a bit to "smell the roses". And the roses were a bloom at our home this holiday. Lots of things to be thankful for this year. Yes, even in the mist of all the things we lost, there are wonderful things that are telling us how wonderful life is, and how fortunate we are to be alive, and living in the great USA! I among men am very richly blessed. I have one of the most awesome family's in the universe. God blessed me with the most wonderful woman on the face of the earth to stand by my side through thick and thin, and sometimes the really thin... and I love her deeply, and know that I am loved in return. I have four of the greatest kids in the world. They are richly talented, amazing smart, and great people kids who love to live life to the fullest, while helping others!! And then, how often does this happen. I have amazing son and daughter in laws! Again, they are richly talented, amazingly smart, and truly special, each in their own way. Again, I am richly blessed. And then I have three very special grandchildren who each are terrific in their own right. Each has something unique about them that makes them endearing to me, and I love them very much.
And I blessed with a great Mom, no other mother on the face of the earth could put up with me, yet she can. She gives me strength to go on, courage to face the tough times, and guides me by her actions to better things. And a super sister, and even though I lost my father this year, I had a chance to tell him the one thing I had put off all my life. On one of our last drives, we stopped the pickup and I told him he was the best father any kiddo could ever hope to have. He was simply simply simple and yet amazing in his own right. I told him that because of him, I am. And he understood... He is gone, yet on this day of Thanksgiving, I knew he was with us. You could see him in the sunshine that blessed this day, feel his arms around you in the wind that wrapped around our bodies this afternoon, and hear his laughter throughout our family all day long, and feel his spirit in my office as I send this note.
Yes, some are gone, others are new, and one is on the way.. but truly, Ann and I are richly blessed to be the parents of one of the greatest familys in the world!! We love you each and every one!
Have a great day.. and some pics are up now from today.. and Jonathan and Randi are coming up tomorrow to be with us.. so more after that too.. we get to see Jon, Randi and Kaitlyn.. can not wait!!! Enjoy the day!

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all!

Recited by: Doc Quinn To listen click here



Cowboy's Prayer
I was moping around the outer corrals
of a friend of mine's ranch one day.
When I seen this old gray haired cowboy,
kneel down to the ground to pray.

He said, "Good morning Sir, it's just me again,
and I reckon I'm feeling alright,
except yesterday's heat hung on for quite a spell
and I didn't sleep much late last night.

But, I thought I'd stop and kinda talk awhile
just to let you know I'm still around.
I haven't accomplished a lot lately Lord,
I'm just trying to hold this cow job down.

Now you know how it is in the cow game Lord,
when the moisture all leaves the ground.
The grass all dies and the sand starts to blow
and it kinda of keeps the calf crop down.

Ya see, the water holes are nearly dried up Lord
and the cattle's getting thinner somewhat,
but, five or six days of good heavy rain
it'd sure help out a mighty lot.

Now I ain't got no favors to ask for myself,
I reckon things are alright by me,
except that climb to my saddle gets higher everyday
or maybe my knees are getting weak.

So excuse me Sir for taking up your time
but I had a few things to say,
we could sure use a little bit of moisture Sir
if you'd care to send a little bit our way."

Well I slowly turned and I walked away
and I stepped thru the door of a shed,
and I was down right ashamed for standing so quite
eaves-dropping the way that I did.

Just to think this old man, just a common hard hand,
although he never asked a thing for himself,
yet he knelt and talked to God like a friend
as he prayed for somebody else.

Well, we missed that old man at breakfast next morn
when he didn't sit down to his plate
and when we went to the bunkhouse we'd found him dead
but he died with a smile on his face.

And if you should wonder if this story is true
or if maybe it's just a refrain,
when we buried that old cowboy that same afternoon
it had already started to rain.
© Doyle R. Quinn I 1963

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all~~!!