Stealing from other blogs again

Thursday, November 24, 2005

Thanksgiving Prayer

We return thanks to our mother, the earth, which sustains us.
We return thanks to the rivers and streams, which supply us with water.
We return thanks to all herbs, which furnish medicines for the cure of our diseases.
We return thanks to the moon and stars, which have given to us their Light when the sun was gone.
We return thanks to the sun, that has looked upon the earth with a beneficent eye.
Lastly, we return thanks to the Great Spirit, inWhom is embodied all goodness, and
Who directs all things for the good of Her children.
~Iroquois Prayer

This beautiful prayer came from the blog of "Mother Damnable" of the U.K., our newest commenter. Now counting three, I think, from the U.K.

I grew up in the land of the Iroquois in central New York. (Mohawk Valley). We knew the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga (county where I was born), Cayuga, Seneca and Tuscarora (sp?) very well but I had never seen this poem. I look forward to hearing much more from "Damnable".

I have about 30 minutes left of sanity before the horde descends. Everything done or almost.

The six of us
Tasha and Johnathan
Wesley and Stacey
Jim, his 3 kids and Tim
Britnay from the next town over
Assorted cats begging
Anyone else who drops in from the neighborhood.

I was counting 20 - It's always my best guess.

The girls all pitched in like champions on the cooking and cleaning. I'm so proud of them all. Of course, they were nibbling as they went. So was I. We have to make sure it won't poison any of our guests (lol).

L. If you were cooking for 20 or more and had been for more years than I care to remember, you'd have it down pat. I cheat some with canned things but much of it is scratch. Jim did the ham and mashed potatos at his house and just brought them over. He left again to pick up Tim and his kids who were spending the night with friends. His wife is ill so we'll send her a Care Package. She has problems with early pregnancy. As I've said somewhere before, I'm like a cow. Just squat, have the kid, and go back to what I was doing. Johnathan (girls' mother's boyfriend) will pick up my PFLAG friend from Atwater. He's alone for the holiday, very young, sad, and confused. No one should have to be alone like that.

Must go finish making gravy. Broth heated so all I have to do is thicken with cornstarch. Heat rolls, add marshmallows to sweet potatos, french fried onions to green been casserole, and I think I'm done except for standing back out of the way.

From our house to yours (even the ones who aren't celebrating today), have a wonderful time.