A Prayer of Thanks

Happy Thanksgiving! We have much to be thankful for. Probably more than we can imagine. Here's a prayer of thanks.

Dear God,

Thank you for the sun that shines
in the bright blue sky.
Thank you for the rain that falls
from the clouds on high.
Thank you for the plants and trees
that give us food and shade.
Thank you for each animal
both wild and tame you’ve made.
And a big thanks for my family
and my home so fair.
Help me remember that each blessing
was given because you care

Amen.

MY BUDGIE

I've got a budgie with personality. I can say that because I've had a few. George, thinks he's a person. Whenever we eat, he sits on the bottom of his cage and flaps his wings furiously. It's his way of saying he wants to join us. Of course, we open his door and let him eat from our plates. It seems cruel not to.

My sweet feathery blue
Confined to a cage,
Sings to an audience
Inside a wire stage.
All day the songs continue,
As if he never heard
Those songs are required
From a caged little bird!

THINGS COULD BE WORSE

It makes us laugh to watch a movie where everything goes wrong. But if it happens in real life it's not fun at all. Sometimes, it's just a matter of putting things into perspective.

It all started at breakfast
When I broke my favorite cup
And juice dripped on the floor
Mom made me clean it up.
At school I had a spelling test
I stumbled on each letter.
Later I noticed a giant hole
In my new blue sweater
At recess I was chosen last for tag
I fell and skinned my knee.
My friends ate a bag of jellybeans
But wouldn’t share with me.
On the way home I stepped in a puddle
My shoes got soaking wet.
For supper Mom served meatloaf
Knowing it’s not my favorite.
Later that night I lay in bed thinking
Wondering if I had a curse.
Then I recalled the news I saw on TV
Na—things could’ve been worse.

The Bible Tells Us

I'm getting ready for Pioneer Clubs. It's a club for kids to learn about God. Our theme verse is Psalms 119: 105. Your word is a lamp to my feet and light for my path.

I’m so glad God gave us his Word
It explains how we came to be.
Without the Bible I couldn’t learn
How much that God loves me.

It tells how God made the oceans
And placed the clouds in the air.
It tells how God formed people
From the very ground He put there!

Yes, the Bible answers our questions.
God wrote it for you and for me.
Everyone matters so much to God.
Without Him—we just wouldn’t be.

THE GOOD SHEPHERD

We have not been created by God to wander about on this earth confused about the meaning of life. Instead, God wants to give us life and to give it abundantly. I'm so glad Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He not only came to lead the way, but to help us every day.

The good shepherd knows the sheep that are his
He guides them gently too.
They follow him where-ever he goes
As trusting sheep will do.

At night the good shepherd guards his flock
And leads them all by day.
And when he gently calls their name
They trust his voice and obey.

Each day the good shepherd feeds his sheep
And tends to the weak and lame.
With his staff he protects and keeps
And loves them all the same.

And if a lamb should lose its way
Out on the hills to roam,
He seeks and holds the lamb in his arms
And brings it safely home.

We are like sheep that have gone astray
Out in the world so cold
And Jesus our shepherd keeps calling our name,
Until, we’re safe in His fold.

CHROME BUS ADVENTURE

As a school bus driver, I have a front seat to excitement everyday. The poet Rachel Field wrote a poem years ago called Good Green Bus. Here's my interpretation of that delightful poem.

Climb aboard the old chrome bus.
School is where it will take us.
Packing in kids like spade foot toads,
Down the narrow and windy roads.
Zooming through lights in sets of two-
Look out cars we’re passing through.
Over the tracks we go clackity clack,
See kids land with a thump at the back.
Look to the right—the skate park is there
With jumps and ramps to catch the air;
and to the left are stages on display
In window houses where people play.
Around the bend and into the drive
Look out teachers cause we’re alive!

Three in One Recipe

I was feeling a need for a change, so I wrote something silly. Forgive me, but it was just what the doctor ordered. Enjoy!

Crack ten eggs into a bowl
and beat it with a fork.
When it foams up like the sea,
toss in chunks of pork.

Sprinkle in some chocolate chips.
Grate some cheddar cheese.
Blend in dollops of pumpkin sauce
Add a cup of noodles and peas.

Stir it up for about five minutes.
Add frosted shredded wheat.
Then pop it under a broiler oven
and get ready for a treat.

When the crust is nicely browned
you have got yourself a winner.
Instead of one meal you have three.
It’s breakfast, lunch and dinner!