In his weekly report, State Senator Mark Messmer gives us a Thanksgiving Message…
Thankful for Time with Family
By State Sen. Mark Messmer (R-Jasper)
The holiday season is officially upon us. Families and friends are gathering together for Thanksgiving, and Christmas is just around the corner. The times we share with loved ones at the table brings families together and creates life-long memories and traditions.
Thanksgiving has been celebrated in our great country ever since George Washington proclaimed that Americans should acknowledge the presence of God and give Him “our sincere and humble thanks.” In fact, Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day in the midst of the Civil War. He wanted all Americans to remember the gracious gifts that had been bestowed upon them even as war was tearing the country apart.
Each family has its own holiday traditions, but food is typically the centerpiece for Thanksgiving with families gathering together for turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans and other fall favorites.
I always enjoy deep-frying a turkey for my family to enjoy along with homemade pumpkin pie and made-from-scratch dressing. My wife and I also take time during the weekend to put up our Christmas decorations. While I’m getting everything set up outside, she is working on the indoor decorations.
More important than all of the traditions is the valuable time Kim and I will spend with our extended family. It’s the moments and traditions we share every year that pass on meaningful heritage.
I would like to wish you and your family a happy and healthy Thanksgiving holiday. I hope you take this time to count the many blessings all of us have and enjoy the time you spend with loved ones.