Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Happy Thanksgiving ~ What We Love About America


"Best of all is it to preserve everything in a pure, still heart, and let there be for every pulse a thanksgiving, and for every breath a song." 
-Konrad von Gesner

Plaque celebrating America on display in Jackson, Wyoming 

When I was fortunate enough to meet my husband on his International travels, my favorite question of people who visited the United States, was what impressions did they take back? 

The vastness of our land, the diversity of our people ~


Our friendliness. Our natural aversion to class distinctions. 

The changing of the seasons in Wyoming. The coldness of autumn's breath turns the leaves bright  while the angels  flocked the pine trees up higher in the mountains.

The greatness of this nation I shall always believe is inscribed in the coinage of the realm 


"In God We Trust"

What was the answer here when a child asked, "Are we there yet?"
 Before it was planes, trains and automobiles- immigrants crossed this continent-wide nation by  horseback and wagon.  When those failed, it was a very, very long walk. 


Sunshine breaking through in Idaho 
Modern transportation makes it easy to take for granted how fortunate we are to live at this very moment. 

Just traveling through my native Los Angeles County is equivalent to driving through a land  equal in acreage to the combined are of the states of Rhode Island and Delaware. The county's population is greater than 42 states in the Union. If it stood alone as a nation, our economy is the world's 8th largest.  

In addition, a normal year finds me mucking about gardens in nearby counties- San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura.

The last quarter I was also blessed to travel the states of Colorado, Arizona ,Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, Nevada and Arizona. 

It is good to travel. It is even better to be back home in Diamond Bar, California.


God painted parts of Utah in Technicolor 

Folders are stuffed with stories to query editors for interest. Hoping to find my stocking filled with that most wonderful three letter word in a four letter sentence. 
"Yes- You are hired."



So much to do. But as Stephen R Covey wrote, "First things First. " 

It was about this time last year a medical professional in the  hospital room of a loved one shared his belief that "Life is a miracle." 




The beauty of the desert exemplifies of what he spoke. In nature's vastness, so much has to go right for the miracle of a butterfly to come across an oasis with food, water, nesting and shelter.  For God's grace, He deserves credit for the biggest backyard habitat ever. Our planet. 

It is tempting to give into being overwhelmed with so much stacked about me. Yet handling it all is as easy as the title to the Stephen R Covey book, putting "First things First. " 

And so I say goodbye. Not forever. Just long enough to express my gratitude to the Lord on high in the tradition of my faith, as a Christian. Spend quality time with family. Renovate the office. Re-write a mission statement. Then back to the race which is the writer's life. 

All images and words on this post are copyright protected by Lydia Plunk





7 comments:

  1. Lydia,

    Lovely lovely post. I too have traveled those states and your pictures made it seem like I was there too. Enjoyed it very much.

    Now, please don't work too hard and we will look forward to your next blog.

    Have a very blessed Thanksgiving. Give Gerry, Melva and the family best wishes from Bowlers'.

    Hugs, Trisha

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  2. What beautiful photos L!!!
    Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family. xo

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  3. It is such a Beautiful Country! And your pictures show that, in every way!
    Wishing you a Very Happy Thanksgiving, Lydia...!

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  4. Happy Thanksgiving to the WONDERFUL people who have left comments.

    We have started the holiday with the ONE tradition we would like to skip- the clogged sink!

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  5. We'll miss you, but you're still in our thoughts, Lydia. Yes, I hope your stocking is stuffed with just the right replies! You're surely right about the technicolor -- that's a beautiful shot of Utah. I'll be out that way (Salt Lake City) in a few weeks but stuck in a conference room in some hotel... ah well. I'm sure your Thanksgiving was lovely (clogged sink notwithstanding!).

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  6. It was a wonderful holiday. Thank you Nikki. Hope your hotel is in a part of Salt Lake where the architecture is rich.

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  7. Lydia,

    Your photos are positively inspiring. They really give a sense of how beautiful our western landscapes can be.

    I hope you and yours had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and that you're soon back attacking your stacks!

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