Today is Thanksgiving Day in the United States.

I have not made so many goals in the last six months. I didn’t work in my garden much, I didn’t manage to get all the research done for my final project (that I had hoped for anyway), I am not walking comfortably the way I had hoped. And I won’t come even close to the 50,000 word novel I typed last November… actually won’t get 5,000 words written this year.

But that’s okay. I HAVE gone back to school full-time. I HAVE been volunteering in my local community. I HAVE been able to get through several weeks’ worth of pain and low mobility. And I HAVE started to seek medical attention to correct whatever is wrong with the hip.

I have a loving, wonderful family — a strong, supportive spouse and intelligent, generally well-behaved children. I have a dog who adores me (of course!). I have parents who are alive and healthy. I have a brother, friends, and extended family … our home is comfortable enough, we have reasonably reliable (if not fashionable) transportation, and enough to eat.

Life is good. Thanks to those who make it so!

Well, turns out I was lucky respondent number eleven…

I won the gift card in the WITS blog contest yesterday.

Color me surprised!

(And go visit this blog, the poems are excellent!)

I LOVE the way WITS (Writers in the Schools), based in Houston, Texas, supports and promotes literacy and writing. I periodically visit this blog that has a poem written by a child each day. There is so much talent, so much sharing that goes on! It makes my mama/teacher/writer/human heart glad.

Today only (Nov 25) there is a contest for people that will give an Amazon.com gift certificate to a random reader who mentions a poem they have enjoyed reading on the WITS blog.

WITS – A Poem a Day

Finding one’s voice is a major goal of growing up. WITS provides children with an opportunity to learn from published authors and participate in activities that help them develop their voice.

Want to get involved but don’t live near a WITS program? This is an idea that might encourage you: find a local school — or a library — with a need for adults to read with children, a need for people to listen to children read. Half an hour a week… or every other week. Take some time. Make a Difference.