Autumn in Washoe Park by Bea Rosenleaf

I have a story to tell...one that centers around thanksgiving and gratitude.

Here in the United States, we celebrate Thanksgiving, a day that has largely become known for a big turkey dinner, the Macy's parade and football; and here in Montana, generally the end of hunting season. The history of Thanksgiving began way back in the 1600s when the pilgrims and the Native Americans came together and celebrated the harvesting of their crops after months of starvation.  Over the last 400 years the food we serve on the Thanksgiving table has changed, but the underlying reason for the holiday is the same - a time of celebrating thankfulness for food, family, and community.

Our little town here in Southwestern Montana is considered an economically depressed area. Anaconda was a company town, meaning it's humble beginnings were the employees of the Anaconda Company Mining. Anaconda was a 'smelter city' where the ores from the copper mines in Butte were processed. The smelter stack still stands reminding the town of its past glory. In its heydey, the town boasted a population of over 15,000. Today our population is somewhere around 6,000, and that is county-wide.  We are one of the largest Superfund clean-up sites in the nation. 

Anaconda Stack by B Rosenleaf

We are nestled in a mountain valley, sitting at a mile high, in some of the most beautiful and picturesque wilderness country in the world. But it isn't the beautiful setting that makes our community so special...it is its people. We are one of the most friendly towns in Montana. We rally 'round and help each other.

My husband and I found ourselves alone on Thanksgiving Day last year, while our blended family of 23 were scattered around all their respective 'other side' families. That's how we do things, we just celebrate on another day here at the Rosenleaf household.  As we sat, we began talking about our town and thought that no one should ever have to celebrate Thanksgiving alone, if they didn't want to.  However, in Anaconda, no restaurants are open, and many folks can't afford to buy the food for a big feast, or those who are alone don't want to cook a big feast just to sit at a table of one.  So our journey of thanksgiving began one year ago as a way to share our blessings and our bounty.

Thank You

The response from our community has been overwhelming. Donations have rolled in, people are volunteering to come help do the many tasks that a meal as large as this one takes. My heart is full of pride and love for our community. We truly live in an amazing place.

From the beginning, I believe that the Man Upstairs (aka, GOD) is orchestrating the entire event. He has provided the funding, the donations and the volunteers. Just when we thought it wouldn't come together, something else is dropped in our lap to push us forward. 

The food is ordered, the volunteers are lined up, turkeys are thawing, hams are ready, and entertainment is scheduled. Transportation is arranged to provide rides to the dinner and meal delivery for shut-ins is cheduled. We are ready! Now all we need are the people to come.

It truly is a season of thanksgiving and gratitude.

Remember the previous card I published (the watercolored Happy Harvest) when I was on my quest to create the perfect thank you card?  This is the card I ended up with. Stamps are by Stampin' Up!, The Angel Company and Art Impressions (sentiment inside) The inside simply says, "Thank you so much!"  It's a simple card, but full of color.  I was able to make 100 of them in an afternoon. Not bad at all!