...a thanksgiving prayer to the fires burning in our hearts. I am aware the heat and light from fire are the release after many years of a tree's absorption of sunlight. A fire burns giving warmth during long winter months. A fire burns to make food palatable. A fire takes away lonely times. I want to say thanks for the gift of fire.

Thanks Creator to the birds who fill the silence with song; that each waking day there is something to smile about. I feel best out in the forest, especially the West Virginia forests. Hemlock trees grow tall mixed between Oak, Maple, Sassafras, Cherry, Beech, and more. I'd love to be you little finch to fly quickly about the trees; or you raven, just to talk with your family. An Owl's screech makes my heart skip a beat. Whether flying high above with hawk wings or resting close to earth in a pheasant's nest, the birds of the world receive my respect.

With gratitude, Joshua Wetsit, an Assiniboine from Montana speaks of giving thanks and centering oneself in the world, "... Our Indian religion the Great Spirit, were thankful that we're on this Mother Earth. That's the first thing when we wake up in the morning is to be thankful to the Great spirit for the Mother Earth; how we live, what it produces, what keeps everything alive."