dual personalities

The boy turns 27 today!

The above photo is one of my favorite pictures of the boy. He is about four. Funnily enough, it was taken by one of his Sunday School teachers. He is in the act of throwing an accurately decorated paper (jet) plane. Hmmm.

He hasn’t changed much really.

He shares a birthday with John Bunyan (1628), William Blake (1827) and Randy Newman (1943). Two of his illustrious ancestors died on this day: William Whipple, signer of the American Declaration of Independence, and the boy’s great-great-great grandfather John S. Hough.

The Episcopal Church celebrates this day as a feast day in honor of King Kamehameha and Queen Emma of Hawaii, who were good Episcopalians.

So hats off to the boy! We are looking forward to a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with him and his lovely wife. Once again I will provide the cheesey potato casserole. And, of course, birthday presents for the birthday boy!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing;
He chastens and hastens His will to make known.
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing.
Sing praises to His Name; He forgets not His own.

Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
Ordaining, maintaining His kingdom divine;
So from the beginning the fight we were winning;
Thou, Lord, were at our side, all glory be Thine!

We all do extol Thee, Thou Leader triumphant,
And pray that Thou still our Defender will be.
Let Thy congregation escape tribulation;
Thy Name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!