Wild Turkey hen on top of a barn, Box Elder County, UtahWild Turkey hen on top of a barn – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/500, ISO 800, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

On Thanksgiving Day 2020 I wrote this:

As the year 2020 winds down I feel like this Thanksgiving is unlike any other in the history of this country that we have ever faced. It has been a year of tremendous hardship, turmoil and sacrifice. We’ve had the pandemic, political and societal unrest, and at times it has felt as if our country was being attacked from within. Here in Utah March started out shaky because of a large earthquake that had us all ready to run for safety and on edge 24/7 while in other areas of the country the weather battered us and throughout the west fires scorched the earth. 2020 has been a year that volumes will be written about in history books and that will likely not be forgotten.

I guess I could also write much of the same about 2021 so far minus the earthquakes. The pandemic is still with us. There is still political and societal unrest.

Despite how rough this year has been this morning on Thanksgiving Day I want to write about thankfulness and gratitude.

I am grateful to still have my mom with us and that my sons and their families are well and living life the way they want to. I am grateful to have a roof over my head, food in my belly, and warmth as we move into the coldest part of the year.

I am grateful that I am following my passion and that I am out photographing birds as often as I can. I am immensely thankful that I have sharp eyesight and bird finding skills and that I can share what I find with whomever is with me in the field and with others through my website. I am grateful that I can mentor, teach, and share my knowledge with other people.

I am deeply grateful for my friends who have supported me, been true and loyal, and who have helped me as I grow as a person, mother, and as a photographer.

I am thankful for life, living, and to be moving forward in this life that I have been given. I know I have much to be grateful for.

I hope that your Thanksgiving Day is filled with love, compassion, family, friends, and joy.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Wild Turkey photos plus facts and information about this species.