Thanksgiving 2009

Over the past couple of weeks I have been sending out to the APEX team things I am thankful for each day. The list is immense of all the things that we ALL can be thankful for...and I have only touched the surface as I have covered family, Mr. Randal, APEX team, food, shelter, clothes, health, job, Sundays, etc...

On October 3, 1789 George Washington issued the nation's first presidential proclamation in which he called the nation to set aside a day for giving thanks to that "great and glorious Being who is the beneficient author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be...".

President Washington also added the follow words:

"Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor..."

So, I think the biggest question today on November 25, 2009 is..."AM I THANKFUL?".

If you are reading this, God has given you life, health, eyesight, breath, food, a computer (lol). What would you pay for any one of those items (ok, exclude the computer).

They are invaluable and can't be bought...can't be bartered for...they are GIVEN by the MERCY of God.

I know I can be an Award Winning Critic. I can point out what isn't right, where it needs to improve, what needs to change. Sometimes this is needed to get better...to be the BEST!

I am thankful for Thanksgiving which allows me to focus on all of the many blessings that, as GW said, "is our duty to acknowledge". And...as a follower of Christ, there is so much more of Eternal Significance to be thankful for...heaven, grace, peace, joy, inheritance as an "heir of Christ", and the presence of the One who has given, is giving and will give us all that we have.

What a reason to celebrate this year. Don't miss the moment with busyness, but enjoy this thanksgiving and, above all, "be thankful".

tm

What Happened to October?

Wow...have you ever been SOOOOO busy that you lost a month? Now that I am 40 something I lose lots of stuff? Where are those keys? The other sock (who is that one legged guy that gets in the dryer and steals ONE of each of my socks anyway?). And the remote control...gee, they need a clapper for that thing! Anyway, just looking back at my last blog post from SEPTEMBER and it occurred to me that I "lost" October.

That seems a little more auspicious than a sock or keys or the Power (that's what we call the remote)...to lose a month? Wow. Ok, so I suppose I didn't "lose" it, but it was certainly BUSY! No time for facebook, twitter or blogs. Just the basics man, just the basics.

But hey, October was a family milestone. Our firstborn, Lauren, our "little bitty", turned 21 a couple of weeks ago. Seems like just a little while ago when we were reading books together at bedtime, getting her tucked in just right (it was a ritual requiring perfection), dropping her off at Kindergarten and watching her backpack almost touch the ground, hugs, laughter, piano, and...of course...watching Big Bird, Bert, Ernie, Cookie Monster and friends OVER and OVER and OVER!!! It was the best of times...

Now we are at that 21 "adultish" stage (albeit still on the family payroll...grin), where it is cell phone calls, emails, lunches, text messages, brief trips home and PRAYER!!! Quite different for a dad that still thinks of her in much smaller terms. Much joy has Lauren Elisabeth brought into our lives...may God continue to bless her and guide her every step of the way.

Alright enough rambling...time to move to the present, to Thanksgiving...one of my very favorite of times as we get together with families and count the millions of reasons why we are thankful. A tradition we intend to start this year is the "Thanksgiving Tablecloth". Essentially it is a white tablecloth (or any light color will work), where we will each write the things we are thankful for this year. Then, each year we will add to it. Wished we had done it years ago. The list would be LONG!!!

Be thankful!

tm