December 19th

     Yesterday was December 19th and a busy day at our house leaving us many things to be thankful for.

     Yesterday was the annual meeting at Marvin Windows where I work  I brought my Wife and 4 youngest to the meeting and we enjoyed refreshments, entertainment and some encouraging messages.  From the meeting I can give several things for which to be thankful.

• For Marvin Windows and their dedication to the community and families
• For the refreshments of donuts, sandwiches, cookies, water, cider, coffee and pop
• For the fact that the open the meeting with prayer
• For the door prizes they gave away - no I didn't get one but I know some of those who did
• For the Christmas Ham We received
• For the Bonus we recieved
• For the visiting that took place

     22 years ago yesterday was the first annual meeting that I could have attended but on that year I skipped out to walk down the aisle with my lovely bride who has now been my wife for 22 years and for that I am very thankful.  Being, it was our anniversary, my wife started a fire in the fireplace to enjoy and while we do not use the fireplace often, we can be thankful we have one for such special moments.

     Yesterday also marked the beginning of four days of dog sitting two little dogs for friends, friends we are thankful for and we can also be thankful that we are able to help.  The kids are enjoying playing with the dogs.

     Seeing how Christmas will soon be here, yesterday also brought a box full of gifts to be wrapped for Christmas along with some shopping for Christmas.  I've always enjoyed giving at Christmas and often wish I could give more but for what I am able to give I am thankful.

Family

     Here's something new for me to be thankful for - My future son-in-law.  My oldest daughter got engaged on Dec. 4th 2014.

MAY EVERYONE HAVE A VERY GRATEFUL THANKSGIVING.

Taking First

     It has been nearly a month since I last posted on this blog.  It's not because I have not been thankful, but too busy to take time to post.  Over the last month our home school soccer team has taken much of my free time along with hosting a camp out and working with out local AWANA club.

     Soccer season is now coming to a close (we have a wrap up meeting left) and it has been an awesome year.  I say that because our Junior team took first place for the first time in 10 years.  The entire soccer season was a great year even though our record was 2-4 for all of our seasonal games were decided by one goal, twice in a shoot out after the game was over.

     Yes, I am thankful for winning the tournament but I am also thankful for each of the kids on the team, for each of my assistant coaches, for my wife and kids who had to put up with me during the soccer season, for the field to play on and for each of the other teams that we were able to play against and make friends with.

     So, What have you been thankful for lately?

Busy With The Kids

     The past few days I have been busy with the kids and with that business comes reasons to be thankful.

On Friday

• Safe trip to and from Thief River for a soccer game.
• For the kids who played hard
• For a great game even though we lost by 1 goal
• For the team we had to play against
• For the shopping that took place

On Saturday

• For the Kids Day at the local sporting goods store and all those who made it possible
• For the great kids in the group I chaperoned
• For the prizes that were given away
• For the time spent with my daughters
• For the corn maze and the nearly 5 hours we spent there after kids day.

On Sunday

• The big turkey meal that drove my nose crazy with delightful smells.
• for the turkey itself which was given to us and for the one who gave it to us.

Soccer

     Today was the first soccer game of the season and yes the junior team won and for that I am thankful but even if we had lost I can still find things to be thankful for. 

• I am thankful for each of the kids on the team
• I am thankful for my assistant coaches
• I am thankful for the ref and line judges
• I am thankful for the other team and their coach and all the effort they put into the game.
• I am thankful that the weather was nice during the game
• I am thankful for the field we have to play on and those who take care of it 

     What are you thankful for today?

Music and an Uncle

     This past weekend was the Itasca Family Music Festival.  My wife and youngest four kids went and enjoyed a weekend of great music.  During the week before and after I heard of various other music gathering that made me very thankful for this one.  As they talked of how rowdy and drunk people would get at other festival I was reminded just how wonderful this one is, where you can let a seven year old run around the grounds and not have to worry.  The festival leaves much to be thankful for.

• For great music
• For friends and other that are met
• For the food
• For those who work behind the scenes to make everything possible
• That kids can run around safely
• That it is not expensive
• That the weather was great.
• For the miniature train rides

     This past weekend was also my wife's uncle's memorial service. This meant that most of the day Saturday she was gone as the service was about 4 hours away.  She was able to make it down and back safely with the three youngest girls.  This leaves more to be thankful for

• For safety on the roads
• For having a chance to know her uncle
• For the rest of her family - and cousins that the girls got to play with.
• For the donuts she brought back for breakfast

      What have you had to be thankful for lately?

God's Bounty

     It is the time of year when the Blueberries are ripe and ready to pick.  Our family has picked many gallons, some for family, some to sell and some for us.  I am thankful for the Blueberries God has given us to pick and for family members who have helped to pick and clean them.  Soon we will have more than blueberries to pick and be thankful for.  Are you thankful for God's bounty?

Downed Trees?

     This past week we had a Large twin tree go down in town on the land we take care of.  One went across the alley, the other onto a neighbors shed.  I was already in bed when I got the call.  It was after Midnight before we got to bed that night.  So what can one be thankful for when something like this happens?

• For friends with chainsaws to help at the spur of the moment to help get the tree out of the alley and help take the weight off of the one on the roof.
• That the shed held up and will only need minor repair.
• For friends who want some of the wood and will take some of the tree away.

If We Do Not

I found this on Face book and thought it fit well

49

     This past week I celebrated my 49th Birthday.  While nothing special was planned for the day, I did get to enjoy Tacos and birthday cake with the entire family and for that I am thankful, along with 49 years.

Carpet

     The carpet we had on our living room / dining room floor was in rough shape.  It was being held together by a man's secret weapon - duct tape.  That carpet is no more.  We received some new to us, used carpet.  After lots of hard work scraping the old carpet off the floor and lots of trimming, the newer carpet has been laid and most of the furniture put back into place.  For the carpet, and all the work that went into getting it into place, I am thankful.

Thank You For The Lamb

Today, let us simply be thankful for the Lamb who took our place.

All Gone

     This past week has given me several things to be thankful for.

• On Monday we had a Major Winter Snow Storm making travel almost impossible.  I'm thankful for the safe travel I had home from work and my daughter had to work that day.
• On Tuesday I was thankful that the snowblower started and worked great as I blew snow for almost 3 hours.
• I was thankful that the plow cleared out our road before I had finished my last trip down the driveway so I could finish cleaning that area up.
• On Wednesday I took a trip to Grand Forks for a follow up appointment on my kidney stone. and I am thankful not only for the good roads and safe travel but also for the fact that the X-ray showed the stone was gone and they were able to take out the stint that had been implanted.

     What have you been thankful for this past week?

Winter Retreat

     This past weekend my family and I traveled south to Bemidji, MN for a winter retreat.  Considering the fact that the first day of spring arrived before the retreat may make one wonder why it was called the winter retreat.  Well, prior to arrival, Bemidji received 6 inches of snow and while there the temperatures fell well below zero - again.  We definitely felt winter and we definitely had a good time.  So here is what I'm thankful for:

• Safe travel to and from the retreat.
• Seeing my parents - who decided to travel up to the retreat.
• In-laws and all the work they did for the retreat as well as putting us up for the weekend.
• All the good food that was served - I think I ate too much :)
• The wonderful fellowship that was enjoyed with friends.
• and lots not forget the speakers and their thought provoking messages on revival.

Pain

     Have you ever thought about being thankful for pain?  As I posted last week concerning the treatment for my kidney stone, now I have to deal with even sharper pain.  there are times when the pain reaches upwards of 8,9 or even 10 on a scale of 10 and for that pain I have reason to be thankful.  For the pain means that the fragments from the stone that was pulverized are coming out of my system.  Further more I can be thankful that the pain is very short lived.

Lithotripsy

Today I made the trip to Grand Forks for a procedure called Shock Wave Lithotripsy to break up a rather large kidney stone.  So, here is what I have to be thankful for....

• My wife, who did the driving down and back through plenty of wind and drifting.
• My Daughter's car which we took because mine is in the shop for repair.
• That all went well and they only had to poke me twice to get my IV in.
• For all those Doctors and Nurses, etc that worked with me.
• For kids left at home that held down the fort.
• For a spell checker that keeps finding all my mistakes as I type this :)

Have a Second?

I found this on God Vine on Face book, thought it would fit here

How Great Thou Art

Give Thanks

It was All Down Hill

     This past Friday our kids had their annual Home School Ski Trip. 6 of our 7 kids were able to go plus we brought three others.  On the way down - one got decided to throw up. Once their the kids went down the hills while I stayed inside, ate french fries, played with the youngest and visited with a gal from the Bemidji area who , as I learned, helped set up the ICR seminar that I attended last year along with some other amazing things.  The trip left me with a few things to be thankful for.

1. That the sick kid made it out the window instead of in the van.
2. That no-one else ended up sick.
3. That we had great weather for the day - it was in the 20's above zero instead of below
4. That we had a safe drive there and back.
5. That all the kids had a great time.
6. For being able to visit with others.
7. To be able to eat french fries.

It's Been Cold

     We recently had a cold spell where actual temps reached into the 30's below zero even some 40's with wind chill values in the 60's below zero.

     In all of that we can still be thankful.  I am thankful for vehicles that started in the cold to get us where we needed to go.  I'm thankful for a furnace that works and has kept us warm even though there were times it struggled to keep up.  I'm also thankful for the snow we received before all the cold to insulate the ground and keep underground water and septic lines from freezing.

     In all of this cold, what are you finding to be thankful for?

Emily's Birthday

Today we celebrate the Birthday of our now 12 year old daughter Emily.  And for her I am thankful.

Happy New Year / Happy Thanksgiving Month

     I have no set list I'll be using from day to day this year.  Instead I'll be posting various things I find from time to time. 

     This morning I found this devotion on RBC's web site on thanksgiving.  Click here to listen / read.  Accordingly, it is Thanksgiving Month.