Wednesday, November 1, 2017

Continually Giving Thanks: 2017 Edition

Hello everyone!!! Welcome to November, and you know what that means. We're going down the home stretch and hitting that stride to finish the year strong.

Looking back on my Timehop today, a blog I posted in 2014 caught my eye. It was my response to those who put up a post a day in November of something they are thankful for. I said on that post that I was going to put it all on one post because I may forget a day and have to catch up.

I thought I would revisit that post and maybe repost what I am thankful for...

-- That God so loved the world -- that He so loved me -- that He sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for our salvation. I am thankful that Jesus didn't stay on that cross, but He rose again and is seated at God's right hand.  I am also thankful for the Holy Spirit and the work He's doing in our lives today.

-- For my family -- my parents, my sister Stephenie and Josh and my brother Jeremy for showing me unconditional love. I am thankful for my nieces Kaitlin and Kensie and my nephews Charley and Jaxson. I am thankful for my extended family -- my aunts Mary and Phyllis and my cousins in Western Oklahoma as well as my aunt Marsha, Anthony and Indee and their families and my cousins in Burneyville.

-- I am extremely thankful that God gave me a good thing to spend the rest of my life with this year in my lovely bride Sharon. I am thankful that she loves me even on days when it feels like I am failing as a husband. I am thankful that I have two wonderful young women that I inherited as my daughters in Elizabeth and Sarah. I am thankful for my mother-in-law Wanda and her Godly wisdom.  I am thankful for my brothers and sisters in law David and Tonya and Joe and Angela.  I am thankful for my nieces Katherine and Grace and my nephews Braden, Matthew and Josh.

-- For my Immanuel Baptist Church family and for my Pastor Todd Fisher and his family.

-- For my friends all over the country and the world...those I went to school with, those I have come in contact with over the years, those I served in the community with...I am thankful for all of you.

-- For my hometown of Clinton...despite all its qualms (and what town doesn't have them), we should be proud of our town.  I am also thankful for the town I live in in Shawnee.  It has a Three Bears feel to it -- not too big, not too small, it's just right.

-- For those who take care of me...the people at wound care (Judi, Janet, Sara, Arika, Shelley, Dr. Martin), for Kristi and Debby at therapy in Midwest City and for my nurse prac Kendra and her staff.

--For living in the greatest Nation on earth and in the greatest State in the Nation.

That should cover everything for now...if I have forgotten anything, I'll come back and either edit this post or write a new one.