Thanksgiving 2011

Well, we've made it to another Thanksgiving Day.  First of all, I'm thankful for that.  In many ways, it's been a very good year since my last Thanksgiving Day.  In other ways, it's been a struggle.  Then, I consider that struggle in the light of all that so many in our world struggle against; and my struggle seems like a walk in the park.  So, I do thank God for all of my blessings.......the ones I easily see, and the ones I fail to see, hidden in the haze of our American affluence.  In short, I truly am thankful for my little walk in the park.

I'm thankful for my family, which is wonderful.  I'm thankful for the new house, which is becoming more and more a home every day.  I'm thankful for my parents, whith whom I now share this new home.  I'm thankful for the wonderfully weird things my father says, such as "If you want to have genuine Italian (that's pronounced eye-talian) food in Southwest Missouri, then you have to go to Frontenac, KS, 'cause that's where the Irish settled."  I'm thankful for my brothers-in-law, Thad and Grady, who love and care for my sisters, niece, and nephews.  I'm thankful for my Mom, who does actually go to bed, after declaring she's on her way there for the 17th time.  I'm thankful for my big sister, Teri, with whom I shared a childhood, and with whom I'll share an age, (40 years) in a couple of weeks, till she leaps ahead of me again.  I'm thankful for Katelyn, the cutest, smartest, and boldest little princess in all the realms.  I'm thankful for my baby sister, Kelley, who's never forgotten, and whose dearness to me is without question or peer (sorry).  I'm thankful for Isaiah, whose love & care for his brothers is an inspiration, and who loves baseball almost as much as I do.  I'm thankful for Josiah, who got to see his 1st major league baseball game this year (and thankful that I got to be there with him.......and that the Royals won with a walk off double in the bottom of the 9th).  I'm thankful for Eli, and for his boundless energy, cleverness, and orneriness, even when they wear me out.  I'm thankful for Gideon, who is cute, and funny, and fully aware of both of those facts.  I'm thankful for Jonathan, whose birth warmed my heart, and who seems to like it when I make funny noises with my lips.

So now, my Thanksgiving Poem. (Bolded items below are hyperlinks to more info on those items, music, background info....lots of cool stuff.)

I'm thankful for Atkins bars, Cobalt blue cars, and satellite TV.
For General's Chicken, Doc Watson's pickin', and "Chuck," on NBC.
For Reese's Blasts, forgiven pasts, and walks out in the hills.
For Tillamook Cheese, Josiah's sneeze, and burp free fish oil pills.
For Royals rookies, Grandma's cookies, and high speed internet.
For smaller clothes, healing toes, Frank White and George Brett.
For "Fiddler's Green," refried beans, and AP's "Counting Stars."
For Big Bang hilarity, EP's sincerity, and Alcides Escobar.
For fantasy books, Bagginses, Tooks, and good old Merry Brandybuck.
For babbling brooks, Mr Yen's cooks, have I mentioned I'm thankful for "Chuck"?
For turkey that's moist, for John Cowan's voice, and "Put On Your Sailin' Shoes."
For the "Old Rugged Cross," and for "Just As I Am,"
"There is a Redeemer," and "Behold the Lamb."
For quiet reflection, and boisterous praise.
For the Home that awaits at the end of my days.
Thank you, Jesus.

Happy Thanksgiving!!