Thanksgiving

Karina's parents are here. Today we're going out to lunch to celebrate my father-in-law's birthday. Tonight is our annual Thanksgiving Eve Supper and Liturgy of Gratitude at Lakebay Community Church (one of my favorite events of the year). Tomorrow the whole family (hopefully. . .still waiting on word from my sister) will be gathering at our place for the a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.

Friday. . .we're doing our part to save the soul of America by NOT going shopping, with the one possible exception of hitting up Fred Meyer to get some new socks. We're thinking of doing something special with the in-laws, like going over to Manchester Beach, or up to Port Townsend for the day. But the point will be about spending time together, rather than feeding the idol of consumerism in our land.

To all of you, I wish a blessed Thanksgiving, wherever you may be. May God's presence be felt in your life, his love and mercy overwhelming you with hope and joy for this coming Advent season and beyond.

Stealing a tradition from my friend Lori's blog, let me close with a Gratitude list. I am thankful for:

1) A warm house, with clothing in the closet and food in the pantry
2) An incredible family, a loving wife and two adorable girls who always fill my heart with joy
3) A 'job' that gives me satisfaction and meaning
4) A community of friends and acquaintances who keep my life interesting and fun
5) A large stack of firewood, cut and split by friends who care about us
6) Clean air and pure drinking water
7) The deer that come into our yard, the eagles that nest in the trees overhead, the sea lions that park themselves in the bay below our house.
8) People with whom to celebrate the holidays
9) Brothers and sisters in Christ who take their walk with Christ seriously and soberly
10) Multiple opportunities to shine the light of Christ into dark places
11) Good health
12) The ways in which God still surprises me, pushes me, challenges me, and grows me
13) The fact that I'm but a branch attached to the Great Vine
14) A turkey in our fridge waiting to be cooked
15) Advent and Christmas coming upon us once again
16) Good books I've been reading and conversations surrounding them
17) Opportunities to re-engage my musical gifts, with the Gig Harbor Symphony and the Down Home Band (and a couple of local jam sessions, as well)
18) God's Word, that still speaks to me
19) Parents who modeled (and still do) faithful Christian love and commitment
20) Egg Nog

An incomplete itemized list of things for which I am thankful

- I have two beautiful, healthy, sweet, exuberant daughters
- My parents raised me well
- I have the best job in the world. (subset: I suspect I work for the best church in the world)
- My eye surgery went well, and I'm well on the road to recovery
- The people around me appreciate me
- There is food in the pantry (and the fridge and the freezer, and in my stomach, as well)
- There's a car in the driveway (with gas in it)
- I'm surrounded by beauty - quiet bays, soaring mountains, whispering oaks, bald eagles, sea otters, sparrows, deer, ferrets
- My newly-acquired position in the Gig Harbor Peninsula Symphony Orchestra, which is re-awakening a long-dormant passion for symphonic trumpet playing
- My ongoing position in the Lakebay Community Church worship team, which gives space for my idiotic passion for the mandolin
- I get paid to hang out with God, study his Word, pray, and think deeply
- I also get paid to hang out with a lot of really cool people
- I get to watch God (and God's people) work in the lives of others
- I've been through hard times, and I can confess today that God has turned those trials into gold.
- all my blog friends, twitter friends, and facebook friends who stay in touch as the days go by
- I get to spend Thanksgiving with my parents, my brother and his family, my sister, and Karina and our two kids
- The Roberts' just gave us some fresh-pressed apple cider
- This Sunday we get to begin singing Advent music
- When I stopped at Steamers the other day, the muzak was Bing Crosby Christmas music
- The testimony of faithfulness I see in the lives of the people around me, some of whom are suffering greatly these days. You who deal with pain and yet get up every morning and do the things needing to be done - you inspire me.
- In a conversation today I was reminded to be thankful for the last church, who paid my way through seminary so I'm not saddled with a ton of debt.
- The way Clara says "Hey Dad - I love you!" at random moments.
- The way I can see Olivia trying really hard to please her mother and I
- A godly family heritage stretching back many generations - even to the Mayflower and before.
- Friends who disagree and thus stretch me to think harder and deeper about important life issues.
- A warm, dry bed on cold, rainy nights
- Fresh drinking water (did you know millions of people around the world don't have access to fresh water for drinking, cooking, bathing, etc.? Go watch that video below)
- Firewood that needs chopping
- The way God loves me.