Thanksgiving 2008

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I know it's cliche, but that doesn't make it any less sincere. I am thankful for:

• A faith which has at its core the message that we are all precious, loved, and accepted by our Creator.
  
• A mother and father in-law who did such an amazing job bringing up three girls, and who continue to gift us through their faith, love of teaching and music, service to their community, and e-mail updates and kind words regularly sent from Ohio.
• My own parents and the extraordinary devotion and support they give to our family, and every life they touch.
• A wife and best friend beyond compare
• My brother and his incredible family
• Extended family across the country and their unique situations
  
• A loud, crazy household filled to the brim with personality, creativity, life and love.
• Healthy minds and bodies
• Living in a place abundant with natural beauty
• An occupation which, while exhausting at times, allows me to serve others
• Some measure of financial security
• Tall trees
• Caffeine
• The Simpsons
• A community pool
• The philodendron jungle hanging from my office ceiling
• Electronic toys (iPod, iPhone, Wii, GPS)
• Piano, cello, guitar, baritone, recorder and trumpet music ringing through the house
• The lack of mosquitoes in McMinnville
• Going for a run and looking upon a 10,000 foot, snow covered volcano in the distance
• Tide pools
• The smell of turkey cooking as I write this
• The skills, dedication, and personalities of my co-workers (all of them)
• Hope: that despite so much bad news and suffering by so many, we are still a nation that hopes and expects better days ahead
• The Daily Show
• Audible.com
• Hard work
• Cheerios and Splenda
• The 2 pages of comics in the Oregonian
• Netflix
• The way Kate can laugh uncontrollably for 10 minutes straight
• Digital photography
• The internet
• YCAP, Habitat for Humanity, St. Barnabas' Soup Kitchen, the Community Compassion Fund and the Cold Weather Shelter
• 11 mm rope and 30 different knots
  
• Long, detailed descriptions of Nick or Ben's Lego creations
• Despair.com, and satire in general
• The regularity that we can have six people at the table for dinner, sharing stories of our day
  
• A thousand other things.............

Happy Thanksgiving!
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