thanks.

Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays. There is just something about the combination of turkey, football, and the official kickoff of the holiday season. Torrie is already talking about putting up the Christmas tree when we get home this weekend. It really is a great time of the year.

We're taking off for Colorado in the morning and am looking forward to the holiday. I hope you are as well. Laugh a lot. Shop a lot. Eat a lot. And most of all, be thankful. I know I will be. And not to sound cheesy, there really is a lot to be thankful for.

Thanksgiving dinner growing up always began with everyone going around the long table at my grandparent's telling the rest of the family what they were thankful for that year. I was a kid, so I typically had no idea what to say. I'd come up with something but I doubt it had much substance. If we pick up the tradition again this year, I'll do my best to have a better list.

I'm thankful for a wife who laughs at my jokes. And not just the polite "thanks for trying" laugh. But they are real laughs. No one else might get the punchline but she really thinks I'm funny.

I'm thankful for parents who have always supported me. I never played in a sporting event where at least one parent wasn't in the stands. Little league baseball. Church league basketball. High school football. I haven't forgotten that.

I'm thankful for the example of people like Allen & Amy and Curtis & Emily who each love their kids so much that it gives me hope that someday I could be parents like them.

I'm thankful for the sacrifice of Jay and Caitlin and the rest of the MSGF team who would sacrifice seven years of their lives to share Christ with the people of Japan. I would be a much better person if I had half of their courage.

I'm thankful for sweet tea. I really like iced tea.

I'm thankful for a week off. I'm going to sleep in and stay up late and drink Coke and not feel guilty about any of it. Thank God for Sabbath.

I'm thankful for a job that I will look forward to returning to after my week off. That building of creative people constantly make me a better person.

I'm thankful for the conversations I've had with some of you who read this blog and actually get something out of it. You make me think. I hope I occasionally return the favor.

And with that, have a Happy Thanksgiving.