Thanksgiving 2011

What follows is a listing {Some serious...some not-so-much} of various things I am thankful for this year as we come to the Thanksgiving holiday:

I am thankful for the love and grace of Jesus Christ. If it wasn't for Him, I would be absolutely nothing.

I am thankful for my beautiful wife, Annette. I am more in love with her now than I was 23 years ago when I married her.

I am thankful for my son, Jonathan. I am more proud of him now than I ever have been. I am blown away by the young man he is becoming.

I am thankful for my big green blanket and my recliner. Together, they combine to give me the ultimate in relaxation and escape from reality.

I am thankful for my brother, Matt. An awesome uncle and possibly the wittiest man other than me you will ever meet.

I am thankful for my church family. I am blessed to serve some of the greatest people you will ever meet.

I am thankful for my choice in sports teams. Together, they are my greatest source of humilty.

I am thankful for American Idol. For some reason it has given me an Internet platform which I STILL can't understand why so many people like.

I am thankful for Jon Lynch, my golf partner. The guys teaches elementary school kids and is a parent of an energetic toddler. Yet, his greatest test of patience is golfing with me every Monday.

I am thankful for hot chocolate...because I still think coffee is freaking disgusting.

I am thankful for the Greater Akron area...whom I serve as presbyter. I am amazed they trust me to serve them in this capacity.

I am thankful for Keaton Jones who makes me feel like a super hero every time I see him.

I am thankful for butter. I LOVE BUTTER! Butter is wonderful.

I am thankful for the Akron Metro Futbal Club who has made my son a better soccer player than he ever was before.

I am thankful for the day Amy Rasnake told me about putting a little bit of oil and vinegar on my subs. Everything changed from that day on.

I am thankful for Kent Papczun. The man is a comic genius and one of the best story-tellers you will ever listen to. He also has one of the biggest hearts I know of.

I am thankful for Sarah Palin. Because she's a conservative. And a great leader. And hot...

I am thankful for Mixed Martial Arts. I am addicted to watching it and can do so for hours.

I am thankful for my best friend, Rob Ruiz. How many people have YOU been close to for over 20 years? Rob and I have been the best of buds for longer than that. I love him like a brother.