Giving thanks.

On a day to day basis there's enough crap going on that isn't too pretty. Someone will be killed for no good reason today, somewhere some will be raped, somewhere children are lying terrified and wondering if they're going to die. Too many of them will.

Yet we've a lot to look at and gain hope from. Thanksgiving is a primo time to do that. I'll just list what I'm personally thankful for. Anyone reading this can come up with your own reasons I'm sure.

I'm thankful for my wife, she's the anchor in my life. She's a wonderful mother to our boys and sets the example of what a Christian should be. She accepts me for the nutcase that I am and patiently waits for me to improve.

I'm thankful for my two sons. They gladden my heart every day I see them. May God grant I live long enough to see them grown into men. May I have the character to guide them into manhood the way I should.

I'm thankful I'm sober. Spent too many years getting drunk for no real good reason. Too many others I've known couldn't get this far. By God's grace and the help of countless other recovering alcoholics I've done it for a bit over twenty years. One day at a time.

I'm thankful I live in the USA. I've been overseas to other countries, the ones I went to were all well developed and prosperous. But nothing compares to what we have here. God bless the United States of America, always.

I'm thankful I (finally) found a decent job that has long term prospects. The last several years have been "interesting" to say the least. One of these days I'll learn to shut my big mouth.

I thank God for my father-in-law and his wife. If I die tomorrow I know my wife and kids have someone to look after them. We've come a long way from the day he told my wife he wanted to meet her new boyfriend (me) with a baseball bat. My telling her he'd better bring help didn't make it any easier, but we got past all that.

I'm thankful that my health is as good as it is. Hard of hearing and with bad knees, yet I'm far better off than a lot of others I've known. With any luck I've several hundred thousand more miles to go before I need an overhaul.

I'm thankful I was in the submarine service. For my money there was no finer group to be associated with. I hope that while I was on active duty I was more the solution than the problem.

And I could go on and on. You get the idea, I'm sure. Have a Happy.