Thankful

I am thankful for my wonderful family and friends. They have made a very challenging year filled with two deployments go by quickly.

Another Thanksgiving With my Bride

On Thanksgiving 2001, I wondered if it would be my last Thanksgiving with my beautiful wife. I wondered if her brain tumor would return. I wondered what I would do if it did. I thought (probably too much at times) about what life would be like without her (and thought it would seem very empty). 9 Thanksgivings later, I am so thankful that my bride, my soulmate, my best friend is making pies in our kitchen. My life is immeasurably richer because of her continued presence on this planet.

~Kneil

The Smile That Changes the World

Thankfully, it's fairly rare that I have a "bad" day. However, there are times when I might be a little frustrated, tired, or just have a bad attitude. I've noticed lately that it only takes a smile from Abi and a "daddy!" to change my whole world. To say that I'm thankful for that smile (and the whole person who flashes it at me) seems like a gross understatement, but I'll say it anyway.

~Kneil

I am thankful for my new niece, Ava. God is so faithful. Happy Thanksgiving-Marcy M, Denver, CO

Virginia Thanksgiving

I'm thankful to get to spend this "overlooked" holiday in VA with Kneil, Jodi and Abigail (and Zeke).

Thankful most of all to live in a free country to be able to worship freely. Thank you all who have served and continue to serve and sacrifice to keep America free.

Thankful for friends, family, church, Rhett, Precept class members, husband, husbands job, ability to fly to VA (finances), living in the state of Colorado, missionaryfriends around the world, etc. Not necessarily in the above order!!

Friends

This year I lost my puppy Winston to a brain tumor. I began to more clearly recognize how much our little furry friends teach us. So, it is Winston and all of our pets that I am most thankful for. Someone once told me that they did not like the way I said hello to them...probably 10 years ago now. "Why do you say hi to everyone like they are a dog or something" she said. I didn't realize what a compliment she paid me (certainly not her intention) until right now. Dogs greet us with unbounding enthusiasm, complete love and a loyalty we may never know from another living creature. What an amazing world it would be if we all greted, loved and supported eachother they we they do us. Winston was the best friend I have had in my life and I am truly thankful that he was given to me. No doubt by God to teach me what true love really is.

We are SO THANKFUL for the many blessing for ourselves and our family---our health, our happiness, our wonderful home and blessing of family and friends. Each day is a gift!! We are grateful for that.

Nicole and David Johnson

Thanks to God

I am thankful for the tireless, selfless, generous spirit that God has given to the people I work with. I'm also thankful that God is working to create that same servant attitude in me so that I can be a blessing to others!

November, December and January in Denver are the months for beautiful sunrises and gorgeous sunsets. We see them and think of God's glory. How great the majesty and beauty of Heaven must be. We see a tiny picture of it in Revelation, chapter 4 which in verse two speaks of what we are most thankful for this year. "There was a throne in Heaven with someone sitting on it."

In a year of political challenges, heightened awareness of cultural decadence and struggles (successful) with health issues there is no greater comfort than to know that God Almighty is in charge. He is not pacing about in a quandary uncertain about His world or His children in it. He holds the future. To know that fills our hearts with gratitude beyond words....gratitude to God, for God.

May He bless you and yours abundantly.

Marlys and Avan DeVries

Thankful Family

Travis and Rebecca are so very thankful that our family is growing and that this pregnancy is going so well. Shay is just plain thankful for fun times with mom and dad and playing outside! God sure is a great One!!

Welcome Home

This year I am thankful that my entire family can be together for Thanksgiving! My husband Joe arrived home from the desert, and I realize, now more than ever, the blessing of a loving, godly husband and father. We will be joined this holiday by my parents and sister. Although we aren't able to be at home in Colorado, we will still all be together for this day of thanksgiving! Praise the Lord, for he is good!

Holly Walker

A God For Imperfect People

I know I'm a pastor and all, and this is the kind of thing pastors just sit around and think and talk about day and night. But I'm writing here not as a pastor, but as a regular person who can struggle with impatience, or who can worry about the economy, or who can be short with the girls or with Amy, and who last week called a woman an "idiot" in heavy traffic. (The windows were up and she didn't hear me, but I still hope it wasn't anyone reading this blog.)

I'm so SO thankful that God came to this world for people just like me - for imperfect, broken people. It's not that he tolerates imperfect people - HE CAME FOR IMPERFECT PEOPLE. I'm SO grateful that the kind of people in my neighborhood, and the kind of people in my town, and the kind of people on Wall Street and in Iraq are the people that our God came to love and believe in.

I know it probably sounds like pastor talk, but this regular normal man is just overwhelmed by the kind of God that Christ came to show and be to us all.

Brad