Tag and out

Yes Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of the year. I am looking forward to Parades, Turkey, Cranberry sauce (If Natalie buys it and if Bryan has a coupon), Apple Pie and just a lazy day of vegetating. Since Natalie has Tag us all here are my 10:

1) Just like you all, I am truly thankful for my Savior. I could not be the person I am with out his help. He is truly a 'Big Brother'. I love him with all my mind, heart and soul and look forward to the day that I can give him a big hug and say thanks for being there. I know that he has carried me many times leaving only one set of footprints in the sand.

2) I know this is redundant and many have heard this many times before but I am truly thankful for my wife of 40+ years. She is my better half and also my main support after the Lord. She makes me very happy. I am a very lucky man to have found such an angel in this life and then to have been sealed to her for all eternity. I love her smiles, holding her hand whiling walking together, and sharing a movie or TV show. I love her creativity and marvel at all the great things she can do. I am so thankful she said 'I do' so many ions ago.

3) Where would any of us be with out our family. I am thankful for my daughters and all the love they have shown me over the years. They are diamonds in the bracelet of my life. No joy can compensate for the love and friendship of a daughter and even though they have replaced me as the number one man in their life I am still blessed as they build they own families. I am truly thankful for my son-in-laws and the love they have for my daughters. They take very good care of my girls and my grand children and I loved them like the sons I never had. Of course last but not least are my grandchildren. They are terrific. I wish I had their energy. Their love is so unconditional and they bring me much joy such that I can't really express in words. I am thankful for my family, truly truly.

4) I am thankful that I have my health and that I can ride my bike to work when the weather is good and the temperature is about 35. The wind in my hair and my heart pumping away climbing the next hill is as close to a Utopian moment one can get to by himself.

5) I am thankful for Prayer. It is a great blessing in my life. Yes, Heavenly Father does answer our prayers. Having a prayer in my heart enhances my eternal optimism. Through prayer I can be successful in anything I do.

6) I am thankful for technology and all the opportunities it brings to my life, our lives. For example, where would our families be without IPOD, Madden Football, TiVo and HD TV. Cellphones has changed all of our lives to the utmost. The Internet is a great blessing and yet a curse but as a family we can blog together and share our life's experiences. I am thankful that with technology I can re-live great Sporting Moments, watch my favorite re-runs and see many movies for the fourth and fifth times.

7) The Beach Boys. I know this may date me but some of the best music ever written (my unconditional opinion) is the surfing music of the 60's. The beach boys are tops in this category and I love to listen to their music, work to their music and lounge to their music. It always, yes I mean always soothes my soul.

8) I am thankful for Ham and Scallop potatoes. These are two of my top five foods. Talk about something being savory and mouth watering, if I know that is what is for supper, dinner etc. I am thinking about it all afternoon. When you bite into a center piece of the loin it is like skiing down the icy face of a glacier, making a three point shot to win the game with 1 second left on the clock or having 11 strikes in a row and with only one more for perfection. It is always a Kodak moment.

9) I am thankful for the Springtime. It is my favorite time of the year. Trees budding, flowers blooming, grass 'greening' all remind me of our new beginning that lies before us for Eternity. There is nothing more inspiring than see all this newness and knowing that the Lord did this for our happiness and to motivate us into the future.

10) As there are so many things, yes so many things, that I am truly thankful form, I want to conclude with number ten (10) being is living in this wonderful country we call America. I know it to be a land of promise and destiny. I love this country with all my heart and although we are having a struggle as a nation, I am so thankful that we can have our own opinions be able to express them openly and without fear or reprisal. That we can have an election to determine our next leader and then have a passing of the torch without violence. This is a great country. Americans in my humble opinion are the most compassion people in the world. America is the keystone and people from all around the world look to us first for help and support. This was the Lord's plan from the beginning and I thank him for it often.

Thanks to Natalie for tagging us and encouraging us to count our tick-marks and say:
"I am thakful for....." To everyone, Have a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Question for Thanksgiving

Is it possible to offer a prayer of thanksgiving without asking for something?

President Eyring challenged us to periodically have a prayer where we just express gratitude for all that we have. I have tried this several times and I find it very hard. My intentions are good with my initial effort right on goal but before long I find myself asking for things. For example, I will be thanking the Lord for my family and then I find myself asking Him to bless them. It takes a lot of focus to meet this challenge and I hate to say this I have not been successful yet. However, my gratitude has expanded for all the Lord has done for me. I am truly thankful for all his help and inspiration and I find myself more dependent on Him each day.

So my question remains,

"Is it possible or have you offered a prayer of thanksgiving without asking for something?"

Sweater Sweater - maybe a quirk!

One of the things I like about the Fall is that I get to wear my sweaters. I really love wearing sweaters they are casual, comfortable and at times they have the air of elegance and professionalism. I suppose to some sweaters look like another layer of clothing but to me they have a very distinguishing look. I feel more powerful, have more confidence and just thrive on the enjoyment of wearing sweaters. My favorite is the V-neck but all styles are OK.

I have often wondered where the name for a sweater came from; maybe it is had a practical beginning i.e., like sweat-suits we wear for the gym. Here is an excerpt I found on the Internet. Notice the word 'bounder' I don't think that would describe my feelings about wearing sweaters!

History: It's an American term, deriving from a knitted shirt or a heavy woolen jersey (so called because sailors on the Isle of Jersey wore them). It was adopted in the 1890s by American sportsmen who wore them to make them sweat. (Don't ask me why.) First it had a stand-up edge around the neck, then for golf a polo collar was added to it in 1894. Cyclists continued to wear it with the stand-up edge for a while. But a 1900 source says that "no man can wear it as it now stands without looking like a bounder" (in Cunnington et al.'s A Dictionary of English Costume). In 1920 the English started to call the sweater jumper, and in 1930 pullover, which then found its way into German. It wasn't just the name that changed. While sweaters were a man's garment, mostly worn for sports, the jumper was an everyday item for everyone.

Which Number

If you pick a number between 1 and 1000 did you know that Hallie can guess your number in 12 moves or less. Next time you see her, test her. She is GOOD!!!!!
The question is can you?