Probably nobody is going to be checking CL on Thanksgiving -- I doubt I will -- so I suggest we start the annual litany of thanks a day early. Here are some of mine:
-- Being back in the United States after being in the Middle East most of the year.
-- That we have a military capable of inflicting grievous damage against our enemies, and the enemies of true peace, without doing any substantial damage to the innocent.
-- Despite the constant encroachments of (sometimes) well-meaning politicians, we still live in an empire of freedom.
-- My family worships in a faithful church with faithful priests, and many faithful fellow parishioners.
-- We have a new baby who is fat and healthy.
-- Our house is small but cozy and warm, and I love coming home to it every day.
What are yours?
Update, 3:42 p.m.:
-- How could I forget? A wife who loves me despite my flaws, and my other two kids who pour joy into my life.
-- The people at work whom I supervise, who also tolerate me and our often-surreal working conditions.
-- That I don't have to travel today!
I'm thankful for a lot of things, but most of all I'm thankful for my family and for my grandmother (God rest her soul).
Ah, yes.
1. The events and people who led to my conversion, and the grace of God that made it possible.
2. My wife.
3. My wife who is too important to list only once.
4. I echo Eric: our mighty military made up of sacrificing and patriotic soldiers.
-- That in spite of health problems and a problematic childhood, I am just as redeemed as anyone else, thanks be to God.
-- That we have all we need to keep our little family (wife, dog and self) warm, safe and fed.
-- That family and friends are coming Friday, including a sibling I rarely see, and that I'm going to fry a big ole turkey for them. (Nobody fries like Southerners -- leave it to us to come up with a device big enough to fry a whole turkey!)
-- That, in spite of my petty differences with him, I have a pastor who is faithful to teh Church and doesn't get in my way when I do traditional music for the liturgy.
-- That people like Eric Johnson and my late father, Sgm. James A. E., USAR, are willing to make sacrifices to preserve our God-given freedoms. Thanks, Eric!
I give thanks for your thanks, Jonathan.
Food, shelter, clothing, Futurama.
But mostly I am thankful we made it through the year relatively unscathed. Peace.