Thanksgiving 2017, Deep Reflections, Part I *

* Well, maybe not THAT deep.

Yes, it's Black Friday, NOT Thanksgiving Day. I told myself that I was going to write something "inspirational" for Thanksgiving. Then I told myself that just about the most trite entry a person can write for a holiday is an inspirational one. Well, I changed my mind, because--wait for it, wait for it---it's my blog. End of discussion. End of debate.

So here goes . . . 

Things that I'm thankful for as I reflect on Thanksgiving 2017.

• Worshipping with my kids, grand-kids, & wife at our Thanksgiving worship service on WED evening at Grace Norfolk. Joining in the Sacrament of the Altar with my wife & kids. **
• Grilling on THU 11/23. We grilled steak, chicken, & hamburgers last evening, along w/grilled potatoes. That's how nice the weather was. [And is . . . Today is pretty balmy, too, for the end of November.]
• Fishing with my son Nathan, also on THU 11/23. Fishing, but not catching, yet I treasured the time I got to spend with him. We reminisced. We caught nothing. We shared about our mutual medical conditions. We caught nothing. And, although I caught nothing, neither did he. Does that make me shallow? [LCBLAC * :  "Yes, it does."] * Leckband Cornhusker Blog Lite Advisory Committee
• Watching one son-in-law triumph over some of the most viciously competitive Monopoly players that you will ever find. He won last night's match hands-down, despite multiple attempts to cheat by the afore-mentioned competitors. [I don't want to mention any names & embarrass anyone. * It was Lois, Sarah, & Brianna.
• The "wow" factor of our basement, bathroom makeover, courtesy of my other son-in-law [with some help from others, including his spouse, my spouse, the other son-in-law, & my oldest grand-daughter].
• Watching my daughters & daughter-in-law fawn over each other's kids. My grand-kids are blessed with godly mothers [& fathers] . . . 
• . . . And a godly mother & grand-mother Lois, the love of my life. Watching her joy as she spends time with these children is a real joy for me. [They ADORE her. They tolerate me.]
• My grand-sons--both the 4-yr-old & 1-yr-going-on-2-yr-old--bringing me books to read. Watching them "read". [Nobody does sound effects like Papa.]
• My grand-daughters' love for which I am especially grateful, since I can be a grumpy grand-pa occasionally. [My spouse:  "Occasionally?"]
• Finally * , my Lord & Savior who has called us out of the darkness & into the light. I've been blessed to witness the baptisms of my 3 children & 4 grand-children . . . also blessed to know that my daughter-in-law, two sons-in-law, Lois, & I are all baptized. 
• * Just kidding. I am also blessed to be a part of two families, my own brother & sisters, sister-in-law, brother-in-law. nephew-in-law, niece, & their kids, my great-nieces & nephew; also the Hill family brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, et al. We get together & they tolerate me!
• ** Speaking of WED evening worship, we joined in traditional thanksgiving hymns. Here are some excerpts from those hymns that really struck me. [Speaking of "struck me," nobody struck me for trying to get my grand-kids worked up during church.]

TO BE CONTINUED!