Thank You – #13
Thank You No. 13
Today, I’m thankful for you.
I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the community that has developed through this blog. I’m grateful for your readership, your comments, and your sharing. And I’m especially thankful for your friendship and encouragement. I started this blog as a place to process my stretch marks and stretch experiences. I write for me, but I also write for you – The Stretched Community.
Thank you!
Why are you thankful today?
Thank You – #12
Thank You No. 12
Today, I’m thankful for traditions.
The fall is marked by several family traditions in our house. We carve pumpkins for Halloween. We decorate for Christmas on my birthday (Dec. 8th). We make Korv and Swedish Meatballs for Christmas week, and we eat rice pudding on Christmas morning. Thanksgiving has become a favorite for our family. On Thanksgiving Day, we put a special tablecloth on the table. Before we set the table, we each trace our hand onto the table cloth. Then we write five things for which we are thankful – one for each finger. We use the same tablecloth each year which means we also get to reflect on thanksgiving from years past. What a blessing!
These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:6-9
Why are you thankful today?
Thank You – #11
Thank You No. 11
Today, I’m thankful for our veterans.
Many have served to protect our freedom and to gain freedom for others. My grandfathers, my cousin, and my wife’s uncle are four family members who come to mind. I work with several vets, and I have several friends who have served or who are currently serving. Thank you.
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9
Why are you thankful today?
6 Ways To Make Your Thanksgiving Holiday Extra Special
November has been designated as the month for thanksgiving due to the holiday that falls towards the end of the month. While I’d love to see thanksgiving be better represented the rest of the year, I can also tell you that our family probably concentrates more on giving thanks during this month than other months in the year. You probably noticed that I have also added a separate post each day so far this month to express my thanks for someone or something.
Today, I want to give you some ideas for enhancing your Thanksgiving experience this year. Don’t wait until the last minute to implement these ideas. Start today to make your Thanksgiving extra special this year!
6 Ways To Make Your Thanksgiving Holiday Special
- Run or walk at a Turkey Trot. A couple of years ago, I did the Thanksgiving Marathon in NYC which might be considered a little overboard. Why not get out and run or walk a community 5K? Many towns across the country have started their own Turkey Trot. My wife and kids have run one in Latrobe, PA several times. The races are always fun, and it makes the turkey taste so much better later that day.
- Invite someone over for dinner. My guess is that you live near someone who is missing out on family. They are lonely, and they may not have to means to prepare a traditional Thanksgiving meal. Why not invite them over to your house? Usually, there are more than enough leftovers to go around after the Thanksgiving feast, and we can always put an extra chair around the table.
- Go out and serve. There are hundreds of opportunities around your community. The church in my hometown used to hold a Community Thanksgiving Day meal where our family served a couple of times. This was a great way for my parents to demonstrate that Thanksgiving was so much more than turkey and football. We had the opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus to those in need. Why not find a place to serve with your family this Thanksgiving season? (If you’re in the Perkiomen Valley area, consider joining our H.O.P.E. group. We gather together twice a month to serve others in our community.)
- Change up the menu. If you are like me, you like everything the same way every year – turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, etc. For some though, this may sound boring. Why not change things up on your Thanksgiving menu? My brother made beef tenderloin several years ago when we visited their family for Thanksgiving. Maybe you should try Chinese food or fish or something more exotic. Whatever it is, use this time to eat together with family and friends and to be thankful. I knew menu could be the catalyst for new memories. I still remember the year we deep-fried our turkey. It was different, and it was something we will always remember.
- Start a Thanksgiving tradition. For over ten years, our family has been using the same tablecloth for our Thanksgiving dinner. The tablecloth is white. Each year, those in attendance trace their hand onto the tablecloth using different colored fabric markers. Then in each of the five fingers, we write down something for which we’re thankful along with our name and the year. The tablecloth is now filled with names of grandparents who are no longer with us and with years of thanksgiving. As we look at the table each year, it gives us to reflect on how God has blessed us even through years of challenge. Why not start a new tradition this year in your home? Go buy a tablecloth and some fabric markers today!
- Make it Thank You Thursday every week. Matt McWilliams is a friend of mine from the blogging community. Last year, Matt wrote about starting a Thank You Thursday Revolution. In his post, he encouraged readers to write a handwritten Thank You note each Thursday. Since his post, I’ve been writing a note (or several notes) every week to put into the mailbox of a co-worker. It’s been remarkable to see the reaction. We don’t need to be thankful one Thursday of the year. Why not join the Thank You Thursday Revolution today? It will change your world and the world of those around you!
This is a start! What other ideas can you add to the list? How do you celebrate Thanksgiving? How can do you plan to transform your holiday?
Thank You – #10
Thank You No. 10
Today, I’m thankful for my church.
Our family has been part of our church for over 12 years. I’ve been challenged by our church. I’ve grown as part of our church. I feel welcome by my church. It’s not just about a building or a get together on Sunday. Our church is a community and a difference maker in our area and around the world. It’s not perfect, but it’s doing its best to help people far from God to become fully devoted followers of Christ.
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47
Why are you thankful today?
Thank You – #9
Thank You No. 9
Today, I’m thankful for geocaching.
I had the chance to go geocaching this afternoon with Isaac, Steve Young, and his son (Carter). We found four caches in nearby Hunsberger Woods in Collegeville, PA. Our last two were definitely favorites of mine. Geocaching has become of fun hobby which has given me wonderful time with my family and friends.
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11
Why are you thankful today?
Thank You – #8
Thank You No. 8
Today, I’m thankful for weekends.
I like my job (see Thank You – #1), but I also like the weekends. It’s a great opportunity to spend time with family, to spend time at church, and to spend time around the house. This weekend, I’m looking forward to Scouting for Food with Isaac, a hayride with our 4H Puppy Club, church on Sunday, and time at home.
Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Psalm 65:5-8
Why are you thankful today?
Thank You – #7
Thank You No. 7
Today, I’m thankful for ice cream.
It seems pretty trivial and perhaps gluttonous, but it’s one of those simple pleasures I really appreciate. I don’t eat as much as I used to as I’m trying to maintain healthy eating habits. But it will still always be one of my favorite edible treats. There’s nothing quite like a dish of cotton candy ice cream or peanut butter swirl ice cream to cure whatever ails you.
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. I Corinthians 10:31
Why are you thankful today?
Thank You – #6
Thank You No. 6
Today, I am thankful for modern-day medicine.
No matter where you stand on the whole healthcare debate going on in the United States right now, you have to admit we have unbelievable modern medicine in our country. Just yesterday, my father in law had both of his knees replaced. Imagine trying to pull that off 50 years ago. Researchers have discovered new ways to fight elevated cholesterol and high blood pressure. Doctors have perfected techniques to successfully transplant organs, appendages, and even faces. It’s really amazing when you think about it.
When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:11-13
Why are you thankful today?
Thank You – #5
Thank You No. 5
Today, I’m thankful for running.
Last night on my way home from work, I stopped at a local park to run a few miles. There is something refreshing and mind-clearing about a crisp November run as the sun goes down. Running has become a source of renewal for me. This year, I’ve run 1,169.33 miles so far which puts me on track for 1,385 miles for the year. Each of these miles represents an opportunity to stretch.
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14
Why are you thankful today?