Giving Thanks

This morning, we decided to gather pictures from last Thanksgiving to view with our family when we gather this Thanksgiving. It's a way of giving thanks. So often, the Thanksgiving Day consists of stuffing a turkey, then stuffing yourself and not remembering the real reason why!

Yet, the wisdom of the words ..."Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thess. 5: 16-18) is such a reminder of what Thanksgiving is really all about.

It's not just about giving thanks for the good stuff, but also for the adversity in our lives. This is because the tough stuff is only there by God's will and because He knows we're going to come out on the other side with more strength, more blessings, and shaping us into better individuals for having gone through it. More importantly, it's then that we can then reach out to those facing difficulties and challenges.

Happy Thanksgiving!

33rd Wedding Anniversary- Central California

Our wedding anniversary getaway this year was to El Capitan State Beach and Santa Barbara along the central coast. The vehicle we drove, a 36 foot RV, was considerly larger than the '69 Volkswagen Beetle we drove 33 years ago, but it was fun to remember our first trip as a newly married couple.

One reminder of our honeymoon trip was the strong winds we experienced last night that shook the RV, just like the wind blew against our Valencia hotel room windows 33 years ago on November 8,1975.

We enjoyed a challenging 33 mile bicycle ride to Santa Barbara, through Gaviota, along the coastal hillsides of Hope Ranch and the peaceful scenery from El Capitan State Beach south.

It's good to know that we still enjoy one another's company, and its challenges. More importantly, we enjoy Gods blessings- our children and grandchildren, that will make the next 33 years even more exciting.