Three Days of Thankfulness

My aunt challenged me to share three things I'm thankful for over a five day period.  After the first two days, I went out of town, and I didn't finish until yesterday.  Here are the 9 things I'm thankful for for the days I missed.

Thankfulness for Days 3 thru 5:

1.  I'm thankful for roller coasters!  My wonderful daughter, Melody, and I have made it our goal to visit as many amusement parks to ride as many roller coasters as we can.  We added several more to our total over the weekend, and we had a blast!

2.  I'm thankful for restaurants, which provide an easy solution for this single dad who hates to cook.

3.  I'm thankful for Grace Adventures Day Camp!  Where else can my wonderful daughter experience fun activities in a Christian environment in the middle of summer while I'm at work, and love every minute of it?

4.  I'm thankful for Jim & Lynda Shirlen, my wonderful parents-in-law, and Melody's grandparents.  I'm so thankful for their love and support and for all they do for us.

5.  I'm thankful for Pittsburgh sports teams, the Steelers, Pirates, and Penguins.  Even though I am not a Pittsburgh native, I identify so much with the Western Pennsylvania culture, mentality, and way of life, and the sports teams reflect those qualities.  I'm so glad that my father is from that area, which means I can honestly claim it as my own.  Honorable Mention goes to my University of Maryland sports teams, who I continue to faithfully support.  Go Terps!

6.  I'm thankful for my wife, Teresa.  Even though we had less than five years of married life together, she was a model wife, and the love we shared was a gift from God.  She was a wonderful mother, too, even if she only got to be a mom for five months.  And if you knew Teresa, you know how great she was.  Teresa was a blessing on so many.  She was an awesome teacher, too!  And she knew Jesus, and shared Him with all she met.  I look forward to our reunion in Heaven.

7.  I'm thankful for the bands I have been blessed to be a part of.  From the great Frederick Douglass High School Symphonic and Marching bands, the incredibly fun jazz band, the Mighty Sound of Maryland Marching Band, and the ensembles I was fortunate to play with at my churches, Bells and Galesville United Methodist, to the fun times just jamming with one of my best friends, Kirk Roy, I've enjoyed every moment.  I'm very happy that my daughter is following in my footsteps by playing in the band herself.

8.  I'm so thankful for my wonderful friends.  You know who you are.  Thank you for supporting me, praying for me, spending time with me, and for all you've given me.  You're all awesome!

9.  And, finally, I'm thankful for this life.  God gives us this wonderful gift, to know love, fellowship, community, compassion, joy, freedom, and the knowledge that, if we're willing to allow Jesus into our hearts, we will enjoy everlasting life in eternity.

Have a great evening, everyone!