Last Friday, I was stringing up the beginnings of our outdoor Christmas lights. It hardly seems like another year has past! I think that a year of big events strung together has really made it go fast. So, I'm doing the traditional thing and making a brief list of things I'm thankful for this year. I'm certain that major items will not make it on the list, while trivial items will...simply because this is a stream of consciousness post, so deal.
My top of the head thankful list for 2009:
1. Les Paul. Les Paul died this year, but he has left behind a lifetime of innovation that impacts nearly every musician that records and certainly every musician that plays electric guitar! For those of you who don't know anything about him, you should really spend a few moments reading up on the guy. He was an inspiration to MANY right up until his death this year, and I assume will continue to be such an inspiration for generations to come. My most treasured possession is a Gibson Les Paul guitar and some of my best memories have been made with this instrument!
2. Evidence is pointing towards the fact that we will actually survive our first year of having a teen daughter. There is still a month to go, but we're in the home stretch now.
3. My St. Louis blogger friends. Looking back at the year, it's amazing how much time I've spent with them, both in person and online. They periodically make my day! This week alone, Melody, Kimberly, Marianne, Lisa, and Kelli made my week all at once!
4. CM Productions. Our fall production each year for the past five years has been the highlight of my year since we began as a theater production company. Each year gets better and more amazing, and we meet more and more people in the prolific St. Louis theater world. This year's production of "Annie" was a true joy to work on with so many talented people.
5. My job. Without which very little else would be possible! Despite it driving me completely many days and taking up an increasing percentage of my time, I know that I'm fortunate to have such a good (and seemingly stable) job in an uncertain economic time. As a perk, I got to visit Xi'an, China this year for a couple of weeks which was amazing!
6.Photography. More times than I can count, crawling around in our garden taking close-up pictures of plants and bugs has caused me to be stunned by the amazing beauty all around us that God has created. It's sad how often we rush past all of this this every day in our hurry to try to keep up with our busy schedules.
7. Old friends. This year, I was lucky enough to run into one of my best friends from college. Somehow we got disconnected in the flurry of things that occurs in your life just past college. It's been really great catching up on all that has happened in each others lives, since!
8. My parents. The more people I meet and get to know, the more I realize that there are a LOT of people out there that have had lives growing up that I can't even imagine. My life has been what I'd have called "normal" just a few years ago, but I'm beginning to realize was more extraordinary rather than ordinary.
9. My wife and kids. I had to have them on this list, of course. I could not have imagined the joy and fulfillment that has come with having my two daughters, Rebecca and Rachel. Sure, it's tough at times, but the payoff is HUGE. I can't imagine not having them in my life. Then there is my talented and beautiful wife, Dianne. I'm crazier for her today than the day we were married!
10. Finally, I'm thankful that the biggest thing that seems to be on my mind this Thanksgiving is the fact that those darn wings WON'T TUCK UNDER THE ENORMOUS TURKEY!!!! That's right, I'm spoiled, and I'm thankful for it!
Item 8: Our goal has always been to provide a good Christian home for our children and to support them in their skills and interests; we never had an agenda for them relating to what we wanted them to do or be. Material things beyond basic needs have never been high on our list. It pleases us to see them following these same goals in their families today and for us to have an opportunity to assist in some small way in the development of our grandchildren.
Posted by: Gregg's Dad | November 27, 2009 at 03:41 PM
I am thankful for a wonderful loving husband and two beautiful girls!!
Posted by: Dianne | December 01, 2009 at 09:03 AM