Thanksgiving, what a wonderful time of year. The trees wave goodbye to all their brightly coloured leaves, as the wind takes them away. The cool breeze is fresh and exhilerating as the world moves the heat of indian summer to the splendor of autumn. And now friends and family start planning to be together. For some it is a weekend, for others a day, an hour, or just one moment to say, 'I love you and I am thankful for you.' Thanksgiving will always be remembered in my family as a time of loving care and thankfulness to God for all that he has given us. Memories come alive again as we reminisce years gone by and adventures that are yet to come. Frequent holidays spent with the Vanvugts, yearly hikes of climbing up the bluff. Joel carrying Journey on his back, playing our instruments in church, and of course the banquet that mom and aunt mar would prepare for us. And now I have the most beautiful, wonderful fiancee in the world who I want to share Thanksgiving with. She is such a blessing and a joy to me. So now I want to make a list for all that which I am so thankful for.
Thank you my Lord and my Saviour for the many blessings that you give to me daily. Thank you for the ultimate sacrifice that you made for me upon the cross. Thank you for the love that you show me each and every day. Thank you for giving me my family and my friends whom I love so dearly. Thank you for Kim, she gives me so much joy and happiness, so much to look forward too.
Thank you Kim, for saying yes to me. For loving me and caring for me. For sharing your passion with me. For making hopes and dreams and plans with me.
Thank you Mom and Dad for all the love that you have shown all of us. For the devotion that you have for God and for each other. Thank you for your encouragment and your prayers.
Thank you Michael for spending time with us, for being such a caring older brother. For taking us out to dinner and being such a good friend.
Thank you Matthew for being such a good example for us. You are the expression of love and faithfulness that we all need.
Thank you Josh for always being helpful and kind and willing to go the extra mile. Thanks for inviting me to participate in sports and desiring to spend time with us.
Thank you Joel for all that you have helped me with, Thank you for the time we could spend together, for the memories that we share, the places we have gone.
Thank you Danny for hanging out with me, for paying for movie tickets, for going grocery shopping with me and for putting up with me when I think I'm right and I'm not. You are so very good to me. Much more than I deserve, and I know you would be this good to anyone who asked you.
Thank you Aaron, for being my little bro. For all the years that we have shared together. I miss time that we spent together. I thankful for the time that we got to work together at Wilco, and I have to tell you, those were the best weeks at Wilco I ever had. Thank you for being adventurous with me.
Thank you my beautiful Anna-Marie. You are my hero. Thank you for being my loving sister. I am so proud of you in all that you do. I still cant believe what ridiculously good marks you have! I miss you and I cannot wait to see you this Christmas.
Thank you my sweet sister Sarah for your dedication and your passion. Just keep sticking to it. I know you are going to do well in everything you put your hand to. Thank you for being my little sister. Thank you for your care for all things living(although you dont always show it, I know its there).
Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Spronk for all that you have done for me. More than I could ever hope for, you have been so good to me. Thank you for your strength and faithfulness in the Lord. Thank you for raising you children in the fear of the Lord. And for giving your blessing to me and your permission to take Kim as my wife. I am so appreciative of all that you have done. Thank You.
Thank you my friends, cousins, uncles and aunts and grandparents. You are all such a blessing to me. May we all continually look to our Father in heaven as we come together once again this thanksgiving.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
James 1:17
