Thanksgiving. What does it mean for you..? Is it a day filled with amazing food and football.. a day filled with the fellowship of family and friends..or a day filled with fun festivities..? Kristin and I were pondering last night how cool thanksgiving is because it looks so differently for every person. Everybody has their own unique family traditions and cook their special recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation. I love trying other families thanksgiving dinners because although you can expect what is going to be served, it never ceases to amaze me the hundreds of different ways you can prepare something to make it unique and special. I think this is so fascinating. For Kristin and I, although we get our grub on like nobody’s business, Thanksgiving is a time of reflection for all the blessings that God has graciously given us. James 1:17 says” Every good and perfect gift is from above coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variance or shadowing of turning.”
I spent some time to write down all that I was thankful for.. I encourage you to do the same. You will quickly see how abundantly blessed and provided for you are.
First I am thankful for my friends and family. If my blessings ended here I would be completely overwhelmed. I have such an amazing loving family who is always there for me when I need them.. even when I dont.. My friends continually encourage, strengthen and build me up through the different seasons in my life. Whether its providing a helping hand physically or a humorous joke occasionally, I know that I am well loved by all my great friends.
I am thankful for where we live. Beautiful sunny southern California.. year round awesome weather, the access to so many activities (golf, ski, surf, hike) and the ability to do them all in the same day.
I am thankful for my health, although not as in shape as I would like 
I am thankful I can walk, can move around, I can see and hear.. all of which allow me to partake in sports and outdoor activities which I LOVE to do. I am so thankful for my photography business. God has really poured out His love and graciousness to us the past couple years and has provided for us in so many ways its incredible! Honestly..I am so blown away! Not only do we get to do what we love to do for a living but we have the best couples to work for and serve! Its just a joy to be able to capture special memories on such an important day in their lives. Its such a honor and a privilege.
I am thankful for laughter, light, my camera, clouds, antiques, bicycles, barbacoa burrito from Chipotle, my bible, my bed, music, country music, companionship, sunrises(although I dont get to see them much they are awesome when I do 
) , sunsets, power tools, my golf clubs, sour patch kids, freedom, free will, my guitar, sound (have you ever thought about that.. its kind of crazy), honey mustard chicken sandwich from DW’s, my running shoes, thrift shops, garage sales, movies, the complexity of creation yet the simplicity of life, and last but not least one of the greatest beauties of God’s creation, my beautiful bride to be Kristin.
I am so thankful for everyday I get to spend with her and treat it as a gift to be treasured. She is truly one of God’s most beautiful creations inside and out. I am so thankful for her heart and how much we have grown together over the past couple years. Her love is so pure and genuine and cant wait to spend the rest of my life with her! When I recap all the ways in which I have been blessed..I am reminded everyday how awesome the God we serve is for all He has given. Actually when you think about it.. its kind of hard to NOT think there is a God. Romans 1: 20 says “for since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead..”
Above everything that I am thankful for, above all my family, friends, health, food and Kristin, yes even her.. is the Cross of Christ. Where Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior laid down is life so that we would be declared righteous and reconciled to God so that we would might have eternal life with Him and through Him. John 3:16-17 says” For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
John 15 :13 “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s own life for his friends.” there is no other thing that I could be more thankful for..That Jesus would lay down His own life for me and take my place. What blows me away even more is that Christ died for us while we were still sinning against Him. Romans 5: 8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” I am speechless, humbled, eternally grateful and forever changed.
I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
