My sweethearts and I will be traveling to Tyler, TX this week to spend some great quality time with my family. I can't wait to be around the hustle and bustle that will be in my sister's beautiful house. What a great time it will be! Little J-Boo's first Thanksgiving outside the belly!! I will try to blog from TX but cannot promise anything. Here's wishing you and yours a wonderful time of family and counting blessings. I will leave you with this thankful article from youth guru Mark Oestreicher.

"Last thanksgiving I was—I'll admit—struggling to feel thankful. Maybe you're in this space right now. Know what? God is not spooked by that, or disappointed in you, or frustrated that you don't "get it". Clearly, the 12 disciples struggled with this on a regular basis, and Jesus didn't kick them out of the disciple club!

If you're struggling to find thankfulness, please take care of your soul and find some space and time to be quiet this week. Sit with God; and allow God—without a big agenda on your part—to provide you with thankfulness. Let's be honest—we can't always muster it up on our own. God's Spirit would love to cozy up to you in a place of quiet and reveal to you some reasons to be thankful.

This year, I have to say, I'm feeling way-thankful. I feel like my life is so wonderfully full of great stuff right now. My wife and children give me so much joy. My friends are so loving and caring. My spiritual community is so rich. My work is so fulfilling. And you youth workers continue to provide me with reason upon reason for joy and thankfulness. Your stories, your passion, your calling—they all fill me with a great hope. And, really, isn't thankfulness intimately connected to hope?"
Mark Oestreicher