2010-10-13 “Thanksgiving”

When I look out my office window I see a number of trees, but two of them stand out over the rest.  Although they are different trees with different shapes, sizes and colours they complement each other.  Right now one is turning crimson, the other amber.  I watch them as they change colours in the fall and lose their leaves, I watch them as they hold snow on their branches in the winter and finally as they burst forth each spring with new promise.  I ponder life a lot when I look at them.  They remind me that there’s so much beauty in the world and it’s right here…it doesn’t cost any money, it lasts more than a short time and it can be shared by all.    

As I write this Musings, I am getting ready for Thanksgiving.  This is one of my favourite holidays in the year.  As I lay in bed last night I thought about some of the Thanksgivings in my life and the things that I have to be thankful for.  Although my life is not perfect, the good outweighs the bad and I am content.  I have a wonderful wife, great children who make me proud and two of the most adorable grandsons that anyone could ever ask for!  (Last Tuesday Lucas called me and asked if I could come for a sleepover and so I did.  We had cheesies in bed and watched Marmaduke.  We shared a can of pop.  And when we got tired, we went to sleep…probably the earliest that I have been to sleep in a long time!)  My parents gave me great childhood and taught me about responsibility and respect at an early age…values that I have passed on to my own children.  I have many fond memories of life on the farm with six kids.

And I am thankful for you.  I am honoured that so many of you have invited me into your lives; that it was me that you reached out to when you needed someone.  I will continue to do whatever it is that I can do to earn your respect and trust.   Thank you, thank you, thank you!