Those still here and those who've passed on. 

For many years, I would wake up early on Thanksgiving morning, before the first whistle blew in the holiday parades and while the turkey was still being patted dry in prepartion for roasting, to hurriedly dress and drive the hour north to pick up my friend Ronnie from the nursing home.  I will never forget the first time I asked him to spend Thanksgiving with us.  As much as it meant to him, I think it meant more to my kids, wife and parents.  What it ended up meaning to me can't be put into words. That first year, we drove up to the house to see the kids waiting in the yard and I don't know if my heart ever felt fuller.

Since his passing, I no longer leave the house early on this day and I am here as the kids are waking up and the very first smells begin to waft through the house.  But he remains in my thoughts.  Though I admit more than a hint of sadness remains, I am so thankful God put him in my life and allowed me to know him for the time I did.  As the years go by, my appreciation of our relationship continues to grow and I look back in wonder.

We have a long list of things to be thankful for, since who we are and everything we have comes from Him.  But the gift of friendship is awfully close to the top.

Thank you Lord for my friends.  For those here and for those you've brought home to you.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends here at the VS.  Hope you have a great day.