A few weeks ago, as I walked out on the back porch, my son was sitting at the table and he turned around and pointed and said, “Dad, check out the baby turtle.” This baby turtle was barely 2 inches or 50mm long. It was yet another reason to have gratitude for ALL God has given to me. Last year, my son and I had a different baby turtle encounter that I wrote about here: FUN FRIDAYS! – Hope & Growth

We are approaching 1 full year of a difficult season in our family, that was projected on us by outside dark forces. It has been a rough ride to say the least. This week, I met up with my best friend from High School. We hadn’t seen each other in about 3 years. It is unknown when the last time I spent 3 hours with him, one on one. And yes it happened. As we rehashed old stories, I laughed so hard I started coughing uncontrollably, as the tears rolled down my face – just like ole times. My friend has always had the ability to think deep. He has always had a way about him to give you a different perspective that is outside the box, but completely true. Today, as an owner of an Insurance Agency, he uses his wisdom and knowledge to fight for people. He uses his position of power to help others. As we have now been out of High School for well over 30 years, we sat and reflected on who we were, who we are today, and we talked about some of our friends and family and personal events of hardship that we and they have experienced along the journey. Near the end of our visit together, my friend said something to me that truly gave me gratitude.

“It seems that you and I have made some pretty good choices over the course of our lives.”

For todays FUN FRIDAYS! post, I have decided to write a gratitude list.

Gratitude List

• My Mom and Dad for providing for us – we left our smaller house for a much larger house and better shcools.
• My Mom for providing for us after my fathers death – Mom stood by us 110% – she gave of her life for me and my brother.
• Family, friends, the church people, who stepped in and supported us in the absence of my father.
• High School teachers who led us by example as we left to “go do life”.
• My best Friend Evan who has been a good friend since the 2nd grade. Thanks for always being there.
• My friend Nate – Charlie Brown – Block Head – Big Forehead guy – and the latest nick name – Santa lol – without your relationship with my wife’s best friend – there is no Phil & Grace.
• Grace – This should be a gratitude list in it self. Where do I begin? Grace – my wonderful, loving tolerant wife who has stood by me in true love with Grace from that day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God’s holy law. LOVE. – I plight thee my troth 🙂
• My children – I got to be present for all of their births. My oldest has that life we all wish for our children. Better than we had it. I caught my daughter in the bathroom, just me, Grace, my oldest son and the dog. I got to also catch my youngest in a planned home birth which without the quick entry of my daughter just a few years before, would have never happened.
• My inner conscience that helped me get honest about my sexual addiction that was taking over my life.
• 12-Step program for sex addiction recovery. There are way too many names to name of ALL the people who have helped me and are still helping me in my journey of addiction recovery.
• Larry S – my 12-Step sponsor. This man gave me more time than I can account for. The wisdom and help Larry gave to me is unmatched to any other person in my life. THANK YOU LARRY S.
• Doctors and therapist that have helped me from the age of 8 years old, deal with what was finally diagnosed as bipolarism.
• Pastor Danny – You are the link – The link who blew me out of the pews and because I was ready – helped me find Jesus.
• A lady named Sheila @ Baremarriage.com – You watered my garden all the way from Canada on my journey to find Christ. I wouldn’t be where I am today without you and your TEAM.
• JESUS – I LOVE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE FOR ME AND ALL. THANK YOU FOR SAVING ME.

I have all this to be grateful for. You can not take any of this from me. You can cheat me, you can steal from me, you can attack me.

YOU CAN NOT STEAL MY JOY.

With gratitude and love,

I HAVE JESUS AND YOU CAN NEVER TAKE HIM FROM ME!