Thankful

Happy Friday Friends!

I hope & trust this post finds you all having a great day as this beautiful new day begins to dawn! I also hope you and your family enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving has become my favorite holiday. I was just talking to my Beautiful Bride about this earlier this week. I think it all really hit me about 9 years ago. My little family had just gone through a season of great trial and, as always, God had delivered us in a miraculous way. We were gathered around the Thanksgiving table, surrounded by our extended family, and I was just grateful...so very grateful, for them. Since that time I get all emotional around Thanksgiving thinking about people that God has placed in my life, in awe of how richly He has blessed my life. That is what I want to write about this Friday, the people. I don't mean this list to be an exhaustive one...the list would be impossibly long as my life has truly been blessed beyond measure. Further, every time I think about another season of life there are tons and tons of people that come to mind who God used powerfully to help me, mold me & shape me into the man I am today. I however don't want to let the fear of excluding someone, of hurting someone's feelings, to stop me from recognizing anyone. So here goes...

I am grateful for:
- A God who loved me enough to create me on purpose for a purpose. Who made me in His own image and who has promised to never leave me nor foresake me. It is the belief in Him and his promises that has carried me through so many days of my life.
- Jesus Christ who walked the face of this earth providing the blueprint for how I am to live my life and then died on a cross for my sins & rose again so that I may enter Heaven when my earthly vessel dies. 
- The Holy Spirit which leads, guides & directs my life every day. When He is in control, we are all good. When I am in control...well, that's not good!
- My Beautiful Bride, Kathy. Wow, just wow! God has used you more powerfully than any other person in my life. I have no clue where I would be without you however it would not be good. You inspire me to be a better man, husband, father & leader every single day. I love, value, cherish & adore you with all my heart.
- My son, Payton. Everything changed the day you were born. Suddenly, as if struck by a bolt of love, I got it. God used you to help me understand what I am called to be as a man, husband, father & leader...you literally changed my life. You have been, and always will be, my Buckaroo.
- My son, Gehrig...appropriately, my gameday baby. You have a heart & spirit that truly amazes me. You see things in others that nobody else sees. I have learned so much by watching you, by seeing the love, mercy & grace you extend to everyone. Serving others, dealing with difficult situations...you are always there. You are different son - this is a GREAT thing! - and God is using you in profound ways.
- My son, Landry. My great Tender Warrior! I have no idea why you believe in me as much as you do however I hope I grow up to be half the man you think I am! :) You are the perfect picture of a great warrior and at the same time such a tender, loving spirit. I am thankful for each and I pray that you will develop both of them, with God's leading, to the very best of your ability.
- My Mom. You poured so much into my life! When I was a boy you would read daily devotionals to me with me only half listening. You never gave up though...never! It was profound to me Mom when I realized it the other day; I don't like to leave the house without Kath reading to me from Jesus Calling - the book that you loved so much and that ultimately became your ministry in giving it to others - each morning as I eat breakfast. God gave me two great women when he chose you to be my Mom and Kath to be my wife...and you handled that hand-off so beautifully - loving Kath as though she were your own daughter. I miss you every single day and I strive valiantly to honor you by putting a smile on my face, a bounce in my step & making each day a great day.
- My Dad. We were so different however I would not be who I am if you were not who you were. I believe to the depths of my soul that you did the very best you could do and above all else, that is all we can expect from anyone. I am so grateful for the life we created together the last several years - God is so good! - and that I got to see you at complete peace.
- My sister, Tammy, brother-in-law, John, and nephew, Adam, spending this Thanksgiving with us in Texas. It has been such a blessing having you here with us, creating new memories, just being together. This time has been so special and I am so very grateful. I am so thankful to have you - as well as Jake & Michelle - in my life and I love you.
- My brother-in-law, Phil. You are such a critically important part of our family and we love you with all our hearts.
- My father-in-law, Sal, and my mother-in-law, Mary. You gave me the greatest earthly gift anyone could give me when you allowed me the honor & privilege of marrying your daughter. I know no other way of expressing my deep gratitude other than leading, guiding & protecting her with deep love & admiration, with God's leading and to the very best of my ability, every day of my life.
 - The Godly men God has placed in my life - Mark Linder, AJ Taylor, Bobby Dean, Jason Wright, Kevin Minnifield, Jason Stearns, Rob Pickles, Stephen Ponder, Steve Hettinga to name a few. We have leaned on each other, prayed for and with each other. I am grateful for each one of you.
- My college football teammates. They believed in me. Specifically, they thought I was smart way before I thought I was...seriously. They started talking about how smart I was and all the sudden I felt like I had to try really hard in class to be who they thought I was. Because of them a kid who limped into New Mexico Highlands University with a GPA hovering around a 2.0 never got a grade lower than an A- all the way through my Masters Degree. All because some people believed in me.
- George Martinez, Dennis Wagner, Steve Stanard, Mary Beth Kennedy, Pete Chapman, Al Fleumer, Jim Bagnall, Paris Watts, Stephen Ponder, Dave Willis, Margo Wolanin & Betsy Clardy - You all believed in me and gave me an opportunity. 
- My former players. You have no clue how richly you have blessed my life. It was truly an honor & privilege to be your coach. 
- Deb Souza & Joyce McBurney - Your belief in me, and non-stop encouragement, has inspired me to strive to be the leader you think I am every single day. 
- Stephen Ponder - The opportunity you gave me changed everything! I am also so very grateful for that great, pure heart that beats within your chest.
- Dave Kinard & Megan Gormley Edwards - Thank you for believing in me and for encouraging me. "What Will Your Influence Be...?" would not exist if not for the two of you.
- Margo Wolanin - You believe in me. I sure hope I grow up to be all that you think I am! :)
- The countless men & women I have had the honor & privilege to meet through my work as a development officer. I have met great physicians, lawyers, engineers, business leaders, pilots, athletes...it is crazy! Me! How? Why? I decided a long time ago to stop questioning why God has chosen to bless me so richly and simply be fully present in each and every moment...and take a lot of notes!
- The countless men & women I have had the honor & privilege of serving. I am so thankful for the love, mercy & grace you have extended to me...and patience too! Please know that while I am not yet all that I can be, I am a lot more than I used to be and it is due in large part to each one of you and the role you have played in my life.

I need to end this because I could literally sit here and write all day - plus my Beautiful Bride & Tender Warriors are up...and the biscuits & gravy are almost done! :)

Two things I want to end with:
1. It doesn't escape me that so many people I am grateful for are the one's who believe(d) in me. Friends, let's look for the good in people, no matter the amounts of dirt we have to move to find it. We can literally change the trajectory of a life simply by the words we speak into the life of another.

2. I want to encourage you to write out a list of the people you are grateful for - whether it is mental or on a sheet of paper. It changes your perspective on a whole lot of things when you think of reasons to be grateful.

Please don't hesitate to contact me at any time if there is ever anything I can do for you or your family. I will always help you any way I can. You can reach me at kevin@whatwillyourinfluencebe.com.

Have a great day, a wonderful weekend and please cherish your precious families.

Kev