Looking back, this week would always mark, at least for me, the beginning of the holiday season. As a child, I LOVED Thanksgiving. We would always go to my grandmothers house and have a big family day. From a big breakfast in the morning to a huge lunch at noon followed by a little football on TV and don’t forget the nap. It was great. A house full of family, food, and fun.

Then, before there was Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving meant a few things. First, NO SCHOOL, and secondly, we got to put up our Christmas tree. I say “WE” put up the Christmas tree, but actually my dad put it up and we watched. We never had a real tree growing up so our job was to put all the same size limbs, normally they were color coded, together in a pile so dad could put them up. Then we would help with the ornaments. It was wonderful. Not the tree. It was a six foot piece of junk, but what it symbolized to us kids was priceless. It meant in less than a month, Santa Clause would make his annual appearance. But what would he bring us? Well, that’s what we did for the rest of the weekend. My brother and I would sit down with the Sears Christmas Wish Book Catalog and dog ear page after page of toys we could only dream of getting. Then the unbelievably overwhelming anticipation began.

Fast forward almost 30 years and I’m ashamed of myself. Over the last few years I feel like I’ve lost sight of what was most important. I know this time of year everything becomes a little more hectic and with work, school, and all the responsibilities that go along with it, it’s hard. But I’ve done a lot of thinking lately. Is it because I’m getting older? Or maybe it has something to do with my dad getting diagnosed with cancer. Whatever the reason, I’ve realized that I’ve let my kids down. I’ve taken away from them the memories that I cherish the most. This year I’m going to try to make things different and though it may not come all at once,  it’s a start. This year may not be the greatest Thanksgiving ever, but I hope it’s one my kids will remember.

I have a lot to be thankful for. I’m thankful for my wife, my kids, and my family. God has truly blessed me and my family with so much, from a wonderful home to a great job. But I think most of all, I’m thankful for second chances. God knows I’ve used more than my share.

So God bless each one you and your families and I hope you all have a great, and memorable, Thanksgiving.

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