Leaves falling to the ground.  Chilly breeze brushing your cheek in the morning.  Maple trees with leaves crumbling to its colorful orange hues.

It’s that time of the year again in the US when we celebrate Thanksgiving Day.

It’s that day when we gather together as family or with friends in thankful celebration.  Although this year has been a great challenge to most people here and around the world, I believe there is much that we can be thankful for.

I am thankful for the great time that I had this year with my trip back to the Philippines after around 10 years of absence.  I had the chance to see my mom and dad, and my sister.  My in-laws, niece, nephew, old and new friends that I have gained.  It has filled up a void in me that I have not realized I have.

This year has been an eye opener for me and I believe a constructive one.  Pretty much the Good Lord have a way of using November as a critical period of my life.  Many revelations and visions came about during this time of the year during the course of my life.

I am thankful for the Good Lord for giving me a loving wife and wonderful children.  With no relatives here, He gave us a good support with our church family, and friends that became my guide through the early times when I migrated here in the States.

He gave me the trials to shape me up, challenges that I would have given up if not for the faith that grounded me.  The days ahead seems gloomy for most people with the insecurities that the financial crisis have created.  But I look ahead to the bright morning sky, the heartbeat that tells me I am still alive, and the vision He gave me to look forward to.

I am thankful for …

• my wife, still not able to drive because that means I will have the chance to have some quiet time with her on her way to work
• my daughter, for her new car because the family have a new driver
• my son, with the mess that he makes in his room because it tells me he’s being ‘creative’
• my family – my mom and dad, for allowing me to be who I am, exploring and discovering
• my sister – because I don’t have no one else
• my friends – because they make my life colorful
• my clients, who are still trying to figure out when to single click and double click a mouse.