Giving of thanks

I know it’s cliche, but on the day before our thanksgiving holiday, I thought I would reiterate some gratefulness.

I have many things to be grateful and thankful for, the most important one’s being my faith and my family. I have the privilege of living in a country that allows me the freedom to both express and live out my faith in God and my relationship with his Son. That is not something I take for granted, since there are many places in this world where this is not the case. As for my family, they are the reason I get up every morning. My wife is the quintessential partner – my biggest fan as well as my most informed critic. She holds me in high esteem and holds me accountable to be the person she knows I can be. I can’t imagine my life without her and I look forward, with great anticipation, to our future fun together. My kids, all four of them, are equally talented, albeit in unique ways. I love them each differently. I also love that they are growing into their adult skin and look forward to being more of a guidance counselor than a principal in their future.

Professionally, I want to personally name a few people that have shaped me. I definitely don’t have time or room to call out everything or everyone, but want to highlight three people. First is Barbara Steck – my first manager at my first professional position. As a teenager, she was able to both encourage and challenge me effectively; not just about work, but grades and life as well. She challenged me to be my best and it has stuck with me through my entire professional career. Secondly I would like to thank Don Sloan. I learned to balance my work and personal life through the example Don was to me. He showed me it is OK to be an IT professional, a husband, a father and a Christian. Lastly, I would like to thank Martin Casado. He showed me trust. He was willing to see my potential and put me in positions that were not necessarily comfortable, but always challenged me to be even more than I thought I could be in my own eyes.

Thanks to all my friends – you know who you are – and how you put up with me and my oddities.

Thanks for all of our service personnel – without you much of what I have been thankful for above would have never happened.

I hope you all have a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving holiday with your own family and friends.