We now live in the technology age. Even if we don’t want to, it’s pretty much inevitable. Most of our communication occurs electronically and takes very little work. Much of our correspondence occurs through Facebook, email, or text messages. A phone call? What’s that? Perhaps that is what makes it so exciting to get home from work and realize that someone has taken the time to write you a letter or a send you a card with a personal message in it. That rarely happens (for me anyway), but when it does, it is very exciting! I usually receive this type of correspondence from my older relatives/friends, and I love it! It is always nice to receive something handwritten because that means it took some effort. Emails and text messages take little, if any effort. If someone writes you a letter, then you must be really special! Sadly, the handwritten letter is a lost art and only you and I can keep this art form alive. The next time you want to make someone feel special or show your true gratitude, send them a handwritten letter.

Hugging can be awkward, especially if you’re not a big “hugger” and hugging really isn’t your thing, which is the case for me. However, there are times in life when hugs are necessary. For instance, when someone is grieving, it’s usually a good idea to offer them a hug. It’s one thing to hug family and close friends, but quite different when hugging those you are not as close with. So, I had one of these hug situations come up recently. Someone was grieving, and I knew I needed to offer up a hug and so I did. Hugging life is divided into subgroups. There are the huggers and the non-huggers (me), but there are even more subgroups. There are different types of huggers. Some people give side hugs, some give fully body hugs, some pat your back, etc. Well, the grieving lady was a fully body hugger, but I didn’t know that going in. So, we hugged, but the hug kept going on, and I fear I pulled away to quickly because she was still hugging when I thought the hug was over. I now realize that I not only need to offer more hugs, but I need to hone my hugging skills to adapt appropriately to each hugging situation, therefore avoiding the awkward hug.

Sharon and I recently went to Bed Bath & Beyond and purchased this really cool car vacuum. It’s called the “Emerson Portable Wet N’ Dry 12-Volt Auto Vacuum.” Shew! Try saying that 10 times fast! Anyway, it was an amazing find! Here’s how it works. You plug the portable vacuum into your cigarette lighter receptacle and start vacuuming. The vacuum can be used to clean wet or dry surfaces. You can use the vacuum continuously since it never runs out of power. I was previously using a handheld vacuum to clean out my car, but the charge lasted no time so this is a nice change. Sometimes I’d get tired of using my handheld vac and go down to the local car wash to use their vacuums. Those don’t last very long either, unless you pay like $10 bucks in quarters! The only drawback to this portable vac is that it is not very powerful, but it does the job and well. You can’t be overly aggressive with it though or the tubing comes unhooked, but that’s no biggie to me especially since it’s so convenient and much better than the handheld vacuums. The vacuum comes with a brush, crevice tool, and nozzle attachment heads. It can also be used to inflate things like floats during the summer season. The price? $9.99! Now, that’s a deal! Happy vacuuming!

Thanksgiving is a time to pause, if only briefly to stop focusing on what we don’t have and to be thankful for what we do have. I have a lot to be thankful for! I am thankful for my job. I’m not only thankful for the job itself, but for the fact that I work with a great group of people and really enjoy what I do. I am thankful for Sharon and all the good she has brought into my life. She has seen me at my worst, but only seems to notice my best. I am thankful for all my grandma taught me when she was alive. She never bragged about it, but was the most generous person I ever knew. I think she really got Christianity by the way she lived her life so graciously and generously. I am thankful for my family and friends. I am thankful for those who came to my side when I needed it most this year and last. I am thankful for an on time God. Sometimes I get pretty worried that things aren’t going to work out, but God always comes through for me. I am thankful for a good church that teaches generosity and really lives it out in the community. I am thankful for good music that lifts my spirits when I am down. I am thankful for people who participate in research and for medical advancements. I am thankful for days filled with sunshine. I am thankful for a warm and cozy bed. I am thankful for food. I am thankful for clean water. I am thankful for sweet tea and Hershey’s chocolate. I am thankful for the gourmet dinners Sharon makes. I am thankful for my 3 cats that bring so much joy into my life. I am thankful that I can still put one foot in front of the other without much effort. I am thankful for people who make me laugh. Laughter can brighten the worst of situations. I am thankful for people who always point me in the right direction and show me the hopeful side of hopeless situations. I’m thankful for Facebook which has allowed me to reconnect with people from years ago and allows me to stay connected with close family and friends. I’m thankful for this blog which gives me a forum to share with you all that I am thankful for. This Thanksgiving, please take a moment to stop and be thankful for all you have!