Good evening.

Your all read Bob's blog, "Faith", right?

I'll add a little echo to that.

I've just had the best weekend I've had since February 17 this year. It's been a long 9 months, but I feel like things have finally turned around.

I was desperate in the early going after I was laid off. Those of you that followed me on Facebook know that I was a mess this spring. I loved my job, and I felt that I might have lost my dearest friend who I worked next to for the past five years.

It was a tough summer; I worked at a couple of different places that didn't quite work out, and after I went through my second job back in September, I felt that things were pretty bleak.

But then a strange thing happened.

I went full-time at the store, right as things were starting to pick up. I've managed to get a new position at the store, doing something I love...teaching people about the gear and equipment and the skills necessary to stay warm and safe outdoors.

While that was going on, I also got called for a contract job in Boston at a manufacturing company that was having huge problems with their electronic data interchange department.

Over the past month, I feel like I've finally gotten back on the horse. My day job is going extremely well, and I'm making a real contribution to my new company in researching and resolving a lot of the problems they've been having since they converted to their new system.

But even better is the store...I've just had an extraordinary weekend running some outdoor sporting clinics. In fact, today the department manager, store manager, and the regional VP who just happened to be visiting saw me in action. Today went so well that my direct manager went to our senior leadership and wrote a recommendation for me, primarily because we didn't have a day plan for the clinics and I was able to step up and make sure everything ran smoothly. I think I single-handedly sold over $1,000 worth of snoeshoes today.

But it is all about faith. In May, Javier made First Communion, and I tried to get back to the church. Like I told my mother, I started to pray again, and this time I meant it. Perhaps God does work in mysterious ways....it took some months, but it feels like things have been answered.

Reflecting on Thanksgiving, what am I thankful for this year?

I love my wife, my son, and what I do for the youth of this city via the Scouting program. I believe my true calling is to be a teacher; in any case, I've been at this over 20 years and I'm very proud that some of the boys I had as Cub Scouts have grown into Eagle Scouts and have become men.

I'm thankful for my dear friend, who has stuck by me through thick and thin and has become my sister....something she's recently told me that she feels like I'm her "little brother".

I'm thankful that my oldest friend has turned his life around, has been 'clean' for over five years now, and recently has come through a succesful surgery and will be able to walk without pain for the first time in maybe 20 years.

But most of all, I'm thankful for the opportunities I now have.

In the end, that's what I've been praying for; just opportunity. Nothing specific, just a chance. I thank God every day for the talents he's given me. Now I just hope to make the most of them.

Thanks to everyone for being here, too. Maybe we are just a crazy little blog, but I wrote once a while ago, I'm also thankful that some people I know on the internet have turned into real friends.

So....as we all gear up for the holiday season, just remember what the truths of life are. We all may have things, expensive toys, or fancy clothes, or a good house...but it's the people we all love that are the greatest things of all.

Happy Thanksgiving Weekend....one and all.