I apologize for the late post. I travelled all day, and my battery was dead when I landed at home.

Day 2 - Giving thanks for my friends

Friendship is one of the areas of my life that has taught me volumes about myself and the world I live in. I have had friends that have come into my life just for a season, and those that I have the pleasure of walking my daily journey with. Friends have beckoned for me to raise the expectations that I have for myself. They have caused me to re-center when I veer too far to the left or the right. They spur me on when I lag, and tap the breaks for me when things start to hurtle out of control. Friends fill in the soundtrack of life, and they add color to complete the picture. They are the spice that adds flavor to the meal of life. Now that I've gone melodramatic, let me say this - I am truly thankful for my friends.

I am blessed to be able to experience true, pure friendship on a daily basis. My friends don't hit the road at the first sign of trouble. They instead stand by my side and help to pick me up when I fall. They rejoice with me when I am on the top of the mountain, and they keep vigil with me when darkness abounds. They offer words of encouragement, and words of criticism when I need them both. When they ask "How's it going?" they really mean it. They don't just wait for their turn to talk when we have conversation. My true friends offer sound advice, and not white noise.

My friends don't need to hear their name to know that our friendship is real, but I feel the need to address one particular group that is vital to the development of my spiritual life. The worship team that I am allowed to serve with is a constant blessing. They have become as close as family to me, and I miss them terribly when I don't get to be around them. I have had the pleasure of seeing the hand of God at work all around me while I have served with them. I enjoy learning from the wiser men of our group, and the advice that they offer is true and from the heart. They inspire me through tough times when I feel that I don't have a clue. We have a tremendous sense of unity that cannot be duplicated or purchased. These men are much more than fellow bandmembers, they are friends in the truest sense of the word.

A new arena of friendship has opened around me, and I enjoy it a great deal. My digital friends from the blogosphere have blessed my soul with words of support during recent tough times. Links that beckon others to pray for me and my family when we desperately need it are like an extra lifeline thrown into the tide. I find myself looking forward to checking the "tweets" each morning, and I enjoy their awesome posts. I only wish that one day, we could all get together and exchange pleasantries face to face. In lieu of that, I will check for updates and look at the twitpics when they are posted.

@mytwitterfriendsfromallcornersoftheearth Thanks and blessings to you and yours!

Thank you, friends - I count you all as blessings from my Savior.