Day 33

I've never been big on spending money on things that are super comfortable or nice. I just have never seen the need. For my 30th birthday Elissa surprised me by bringing me to one of my favorite places on the earth. At this place I was introduced to Sky Chairs. These are hanging chairs that feel like a hammock. They have a nice foot rest and some have drink holders. So I decided that we would get a couple of these things. We bought two of them for Elissa's birthday. Well, what started out as a great idea got shelved for a bit....like 5 years. They sat in a box and were never hung. We honestly didn't have a place to hang them from.

When we moved into this new house I was determined to put these things up. We found a place on the front of the house to hang them and I got them up the first weekend. Needless to say that was the best investment of time and money we have ever made. We have used

them every weekend since they have been put up.

Today I am thankful for our Sky Chairs.

Day 32

As I get older I find my interests shifting to new things. In most areas those have been welcome changes. For example, I have taken a big interest now in parenting. That may seem obvious as I am now a parent. Another area I have taken a new interest in is gardening. To be sure I have always liked to play in the dirt and spent many years working at a garden center. This new interest has been motivated by my new interest in food.

The area that has been of most interest and an area of thankfulness is books. I have come to truly devour books and long for more. I have a myriad of reading interests now and it has come as a welcome surprise.

Here is a quick list of some of the books I have read:

Crazy Love - Francis Chan

Transforming Church - Kevin Ford

Guitar Lessons - Bob Taylor

Blue Ocean Strategy - Chan Kim

Blue Like Jazz - Donald Miller

Bootstrapers Bible - Seth Godin

Unfinished Business - Lee Kravitz

Courageous Leadership - Bill Hybels

Today I am thankful for the new books and new love of reading in my life.

Day 31

One of our most recent purchases has been something that will hopefully motivate us to be more active as a family. So far, so good. We bought a used bike trailer off of Craigslist. We have used it a few times and really enjoyed it. It has also shown me how far I have let myself get out of shape. The trailer and kids weighs almost 100 extra pounds. My hope is that during our short summers here in Portland we will get much use out of it. I also secretly hope that Elissa will want to tow the kids occasionally!

Today I am thankful for the trailer we purchased for our bike.

Day 30

I recently was reacquainted with my lawnmower. When we moved into this new house the joy of mowing the lawn became mine again. In all honesty, I have to tell you that purchasing my lawnmower 8 years ago was one of the least satisfying purchases I have ever made. I usually do great research, scout out the best prices, find the best rated store and then plop down my hard earned cash for a well thought out purchase. Not so with my lawnmower. I went over to Sears (I think because we have always bought our lawnmowers from Sears) found one that looked like it would do the trick and came home with it. I didn't buy the self propelled model or the one with the biggest motor on it. I bought a cheap one that had a rear bag.....and it happened to be green which is my favorite color. Now when I mow the grass at least I know that I like the color of the machine I bought.....so there is some satisfaction.

Mowing the grass is one of those chores that doesn't deliver the full satisfaction until it is complete. For me I have to mow, string trim the whole yard and then sweep up any grass clippings that got on the driveway. It's a process to say the least! Once it's done and I can stand back and look at the nicely cut lawn I feel good about my efforts and the machine I bought. For some people I think it's just a "get'r done" type of chore. Others must be mechanical engineers or something.....you never see one blade of grass out of place. I'm somewhere in the middle.

Probably the best part of cutting the grass though is the fresh smell you get once it is done. I love that smell. I might even bottle it and sell it if I could.

Today I am thankful for my lawnmower which brings me the satisfaction of a cut lawn and the smell I love.

Day 29

Have you ever met that person (besides your spouse) that just knew you? Have you ever had a conversation where someone could speak to your soul? Have you ever had someone who could tell you about yourself in a way that just made sense? I have and do.

In my life that person is called a mentor. Some choose to say they are BFF. I don't believe in BFF....but I digress. I am blessed to not only have one mentor, but three of them.

A couple of weeks ago I met with one of my mentors. I had to drive a round trip of 6 hours to meet with him, but it was well worth it. It was one of the most refreshing conversations I have had in years. K was able to speak to me, about me, in ways that made me refreshed and full. The words said were like a breath of fresh air to my soul. The conversation helped affirm so things I knew and gave light to some that I wasn't sure were true.

Today I am thankful for mentors in my life who feel bold enough to speak to me in ways that soothe my soul.

Day 28

For those of you who follow this blog I have taken a small break from posting. For the past few weeks we have been in the process of packing our house, moving and trying to get settled in a new place. I am also adjusting to a new job. Please look for more posts very soon.

Today I am thankful for the people who read my blog and wanted to know where it went.

Day 27

I'm not a big holiday guy. I'm not sure why, but I just don't seem to get excited about many of them. As I have gotten older though I have tried to practice what most of the holidays are for. They were all created with some purpose in mind.....even if it was self serving or a need for a break.

This weekend is the Memorial day holiday. Many good things happen on Memorial day weekend. It's the start of summer for most people (who don't live in Oregon), it's the NCAA division I lacrosse final tournament (personal favorite), it's a long weekend to make sure your garden is setup for the growing season, it's the start of BBQ season, it's a time for parades, it's family get togethers etc. As I ponder the real meaning of the weekend though, I am struck square in the face by something. It's not profound or even hidden. None of the things that I mentioned above would be possible if we didn't have people in uniform who served our country. They are willing to do what many others don't do. They are willing to be separated from their families for often months at a time, fight in wars, live in fox holes, live under the ocean in a moving tube called a submarine, live on a ship with thousands of their closest friends, jump out of airplanes, eat meals that are freeze dried, walk/run miles in combat boots, stand at attention, man/woman a post, fly planes, live lives where secrets are the norm, experience conditions like none other, be witness to situations that don't get talked about etc. These are all things I don't have to think about doing. It is this weekend that we strive to remember a few of those things and most importantly remember the people who have done them on our behalf.

Today I am thankful for the many who serve our country so I can enjoy MY Memorial day weekend.

Day 26

I've shared before that I feel incredibly blessed to have two cars now and they are both 100% payed for. What a huge relief to know that I don't have to make a car payment or carry the maximum insurance because there is a lien on the car. The only complication that stems from having two paid for cars is that they are starting to show their age. In years they are not old, but in miles they are both getting up there.

My 2003 VW has just about 130K miles on it now. A couple months back I noticed a ticking noise in the engine. I didn't think a whole lot about it, but figured I would keep my ears on it. Well, since we got the "new" 2002 wagon that Elissa is now driving I have the 2003 more often. Knowing that I want to drive them both until they die I brought it in to have the mechanic check out this noise last week. I got the call back...." it is the cam adjuster and its going to cost "x" to fix." Okay we can do that.....I would rather have a good running car then constantly be worrying about it. Got the second call a couple of days later......"the cam adjuster was bad, but now we have a new noise in the engine. We think it is the turbo going and it's going to cost double "x" to get it fixed." What went from a small ticking noise and a car that drove fine was now double "x" to get fixed and I didn't want to spend double "x". After some thought and chatting with Elissa I decided to spend the money and get it fixed. Better to have the car ready to go and be in good shape.

How is any of this something to be thankful for? At first I was asking myself the same question. I started thinking back over the life of this car. We bought it in January of 2005 with about 25,000 miles on it. We have done really no major work to it other than tires, oil, filter etc. I did put an alternator in it, which was my biggest expense to date. So I have had a car for 6 1/2 years that I have put really no money into and has provided reliable transportation for myself and my family. All the while we have put over 100,000 miles on the car. That IS something to be thankful for.

Today I am thankful for being provided a car that has proved worthy and reliable and that I have had to spend little money on to maintain.

Day 25

Envelopes are one of those archaic things we still have, but seldom use. I know I have a drawer full of them. Big ones, small ones, ones with windows on them and ones that have the lining in them so you can't see what is in there.

Envelopes have been a marriage saver for us and even an insanity saver for me. You see envelopes hold things that are important....a letter, a check, a card, a secret. For us envelopes hold money. Not just checks, but cash money. Each envelope is labeled......groceries, entertainment, dining out, coffee, clothing etc. Each month these envelopes get filled and when they are empty we know its gone. We know that we will have to wait until next month to reap the rewards of the envelope.

For some people they don't need to use envelopes for this kind of thing. For us it has provided that common ground where there is understanding amongst two people who do it differently. It has provided a peaceful place to deal with a stressful thing....money. I highly recommend envelopes if you don't already have them.

Today I am thankful for the envelopes that provide peace and common ground understanding in my marriage.

Day 24

Today's post is a bit different than my other ones. I want to share a bit of a prayer that I have been praying. It generally falls along these lines.

"Lord, today I want to be thankful for the many things that I have. Not just the big things, but help me to remember the small things as well. Help me to savor the air I get to breath. Help me to revel in the sunshine that is in the sky today. Help me to be grateful for the hot shower I enjoy every morning. Help me to see the beauty of the place I get to live. Help me to drink in the moments I am allowed to spend with my children and wife. Help me to measure my words carefully as even those are a gift from you. Help me to be a good steward of the big and small possessions I have been entrusted with. Help me to savor the food on my plate and to realize I get to eat many more times a day than most of our world. Help me to realize that our stuff is just stuff and it to will pass away. Help me to hold onto the memories for those no one can take from me. Help me to be thankful for the health that I am blessed with. Most of all, Lord, help me to be a more appreciative person."

Sometimes our lives get so tangled up with the "big" things we forget all the small blessings we have each day. Today my challenge to those who read this is to take 10 minutes and list all the things you are blessed with.....big and small. But don't stop there, share it with someone else so as a community we can realize how blessed we are.

Today I am thankful for the ongoing lessons of being thankful.

Day 23

I am a busy person. Not just because of all the things I have to do, but because that is how I choose to live my life. I like to be on the go. I don't sit around very well (at least not for very long). My wife has seen this in me numerous times. My days off from work are planned and I have a list of things to get done. Her days off are better spent doing whatever she wants whenever she wants. I guess you could say I feel better being busy or having a plan.

This past few weeks I have been off from work. The first week was great....there were so many things to get done. I started packing for our move, looked for rental properties, cleaned the house, organized the files that I had put off to the side and a host of other things. Here I am into my 3rd week though and I am struggling to find things to do. It led me to ask myself what was next.

What I have found is that rest is what comes next. Rest is not a discipline I am acquainted with quite yet. I don't believe that rest means being a couch potato or sleeping all day. Rest contains elements of those things at times. In my opinion a better definition of rest is this. Rest is the ability to leave margin in your life for yourself. I am learning the importance of margin in many areas of my life and the journey has been good. I can't say I want to live in this "rest" place, but it has been nice to catch up on some sleep, read some books, spend more time with my kids, spend more time with my dog and so on.

I am learning the valuable lesson of rest in these days and I am thankful.

Day 22

Memories are one of those things that can be incredibly haunting or incredibly wonderful. As I was looking through some old boxes yesterday I stumbled on some old memories. They came in the form of tee shirts. I am not sure why I kept those tee shirts, but I had all of my old mission trip shirts and a few other random ones from high school. It was neat to look them over and remember the context of the trip, the people, the experience, the place I was at in life and the things I have learned since then. I walked down memory lane yesterday. One of the great things about memories is that you get to share them. Last night I took pictures of all of these tee shirts and posted them on Facebook for others to see. I posted them for all of the others to walk down their own memory lanes with.

Today I am thankful for memories and the places they have allowed us to go.

Day 21

Today is my mom's birthday (have no fear mom, I won't say how old you are). I think many of us take the role of motherhood too lightly. I am not a mother, but I have one and I am married to one. The job of being a mom is filled with many different tasks. You are the comforter, listener, the sandwich maker, clothes washer, shoulder to cry on, ride to the game, the mini van driver, the spiritual former, nurturer, the shield and friend (there are more). My mom has played an important part in all of those roles that I just listed. How can one person do all that stuff and still have time for themselves?

I think back on one of my fonder memories with my mom. We took a trip to look at 5 colleges when I was in high school. We spent in immense amount of time together over those days. We saw a number of states and some funny road signs (bridges freeze before road). I got my mom to ride some roller coasters with me in Busch Gardens. We share stories, made memories and enjoyed time spent together.

I wanted to share one of my favorite photos of my mom with you today. It's not the best photo, but it shows a side of my mom that I love. She and Evan were having a ball reading this book and this photo captures that so well.

Today I am thankful for my mom. Happy Birthday.

Day 20

Today's post is really simple. I am thankful for this blog that has taught me to turn my critical eye towards being thankful. It's a challenge to write about things we seemingly take for granted everyday. It's a challenge to change the way we view things in life. You can find the blessings in big and small things each and every day.

I would challenge you to find one thing a day that you are thankful for. It might change your day and your life.

Today I am thankful for the opportunity to write these words of thanks.

Day 19

Here in Oregon we get a lot of rain (in case I didn't need to point that out). Our cars often suffer from a lack of washing and cleaning. This past Saturday was a glorious day. Bright sun shine, 70 degrees, slight breeze....perfect. I decided it was time to wash the cars, knowing full well that it was going to rain on Sunday. Evan wanted to help me wash them. Not my idea of a good time.....giving a three year old a hose, bucket and a wet rag. I saw myself as the one getting washed and not the cars. To be honest, I just wanted to get the job done and move on to something else that was more fun. Between Elissa and Evan they convinced me to let him help. It ended up being a great experience and he did an amazing job.

I learned two things from this exercise. First, I don't give my son enough credit. I saw all the bad things that could come from this....the soaking wet dad, slow job, job not done to my requirements etc. To my great surprise he came out and did exactly what I needed/wanted him to do. Lesson learned; trust my son to be a real help to me.

Secondly, I found a teachable moment for him. We have been struggling a little bit with teaching him to take care of his things. Maybe this is natural for little boys, but

it's frustrating as a parent. He seems to like to break things and doesn't have a whole lot of remorse when he does it. We have tried the tactic that once it is gone you can't get it back. He says okay and then breaks it anyway. We explain how this is not caring for the things that God has given you and how we need to take better care of our things.

So here we are washing the cars and he asks me why we are doing this. Great question and a even better opportunity. I explained to him that we need to take care of our things so that they will last. We need to keep them clean and pay careful attention to how we use them. I explain that God gives us these gifts and they are ours to be good with (stewardship is too big a word for him). It seemed to make him wash the car even harder. Lesson learned; my son is capable of getting it, but it takes constant reminder and tangible modeling.

Today I am thankful for teachable moments for both myself and my children.

Day 18

Today's thought is similar to Day 16, but in another way. You see it's easy to understand that Christ died on the cross. If there is any statistic that I believe it's that we all have a 100% chance of dying. History is clear on this fact. We will all die at some point. What separates today from all other days is that over 2000 years ago in the mideast He got up again. Wrestle with that thought for a moment. He was dead....I mean no pulse dead. On the third day though, He got up. That is not easy to grasp. Could you have imagined being there. What was it like to stand at the mouth of the tomb and see the impossible. How do you explain that one? How can you not believe in a God who does that? He got up and conquered the only thing that we can't.....death. He beat the 100% odds that are against us.

Today I am thankful that there was an empty tomb that leaves me no choice but to believe in the one God who got up again.

Day 17

My iPhone is one of the greatest devices I have ever owned. It allows me to be connected on many different levels. I can email someone from one of my many email accounts. I can text message someone. I can surf the web from it. I can listen to music and podcasts I have downloaded. I can do everything from finding the cheapest gas to check my bank account to play solitaire to give my son something to distract himself with to post a blog. Most importantly, I can call someone on the go.

In our day and age we all live such separate lives. My family lives in 8 different states. I have heard it said that the world is so big now. I think my phone helps to keep that world a lot

smaller. We are more connected in our society than ever before in history. We can change our status on Facebook, Tweet the latest happenings, Check in to where we are eating dinner and so much more. We can text message someone without ever really making contact with them. Long gone are the days of handwritten letters and cards. There is a degree of sadness with that, but at the same time we are all more involved with each other.

Today I am thankful for my phone that keeps me connected to all of you.

Day 16

Today's post is very simple to type, but in application is unfathomable. Today over 2000 years ago a man named Jesus died on a cross to save me from my sins. He came for all who claim Him. He would have come just for me, but He came for all. That thought is humbling and overwhelming. It causes one to do nothing other than bow before Him and claim Him as savior.

Today I am thankful for Christ who died on a cross and saved me from what I couldn't save myself from.

*Note: the above painting is done by a man name Bill Wallace (www.wallacepathwaysart.com). He tried to include every type/kind of person in the painting. They are all actual people taken from pictures. This painting in real life is 4 feet tall by 10 feet long.

Day 15

There is nothing like a good nights sleep. I don't know about you, but that doesn't seem to come too often for me. I like my sheets tight on the bed and it bothers me when they get all wrinkled up. My wife gets a good laugh when I crawl into bed most nights. I love to pull the sheets all the way up to the bottom of my chin. I am tucked in to the max. Most of the time all you see of me is my head on the pillow. I am fully immersed in the sheets. One of the things that makes a good night sleep for me is fresh clean sheets. I love the smell of them and the softness of them. If I am really lucky they will have just come out of the dryer and are still a bit warm. That is the recipe for a good nights sleep for me.

Today I am thankful for clean sheets on my bed.

Day 14

I am glad God gifts us all differently. I have often wondered how He chooses our gifts for us. One of the gifts that I have been given is the ability to remember things. I feel tremendously blessed to have a good memory. I credit my dad for a lot of it as he was always able to capture things in his mind. I can remember numbers and details very accurately.....they are just vivid to me. So much so that if my wife needs to remember something, she makes sure to tell me to remember for her. I don't get why she can't do it, but I know she trusts that I will. She laughs at me when I ask her to remind me of something. My memory has allowed me to relive manygreat experiences in my life over and over again. It has allowed me to wander back through my thoughts to times and places where there was something pleasant. It has opened a lot of doors for me in regards to relationships. A great way to start a conversation is to ask someone, "Do you remember when.....?" It shows common ground right away and that the event/person was important to you. Having a good memory is a huge blessing.

Today I am thankful for the gift of a good memory.

Day 13

I told my wife something earlier today that I had not really grasped the entirety of. I simply told her that your perspective is a choice. This all came on the heels of a "rough" night with Millie last night. She was congested and couldn't sleep. We took turns trying to soothe her and get her back to sleep. In a last ditch effort on my part I took to the chair in the living room with a blanket and hoped for a couple of hours of sleep for the both of us. When she finally feel asleep I was able to fall asleep. Normally, this isn't/shouldn't be a big deal (the lack of sleep part). She is a good sleeper (both of my kids are really) and rarely wakes us up. This past weekend was one of my working weekends......40 hours in three days. I was tired and the last thing I really wanted to do was spend part of my night not sleeping. Remember the whole perspective is a choice thing??? After I showered up and got to work I got to thinking that I had quality time with my daughter this morning. It wasn't exactly how I had dreamed it would be. I may not get many more of those times as she grows up and moves on. After I changed my perspective on it, the situation didn't seem all that bad. I'm still tired, but at least now there is a tangible purpose behind for me.....quality time with Millie trying to help her get back to sleep.

Today I am thankful for a change of perspective that helps me realize what is important.

Day 12

Sunshine has a way of warming the soul. Now that I live in Portland, Oregon I see the value of it more and more. I can't tell you how many times I have stood outside my office and just soaked up the little bit of sun that shows up here. Sunshine has a way of canceling out all the bad stuff going on. The other day, in the midst of some not so fun stuff I went outside and the sun broke through the trees and warmed my face. It made the bad stuff seem not as bad. It allowed me to stop and reflect on the power of light. It made me long for more as it quickly disappeared.

Today I am thankful for the times I get to spend in the sun.

Day 11

In life you seem to cross paths with some people are just special. Maybe they don't even know they are special. I have a number of those, but today I want to talk about someone who taught me how to laugh. This person is special because he showed me how to have a genuinely good time. We laughed a lot, got into some trouble and shared life together. We had some times in our life that are funny only to us. We have memories that only he and I will share. I think of the bike trip to Steamboat Springs and the parking garage, finding the car missing, being called late at night from a Taco Bell, Chatfields, my 25th birthday, Nuggets games and so much more. I hope you are blessed to have people in your life that you can be thankful for.

Today I am thankful for my friend Jed Norfleet.

Check out his website and business: www.jedderphotography.com

Day 10

In 1998 I left home on a journey westward towards Colorado. I didn't really have much of a plan. I didn't have a place to live or a job. I just went west. I clearly remember driving on Highway 80 in eastern Colorado and turning a corner and there they were......the Mountains. Colorado became home for me for 4.5 years. I loved that place and often think back to how that state has affected my development. I made some good friends, found a career, found a church to call my own, discovered the outdoors in new ways and began to understand what being an adult was all about. I have since physically moved on from Colorado, but that place still holds a special place in my heart.

Today I am thankful for Colorado and the influence it has had on my life.

Day 9

I have often told people how my view on relationships resembles a sandbox. I am a believer that at the end of life you will have the opportunity to have a certain number of people in your sandbox playing with you. These other people are the ones who have stuck with you through it all and are the most close to you. Sand is a messy, dirty thing. Sand is fun while you are in it, but once you get out it sticks to you and you find it in your clothes, shoes in between your toes and so on. Relationships are a lot like that. I want to play in my sandbox with people who aren't affraid to get dirty. I want people who are going to stick to me and I to them. I want relationships that at the end of our time are still there in the same box together. It doesn't have to be a lot of people in my sandbox, just the right ones.

Today I am thankful for the few people who are in my sandbox.

Day 8

Food is an integral part of who we are as a people. Many of you who really know me, know that statement seems out of place coming from me. That statement is made by a guy who survived on only about a dozen things for 26 years. These last 8-9 years have been an incredible journey of discovering food and all that comes with it. I've come to eat and appreciate food I never thought would touch my plate. I've come to value time around the table. I've come to realize you don't have to just eat to live, but you can enjoy the living to eat part as well.

Today I am thankful for food and the journey I am on with it.

Day 7

The Red Sox are something I am thankful for. Not because they win or lose (winning makes me more thankful though). The Red Sox are a big part of the Hamon house. We all have our hats and shirts and root for them when they are on TV. The Red Sox games bring my family together to rally around a common cause. How cool is it when you come home from work and the first thing your wife tells you is the score and she is watching the game? It's very cool for sure.

Today I am thankful for the Red Sox because they unite my family.

Day 6

One of the things that I enjoy is working with my hands. I have always treasured time with my hand tools. I have been lucky enough to build a number of nice pieces of furniture. During those hours spent working with the wood, I find relaxation and pride. Pride in a job well done and a solid and tangible result. I am only able to accomplish these things with the tools that I have.

Today I am thankful for woodworking tools that help me to relax and feel accomplishment.

Day 5

We have worked really hard to put ourselves in a good financial position. It has taken a lot of sacrifice and discipline. I am thankful for those lessons.

Last week we were fortunate enough to be able to purchase a second car. We were also able to pay cash for the car which is a huge blessing. I say that not to brag, but to count it as a blessing for the way we have been provided for.

Here is a picture of the new (to us) car we purchased.

Today I am thankful for the resources to purchase things that we need/want.

Day 4

I have been given two great gifts within the past 3 1/2 years. These gifts have taught me how to be a better man, husband and father. They has shown me what sacrifice looks like. They have shown me parts of myself that were hidden in the mirror. Most importantly they have show me what love is. These gifts have names: Evan and Millie

Today I am thankful for my children.

Day 3

This might seem a bit random, but I am thankful for speed bumps. You see speed bumps slow us down while we are in the car. They help us to take a more careful approach to the road. They make us aware of their presence and set us up for the next one. Have you ever hit a speed bump too fast? I have for sure. The next time I approached one I slowed way down to make sure I didn't bottom out.

Life throws us all speed bumps. We can look at them as road blocks, trials, hardships, challenges etc. I am choosing to look at them as a device that causes us to use caution for what is ahead. I am choosing to see them as something that will make me more aware. I am choosing to slow down and take in the lesson that they offer.

Today I am thankful for the speed bumps in my life that have caused me to slow down, look around and take more of it in.

Day 2

Today I share with you a picture of someone that I am very thankful for. She is my wife, friend, soulmate, champion and my love.

Today I am thankful for my wife, Elissa.

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Day 1

I was really moved by a video that a friend of mine posted on her Facebook site. I found the link on YouTube and have posted the link here. Please enjoy this video and visit www.andilit.com for other great stories, articles and thoughts by my friend Andi.

YouTube Video

I do not share the same religious views as the man in the video, but I am moved by his outpouring of love for his fellow people.

Today I am thankful that there are people who remind me to love others.