My 365 Thank Yous

It's Thanksgiving. Time to set the table, turkey after traffic and say few things you are thankful for this year. And so the tradition goes.

We as family have at least 365 things and thoughts we are thankful for even on our stumbles, hurt, illness, sacrifice, challenges and many consider negative or not mentioning in a thanksgiving dinner when it is not resolve yet - all many considers negative cycles in our life.

Always be full of joy in the Lord, say it again - Rejoice! says Philippians 4 (read it again and again and notice God says - Always & Rejoice with an exclamation).



My Facebook or Instagram friends probably notice that I have been blessed and thankful almost everyday (well in some occasion some political and leadership opinions).  From almost mundane, silly to extravagant almost bragging for 365 days that most, I mean all (I know) are already tired of seeing in their feeds:
1.  Walking and running in cold winter night.
2.  Sam competing Rubik cubing competition.
3.  Getting good deals online like Amazon free apps.
4.  Staring at colorful Fall Foliage in the backyard to Shenandoah mountain.
5.  Driving from Seattle to Vancouver and seeing High School friends.
6.  Flying free in an almost empty C-40 Space A
7.  Taking pictures of my mom eating In and Out burger.
8.  Walking mom inside Ronald Reagan's Air Force One.
9.  Savoring and Instragramming Myla's original Miso Ramen Soup
10. Listening to my running playlist at the beach on Monday mornings with Daisy.

And 355 more to thank for that many may consider mundane or extravagant or self-indulgent even worth considering of unfriending me or blocked me on social media.

Thanksgiving for us is man-made once a year occasion to reflect Psalm 118:1-14 that says "In every situation, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your request to God"

Should we not give thanks everyday?  Ever since I have been thankful for small things and then celebrating it (not necessarily sharing it all the time online), I notice I became richer.  I hope everyone becomes richer today, the start of a daily THANKS giving day, everyday.

*** How To Give Blessings or Get Some This Holidays: To our Members of Armed Forces ***

We thank them for their service now let's bless them with the same blessings we all have this cold & joyful months of Thanksgiving & Christmas. Here are some programs available to military families in need and how people can be a great blessing to our military family this holiday season.

Adopt-a-Family for the Holidays

Numerous organizations offer adopt-a-family programs. Military families who can show proof of need submit their wish lists to the organization and donors adopt the families by purchasing items from their wish lists for Christmas. Because of the popularity of adopt-a-family programs, you must fill out an application months before Christmas in order to get on the list. Pay attention to deadlines and get your application in as soon as the window opens because spaces fill up fast. http://soldiersangels.org/Adopt-A-Family.html or http://www.operationwearehere.com/AdoptMilitaryFamily.html

Full Circle Home

Full Circle Home gives deployed servicemen a chance to send a gift box to their wives back home. Gift boxes contain pampering items, such as lotions, bubble baths and spa socks. They also feature a handwritten note from the serviceman. http://www.fullcirclehome.org/#!request-a-gift-box

Military Installation Support

The family centers at military installations offer assistance in many forms during the holidays including programs such as Santa’s Shop in which donations are taken for military families in need. Contact the local installation for how you can help. For assistance, reach out to the Family Readiness Group, Chaplain or MWR.

MWR (Morale Welfare and Recreation) Office Locator – http://www.militaryonesource.mil/mwr

Military Installation Locator http://www.militaryinstallations.dod.mil/MOS/f?p=MI:ENTRY:0

Operation Christmas Spirit

Operation Christmas Spirit supports local military families in the form of holiday gratitude by: “Adopting” over 100 families and fulfilling their Christmas wish lists with gifts for all family members and gift cards to do their own shopping; Sponsor gifts and crafts at unit holiday parties; “Adopt” single Marines and Sailors, giving them gifts and gifts cards to celebrate whether near or far from their families. http://www.operationhelpahero.com/Operation-Christmas-Spirit.php

Operation Ensuring Christmas

Operation Ensuring Christmas specifically supports the children of fallen troops. Through donations they purchase and send gift cards to the children throughout Christmas. Children/families can also apply for this program. http://opchristmas.org/

Operation Holiday Joy

Donate to Operation Holiday Joy. 100% of your donation goes to food and toys this holiday season and you can designate your donation to a specific program. http://www.asymca.org/programs/operation-holiday-joy/

Operation Homefront

Operation Homefront offers many programs for military families throughout the year and Christmas is no exception. The organization partners with Dollar Tree to provide toys for

Christmas Programs for Military Families

http://www.operationhomefront.net/HolidayToys.aspx?id=21699

Red Cross

The Red Cross provides many military family services including but not limited to financial assistance and deployment services. http://www.redcross.org/find-help/military-families

Spirit of Sharing

The Adopt-A-Military Family program provides commissary cards, gifts, toys and much more to military families in need. How to help. How to get help. http://www.spiritofsharing.org/?page_id=1369

Soldiers’ Angels

Soldiers’ Angels sponsors Operation Outreach Holiday Support. Lower enlisted families can sign up to receive a $50-$100 gift card to help pay for a holiday meal and gifts for children ages 15 and under. Families must sign up for the program by December 15 and are matched with donors from around the United States. http://soldiersangels.org/op-outreach-christmas-request.html

Toys for Tots

The U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program collects new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to less fortunate children in the community in which the campaign is conducted. The program is for all children, including military kids. Donate or request a toy. http://www.toysfortots.org/donate/Default.aspx

Thank Military Families

Thank Military Families sponsors an annual adopt-a-family program. Preference is given to families of deployed troops. Families are adopted by sponsors who send gifts or gift cards directly to them. Those who are not adopted may receive gift cards from the organization’s gift card donation program. http://www.thankmilitaryfamilies.com/

Trees for Troops

Every family needs a Christmas tree and Tree for Troops, sponsored by the Christmas Spirit Foundation, offers free Christmas trees for military families. Trees are available at 62 bases throughout the United States. http://www.christmasspiritfoundation.org/dnn/default.aspx#&panel1-2

Veterans Service Organizations

Many Veterans’ Service Organizations (American Legion, VFW, etc.) provide a wide variety of holiday support to service members, veterans, and their families. Program benefits often include meals, food , gift cards, and adopt-a-family, or adopt-a-veteran programs.

USO

Local USO offices provide a variety of holiday assistance programs including holiday dinners, events with Santa, toy and food drives and much. Contact a local USO office. https://www.uso.org/centers/united-states

Wreaths Across America

Donate to Wreaths Across America which coordinates wreath laying ceremonies on a specified Saturday in December at Arlington, as well as veterans’ cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond. They organize a week of events including international veteran’s tributes, ceremonies at State Houses and a week-long “Veteran’s Parade” between Maine and Virginia.http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/***

We won't have Hanukkah or Christmas & Other Holidays & "Days" without our Veterans

Thanks to all our veterans for without them we will not have a Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, Valentines, Easter and other bunch of "days" and holiday celebration.

Veterans Day is a day to celebrate the opportunity to thank an American Sailor, Marine, Soldier, Guard and Airmen because without them altogether fighting for our freedom since 11th of November, 1918 (that the Germans signed the Armistice to mark the end of the First World War) we will not be a United States or a country with freedom, Facebook and feast of holidays.

And one more thought if I may add.  As a veteran, I don't feel like I've done enough, I actually served for very selfish reason - for myself. To protect myself from many reasons (security and family). Many have actually died and sacrifice 100x more than I did. There are those who directly sacrifice themselves for the sake of someone's freedom - it's all up to us. To get up and move on without abusing this freedom. So don't feel like you did not serve or cannot serve if you don't wear a military uniform. Veterans just did it on a different level of sacrifice and obedience - individually and collectively every veterans did sacrifice in different levels as well.  I did less some did much, much more and I thank them.


Thank you for shielding us from the enemies.  

"For he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer" - Romans 13:4