Week 13, 6-24-08

1. I'm grateful that i haven't yet gotten sick, despite the terribly unsanitary conditions i've been living in (in Eastern European hostels)
2. I'm grateful that i haven't yet been hurt.
3. I'm so grateful that i only have five days left.
4. I'm so, so grateful that i have an awesome wife at home who can't hardly wait for my return.
5. Despite my suffering and hardships, i'm grateful for this once-in-a-lifetime experience. And it really is once, i'm never doing this again!

Week 12, 6-16-08

1. I am so darn grateful for this wonderful weather. It would have been so much more difficult
if it were as hot here as it was in NY. Some Romanians are walking around in coats, but I'm finally comfortable.
2. I'm grateful that, when I got lost yesterday in downtown Timisoara, I silently prayed as I was speed walking and soon found the spot.
3. I'm grateful that, though I'm sleeping on the floor, I'm able to sleep, and I'm not walking around like a zombie like I was at the beginning of this adventure.
4. I'm so grateful that I'm still healthy. I feel great.
5. I am so, so grateful for my luxuries at home. Although I'm not surprised to learn about the unfortunate state of affairs and lack of opportunity for so many people on this planet, knowing about them and living with them and in the situation is entirely different. I have even less of an excuse than before to feel sorry for myself for any reason.

Week 11, 6-10-08

1. I'm grateful that I have a wife at home who will miss me terribly.
2. I'm grateful that I haven't yet gotten mugged (I'm staying at a hostel in a terrible part of Brooklen as I type this).
3. I'm grateful that i still have my health.
4. I'm grateful (in advance) of my huge flight today.
5. Did I mention how grateful I am for my wife?

My Second Five Weeks of Thanks

WEEK 6, 4-30-08

1. I’m grateful that all three Detroit teams (2 big playoff games) won last night.

2. I’m grateful that my classroom discussion of religion in America went so amazingly well.

3. I’m grateful that my wife is so amazingly honest and good (if not business smart) that she felt the need to tell me about free Red Wing playoff tickets she turned down, knowing that it would make me upset.

4. I’m grateful that, while upset, I was able to keep calm and not make it too big of an issue.

5. And most importantly, I’m grateful that my wonderful in-laws came over on Saturday, helped us paint and plant, and that we all enjoyed great food and conversation.

WEEK 7, 5-5-08

1. I’m grateful that, once again, three Detroit teams won again.  Redwings and Pistons are looking really good right now.

2. I’m grateful that I was invited to two fun parties on Saturday.  Thank you, inviters.

3. I’m grateful that I was invited to a movie on Friday night by a group of church guys who don’t even know me, and the fact that my not knowing them doesn’t bother me.  It was a fun night as well.

4. I’m grateful that, after two days of cleaning up after messy tenants in the “Devil House,” I didn’t let it get me down.  It was grueling, disgusting work, scrubbing this off walls I can’t even mention here, and filling an entire vacuum bag of dirt and hair from the never-vacuumed, once new and spotless carpet I had installed just two years ago.  I could have felt depressed, but I didn’t.

5. I am so grateful for Sunday.  Ultimate was great, I contributed to my team, ran very hard, and won all three games.  Upon returning home, my wife wanted to ride bikes.  I had blisters on both feet and was exhausted, but we rode.  We ended up riding for 30 miles, touring Troy to look at possible future houses.  It was probably the longest ride of her life.  The weather was awesome.  She was awesome.  Who am I kidding?  My life is awesome.

WEEK 8, 5-15-08

I’m excited about starting my mountain biking summer tomorrow morning at Island Lake.

I’m grateful that I can be excited about riding my bike, alone; that I possess the motivation to do so.

I’m grateful that my wife had the patience to put up with my extreme overreaction last week.

I’m grateful that I have the patience to calmly deal with terribly costly mistake my wife made a few days later.

I’m grateful that I persist in keeping up with this weekly list, even after the hellish week I just endured.

WEEK 9, 5-19-08

I’m grateful that my wife and I survived these last two weeks without any lasting damage.

I’m grateful that a couple I met only a few months ago are turning out to be such great friends.

I’m grateful that my family is coming to understand each other’s differences, and to realize that “different” isn’t necessarily wrong.

I’m grateful that the school year is almost over.

WEEK 10, 6-1-08

I’m very grateful that I had the opportunity to see our country’s great hope, the next President of the United States, Barack Obama, speak at the town hall meeting in Troy, last Monday.

I’m so very, very grateful that the Red Wings won the Stanley Cup Championship last night.

I’m grateful that Eric, Matt, Dan, Bob, and Jenna were there to help celebrate the victory with me.

I’m grateful that over half the people I just mentioned are brand new friends, I’m always grateful for making new friends.

I’m so, so grateful that my wife is so understanding, and despite how much she will miss me, she has given me no grief for leaving her for a month.  I am just so darn grateful for my wife!!!