Silent Night

I am so thankful for this Christmas season. I was sitting down wondering what I could say on my facebook status to express how truly grateful I am for Christmas this year and I finally realized I wouldn't be able to do it with a simple sentence or two. So here I am at 2:00am Christmas morning listening to a beautiful arrangement of Silent Night.

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour is born
Christ, the Saviour is born

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth "

This song is Christmas to me. In Sunday-School we were having a discussion about Christmas time and a few things were brought up that I had never thought about. We were talking about Christmas Carols and the possibility of those carols being sung by the angels that were present at the time at Christs birth. Then someone brought up the point that maybe some of those angels were us. This idea touched me and brought me closer to that night than I've ever felt. I was probably there, participating in that silent, holy night, watching in awe as radiant beams shone from the face of our savior in that humble manger. I wonder if I saw the glimmer of the other tear-filled eyes of my friends and family surrounding the Christ and watching and absorbing the scene. This was the dawn of our redeeming grace.

This Christmas is a special one. I have lately acquired a new resolve to trust in the Lord as much as I can and It's been an amazing experience. The Lord has poured out so many blessings upon me and I am forever in his debt. I'm working as hard as I can to love the Lord with all my might, mind, strength, deeds, and actions. I will enjoy life, strive to make the most of of my relationships with God and men, and proclaim to the world that I know my redeemer lives. Joy to the World.

I would also like to mention that Christmas time is all about the important things in life - Family, Friends, and loved ones. I love my family and my friends and can think of no greater gift than their company. I am truly blessed and I agree with "It's a Wonderful Life's" Clarence when he inscribed on the pages of a book "Remember: no man is a failure who has friends"

I wish everyone the Merriest of Christmases. May the coming year bring a steady flow of joy, success, beauty and serenity into our lives. God Bless us, Everyone.

My Thanksgiving Blog

Over the past week I've developed such a warm place in my heart for Thanksgiving. I feel I've recently been able to find some of the missing puzzles pieces in my life and have been putting them back in the the big picture. I found one piece at church, a few friends helped me find some more, and I even found one in my home. For the first time in a long time, I'm able to stand back and look at this puzzle and see a beautiful image start to form. Here are a few things that I've seen that I am grateful for.

My Family.

I owe the world to my family a bazillion times over.

My Father is a great man who, while not always agreeing with me, supports me and my goals. He has time and time again offered his financial support and without him I would be a bum on the street. I'm thankful for those long road trips we used to go on as a family. Sixteen hour drives, sometimes without any stops, were part of the sacrifices that my Dad went through to show us how much he loved us. I remember going to the movies with my Dad almost every weekend and I loved doing it. I know that my Dad will always be there for me, all I have to do is call.

My Mother I have so much to be grateful for. I love the little things that she has done that have shaped me into the person I am today. I'm glad my mother read to me when I was little, I often think back on those times, sitting there on the bed with my head resting on her arm as she read through books like Where the Red Fern Grows. If I ever have to escape or know that I am loved, I just think back on those times and immediate comfort comes. I'm thankful for my mothers spirituality. She has always been such a spiritual giant and honestly is shes the most righteous person I know. I'm thankful that when she sees me slip and fall, she has never once stopped believing in me or supporting me. I am thankful for a mother that I know loves me.

My Siblings I cherish. I love Carl, Andy, Michaele, Marta and Todd. Each one of them are the most amazing individuals I have ever known. I'm thankful for the long chats I've had with Carl, his example that he sets. I believe his going on a mission was the best things that have ever happened to our family. I am so grateful for Andy's sense of humor. He just always knows how to make me laugh and has been my best friend when times are rough. Michaele has always been the peace keeper in our family and I'm thankful for her influences. Marta, through some miracle is always able to smile even though we constantly pick on her. She has also developed such a funny sense of humor and is always willing to hang out with me. I am thankful for Todd. I remember complaining to my mom about her having ANOTHER kid. I can't imagine our family today without him.

My Friends

They have helped me become the person I am and have always always been there for me. It would take me too long (I'm talking years) to name off all my individual friends and what they have done for me. I am so thankful for their guiding hands in my life. I believe my friends are my guardian angels. They have helped me accomplish some of my most difficult goals and continue to do so. They have always supported me with my dancing and my events and I really can't thank them enough for that. My Wandals are really my second set of family and I love them because to me, they are family.

My Home

I own my own home! I am so thankful for this godsend. A long time ago I set a goal that I never wanted to rent and just throw money at some stranger. This goal was fulfilled this year when Phil and I teamed up and bought a house together. I know that there was divine influence when getting this home because It was the first one we placed a bid on, I lost my job while in escrow, our house was offered to someone else, our loan was turned down by the bank, and yet somehow we ended up with this wonderful house. I am thankful for all the help and support I've gotten, all the people that came over to help paint, and for Doug and “the crew” that helped us move. I'm thankful for all the stuff we have been given too, we have a fully furnished house and I don't think we have spent a dime on it.

My Trials

I am so thankful for my trials. I have had some really tough times over the past year and a half and I'm really glad that I have been able to pull out of them and learn from them. I know I am stronger now than I have ever been before and am looking forward to continually growing and learning from my mistakes. I know that I will be blessed with more trials and I am thankful for the promises that have been made to me that I can overcome them.

Who am I thanking?

All of these things that I have mentioned in this blog entry are so wonderful that they could only be from one source. These blessings, sent straight from heaven, were given me by a most gracious Heavenly Father. I am thankful to him for giving me so much and continuing to do so. This blog, while thanking those around me, is really addressed to him.

I have much more to give thanks about and I will be starting up “The Blessing Ticker” once more. Check in weekly for more blessings. Feel free to comment and share your own as well. One last thank is in order – Thank you for reading my blog.

Paul Riding

Jogging

I am thankful for jogging. I love it when I can get out under the blue sky and take in the world around me. I love passing strangers waving to them as they go by. I am thankful for all the discoveries that I have about myself while thinking and pondering as I jog. I love the post-exercise feeling that really makes you feel like you are worth a million bucks. I am thankful for jogging.

Blessing 8 - School

School. I am thankful for the opportunity that I have to learn. Knowledge is one of the very few treasures that a man can take with him from this life to the next. I am so thankful that I have had such amazing experiences in college, high school, and grade schools and for the knowledge that I have gained. Not only have I learned necessities such as Math, English and the Sciences but I have been blessed with the education of social behavior, making friends, working as a team, leadership and other behind the scene lessons gained by scholarly experiences. I am thankful for what I have been able to study, especially music. Music means so much to me, and the more I learn the more I love. I'm grateful for the expansive amount of knowledge that I have available to me, and the true realization that the more you know, the less you do. I am thankful for the local learning facilities, a local college and brand new high school that I was able to attend. I am thankful for educational resources such as the Internet, books, libraries, and most of all experience. I am so thankful for the teachers that care. I am glad I could participate in school sports such as wrestling and soccer. I am thankful for school trips, unique and amazing experiences that will be replaying in my mind until the day I die. I am thankful for the friends that I've met in classes, grown up, and cherished moments with. The teachers that I have become friends with, that I look up to, and that have truly become my heroes. I am thankful for School.

Blessing 7 - Sundays

Sundays. I am thankful for the 7th day of the week that the Lord has provided me with to rest, worship, ponder, pray, serve and visit with family and friends. It is a wonderful day open for self evaluation and renewal. I am thankful for the time I have to prepare for church, go to church, go home teaching and attend inspirational firesides. I am thankful for the reverence that the sabbath day gives me. I am thankful for the constant renewal of faith, reminder of Christs love for me and for opportunities that I have to learn more about his gospel. I am thankful that I have never had to work on Sundays and that I have been taught to respect and make holy use of my Sundays. I am certain that Sundays have surly changed my life for good, for I have made goals, critical decisions and faithful prayers on this God given day. I am thankful for Sundays.

Vacation Blessings

Blessings mentioned while on Vacation:

7/26 Blessing 3
2nd Chances. I am thankful for opportunities to do better. For the phrase if at first you don't succeed, try, try again. I have been given so many 2nd chances and forgiving allowances to start over and I am so thankful for all of them. 2nd Chances at friendships, relationships, commitments, school work, church service and more. Most importantly I am thankful for the 2nd Chances the lord provides me with. A chance to return to him someday, chances to serve him and reach new spiritual heights and love. I am thankful for 2nd Chances.

7/27 Blessing 4
Camp Hollywood. I am thankful for the humbling, educational, inspirational, entertaining and thrilling swing dance weekend that is Camp Hollywood. I am thankful for my many opportunities to learn more about dancing and learn more about my talents and how to refine them. I am thankful for the kind and talented instructors, the amazing live bands and my wonderful roommates that I've had the blessing of sharing precious time with. I am thankful for Camp Hollywood.


7/28 Blessing 5
Live Music. I am thankful for available art for the ears. For the communication among men that is Live music. Whether its jazz, classical, rock, funk, soul or country, when its played live it just means more. The talent of the musicians is absorbed by the audience and the music they perform seems to speak directly. I am thankful for the shows that live bands put on, complete with choreography, lights and sometimes even explosives. I am thankful for that rumbling bass in my my chest when watching a rock show. I love the tingly feeling I get when I witness A conductor raise his hands in front of an orchestra and all bows, sticks, mallets and horns prepare in perfect synchronization. I am thankful for the silence that a huge audience can maintain waiting in anticipation for the next note that will soar out in an opera or the overtones upon overtones that can be heard during an choral concert. I am thankful for live music.
7/29 Blessing 6

Flight. I am thankful for the quick, affordable, modern transportation that is flight. How amazing it is that man has the means to explore and see so much more of the world than has ever been possible. It takes only six hours to travel from one side of a continent to another, and it takes about 10 to go from California to Germany. I am thankful for pilots that passengers can trust with their lives. I am thankful for the view from above the clouds, one that puts life in another perspective, realizing that we are significantly smaller than we would like to have though. The view from above also helps us to realize how much world God has provided us with. I am thankful for the opportunity I sometimes have to sit next to total strangers on a plane and learn something about someone from somewhere. I am thankful for Flight.

Blessing 2 - Disneyland

Disneyland. I am thankful that I have such a wonderful place to visit so nearby. Even though its expensive, crowded and exhausting, there are not many feelings in the world that can compare to the feelings you get after watching a display like Fantasmic or the evening fireworks. These shows, the rides and the atmosphere of Disneyland were all built upon dreams. They were built to encourage dreaming among children and adults. Disneyland lets adults feel young again and lets children feel a little older. If you search beyond the high prices and the long lines, you will feel the warmth that Disneyland has to offer. I am thankful for Disneyland.