I'm glad my in-laws are leaving...

I know that sounds harsh, but hear me out!

This was the first Thanksgiving in so many years that we have lived close to family again. Right after Jodi and I got married, we lived about 1 1/2 hours from my parents, and Jodi's parents were about 30 minutes away. That said, we had easy options for getting together for holidays, birthday, or just being able to meet for dinner.

Then came life.

We stayed in the Philadelphia area for a while, but eventually all of us moved to different spots, at one point 10 hours away from all of our parents.

This Thanksgiving I am thankful that my in-laws are going home because home is literally around the corner! They have moved to Millvale to help us in planting Element Church. It has been great to have them here for that, but even better to have them here for days like this. (Now to work on MY PARENTS...)

So...that's #10. I'm thankful for having family close again!

9. Friends - So grateful for the great friends God has blessed me with...both old & new!

8. Jesus - Thankful for what Jesus did for me by forgiving my sins.

7. A Godly heritage - Not only because my dad, both my grandfathers, and my great-grandfather were all pastors, but because I have parents who daily let me see God in them. Their consistency has made me who I am today.

6. Godly mentors - I have been so blessed to have such great, Godly men who have poured time, energy, and resources into my life and ministry. My dad, Pastor George Cunard, Pastor James Leake, Pastor Ken Martin, and now Pastor Jeff Leake. These men are who I want to be when I grow up. Seriously, I thank God for letting me watch and learn from such great role models!

5. Humor - I love to laugh. I love that God made life fun sometimes!

4. Phillies - I love that they won the World Series. I know I'm pathetic for saying it, but every other year I get so disappointed. It's great to cheer for a winner!

3. My job - Sometimes I feel so lost in this process of planting a church because it's unknown territory for me, but I have never felt like I was on more in God's will than right now. In the last couple of months I have seen one "small coincidence" after another come together to make it clear that God is doing something here, and I'm so glad to be a part of His team!

2. Good food - Missions trips have shown me what an amazing place we live in for so many reasons, but American food rocks. I mean, as good as Mexican and Italian food is, nothing beats Philly cheesesteaks or Buffalo wings.

1. My wife - God has given me the PERFECT partner. Jodi laughs at my stupid jokes, treats me so great, loves me, accepts me for who I am, and she's beautiful inside & out!

I am a BLESSED MAN!!!

Updates coming...

Life has been so hectic, and there have been many changes in our family and ministry in just the last two weeks. Stay tuned for details!

Memorial Day

Memorial Day started out rainy, and was kind of a bummer because Jodi had to work. After I dropped her off, I went back home to get JoLyn and Jacki ready to go to the middle school to get lined-up for the parade (they were twirling in the festivities.) Check out these beauties!

After the parade, the girls and I went to the store to get some food for our feast we would hold later when Jodi finished working. Something we do every so often is to make kabobs together on the grill. It's fun because the girls like to make their own, and they get to kabob whatever they like.

It turned out to be a great family day after all!

My Valentines

These are the ladies I get to live this crazy life with. God has blessed me with a wife who is my best friend, and entrusted me with two beautiful little girls who bring joy to my every day.

I am a blessed man.