It’s Thanksgiving! Which means it’s time for my annual top 10 list of things I am thankful for. It’s been a wild ride in 2025 but there is plenty to be thankful for, here are the top 10 things I am currently thankful for.

10. Relevant Royals

There has been one year my whole life that I would have been disappointed if the Royals didn’t win the World Series and that was in 2015 coming off a loss in game 7 in 2014. Since we only win the World Series every 30 years, I have no expectations until 2045. However, I do like for them to be relevant. I don’t even need them to make the playoffs. Just be above .500 and be in the hunt until football season starts. They delivered on that this year. Way to go Royals.

9. Stable employment

Most of you don’t know that the company I was working for suddenly closed in the summer of 2023. I luckily was able to land on my feet quickly and joined another company and after over a full year of employment I am very thankful for them. I have worked for a lot of different companies/organizations and I can say that this is the best company I have worked for. Feeling valued and cared for while chasing significant goals isn’t always the case. Luckily, I’m working for a company like that right now.

8. Mizzou Football Success

It hasn’t been a great year, but coming off back to back 10 win seasons, they are in position to finish 8-4 with a win this weekend and then if they win their bowl game that would be 9 wins and 30 wins over the last 3 seasons. I know that isn’t amazing but it is pretty dang good for the Tigers.

7. Fantasy Football

I love fantasy football. I’m in 3 leagues this year and am in the playoff hunt in all 3. Each league has a different scoring system and different roster set ups. It’s a lot of work especially since I am commissioner in 2 of 3 leagues. But it is also a lot of fun. Even know I am doing the worst in it, my favorite league is our family league. We added two of my nieces this year so now we have 14 teams. Its great to interact with everyone in the family during football season. It creates a little community and is often pretty funny. One highlight is my sister who always has some odd strategy for how she drafts. This year was based upon the alphabet. It did not spell success.

6. Dynasty still alive…for now

It was a rough end to the football season last year and a pretty rough go of a season this year for the Chiefs. But the dynasty isn’t quite dead yet. They kept their season alive by beating the Colts. Hopefully they win today. If they lose they will have to win out in order to have a shot to get into the playoffs. Either way, it’s on thin ice. But the fact that they have been this good for this long and are still in it this year…I am thankful for that.

5. 3 year wait until next Colonoscopy

As some of you know, I had a little bit of a scare leading to my first Colonoscopy. A few weeks later I had to get a second colonoscopy to make sure they got everything. As bad as the prep is which isn’t enjoyable, during the second colonoscopy I woke up at the end which isn’t supposed to happen. And lets just say, I experience things coming out of my body that you aren’t supposed to experience. I can not get that event out of my head. So I am thankful I don’t have to go back for 3 years and even more thankful they got all the polyps out.

4. My dog being cancer free

Nessie had a mass that we found out was likely cancerous. We decided to get it removed. It did have some cancerous cells but they think they got it all. She is an idiot and a trouble maker but she makes the kids and wife happy and they love her so much so I’m glad we got her taken care of. I also think she is okay sometimes. Although she has been extra annoying lately, banging around into everything with a cone on her head.

3. My kids school and academic success

We made the decision to send Walker to private school starting his freshman year. We moved Savannah the next year for 6th grade. It ain’t cheap, but it is so worth it. Both kids are excelling academically and as people. They are crushing it this fall and I couldn’t be more proud of them.

2. Family

I’ve got an amazing wife, two great kids, a silly doodle, amazing siblings who are two of my best friends and great parents. To top it off, I got an awesome extended family and family in laws. I am super blessed in this area for sure.

1. The one who makes the world go round.

I don’t pretend to have all the answers in life or religion. But I believe in God and I believe I wouldn’t have anything else on this list without Him. My life would look completely different if I wasn’t following Jesus and even though it isn’t always easy, it is significantly better. And for that I am thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope you all have a wonderful day enjoying the 3 greatest F’s: Family, Food and Football.