Matt's Top 100 Vintage Board Games 2023 (#10-1)

 

Things I'm thankful for (15)

 One last time for family and I'll move on. 

Dad. 

I wasn't sure he'd be around to celebrate another Thanksgiving with me and happily it looks like he'll be around for quite a few. 

It's the best news I've recieved all year, hearing he was going to be ok. Nothing else has even come close. 

I think about this every day now, not just in November. EVERY holiday I get to spend with him from this point on is a blessing and I'm gratful to God for it!

This may be the thing I'm most thankful for this year overall, but I still got a week's worth of things to mention so I'll see you tomorrow with more. 

Matt's Top 100 Vintage Board Games 2023 (#20-11)

 

Things I'm thankful for (14)

 Today I'm sticking to the subject of family and talking about my Mom. 

She's the only person left on the planet to give me an actual birthday present anymore. It's not much. Usually socks and candy but if it wasn't for her I wouldn't be opening anything on my birthday. 

Mom is always willing to help when I need a babysitter on Saturdays when I have to clean the house and any other time I need her. She's loving (like a mom should be) but also very kind to everyone she meets. I'm glad I had that in my life to understand kindness for others. Though Mom still takes the cake when it comes to being "kind" I'm thankful for all the things she's done me in the past and present. 

Matt's Top 100 Vintage Board Games 2023 (#30-21)

 

Things I'm thankful for (13)

 

Today I'm going with my siblings. I'm glad 3 of them live around town so I can see them often. Get to know and watch their kids as they get older and spend time with them now and again. 

It's always been nice growing up in a big family. A lot of people I know, I know from my siblings connections. It's certainly made my life fuller in more ways than one. 

Matt's Top 100 Vintage Board Games 2023 (#40-31)

 

Things I'm thankful for #12

 I love reading books. And I'm closing in on re-reading just about everything in my collection. All that'll be left by the end of the year is (maybe) a few Star Wars stories and my Calvin and Hobbes collection. 

It's been a wild trip since 2020 rereading every book on my shelf. But I've enjoyed every book. It's always a comfort to me to read and that I still find the time to do it, is a blessing. 

It truly is the small things in life that can deliver the best enjoyment!

Things I'm thankful for #11

 

Boy am I thankful to have a gaming group. Sure it's slowly dying off, but I've been able to keep it for years now and that's a blessing in and of itself. 

This is my "happy time" every week when I invite others over and we get to play a few games togeher. Win or lose I'm thankful for the opportunity to enojoy my favorite hobby. 

It's been the highlight of my weeks for most of the year and I pray it continues for many more moving forward. 

Things I'm thankful for #10

 I live a stressful life. I take care of all the bills, the groceries, diapers, everything!

Currently living paycheck to paycheck but that should change next year. 

And all through 2023, I'm not stressing out about it. Ever. 

Oh, I'm concerned at times but I don't let it effect having fun with my kids when they're up. Or enjoying personal time with friends and family. And I'm thankful for that. 

I never want to be the guy who's constantly complaining or stressing out about something in his life. Sure ther'es plenty I could be stressed out about, but I choose not to. 

And the ability of that choice is what makes me thankful today. 

Matt's Top 100 Vintage Board Games 2023 (#50-41)

 

Things I'm thankful for #9

 Thankful for my house. I love it. I knew it was perfect for us the first time I stepped foot in it almost 2 years ago. 

I could see our entire lives through here and I'm happy we're making memories to back it up!

I work hard to keep it as clean as I can. Having to watch all the kids every night and all day on Saturdays makes it a little hard to get cleaning done, but during naps and bedtime, I work hard for an hour or 2 every night to take care of our home. 

I'm also thankful for the 2.75% rate I have, while rates now are closing in on 8%! How blessed is that?!

Matt's Top 100 Vintage Board Games 2023 (#60-51)

 

Santa Bowl Update XI

 The FINAL update before the big game!

I'm assembling my team now. The Adults MUST get a big team this year if they're to have a chance against the Youth. We can't play Ironman ball out there or we'll lose. 

There's been a lot of drop outs for the adults over the years. I'm slowly having to rebuild the team, but I'm sure I'll have it by the end of the month. 

I still don't have an improved trophy to show off yet but if I get one before now and then, I'll make another post. 

Until then....see you at GAME TIME!!

Things I'm thankful for #8

 My health is something I'm thankful for everyday but especially this month. There are friends I have that are 13 years younger than me who can't move around like I can today. 

Now, I'm not fooling myself. I know I'm getting older and will be doing less physically as time goes on. But for the moment, I'm thankful for all the things I'm still capable of doing today!

It's a great feeling (literally) and I'm thankful to God for granting me so much health in my current age. 

Things I'm thankful for #7

 Finally I want to say about work is my team in general is awesome. I learn so much from them and recieve so much support that I can't begin to repay it all back. 

Sad to say, but they rarely call on me as much as I call on them for help. And they are glad to assist every time. 

It's one of the many reason I enjoy working for the company. Being on a good team such as I am, makes that difference. 

I even have one lady who watches my kids for free and loves them just as much as I do. Just incredible the amount of support I've recieved from all angles at work. 

Things I'm thankful for #6

 Another thing I'm extremely thankful for concerning work is my boss. She's great. In fact, I think I'm going to go as far and say she's the best one I've ever had at Chase. She even beats my first boss, who gave me the job in the first place. 

She's completely awesome. Makes me laugh. Watches out for me. Drops anything she's doing to speak to me as soon as possible when I ask and always gets my issues resolved quickly. I truly love her for that. 

She's talking about coming to Monroe in 2024 and if so, I'm giving her the biggest hug and thanking her for every single things she's done while I've been underneath her. 

The last time she was here was 4 years ago and she was my teammate back then. I couldn't be prouder of the leader she's become since then. 

Things I'm thankful for #5

 I got a lot of things to be thankful for surrounding work so get used to seeing this logo a couple more times tonight. 

First off, I'm thankfull for the job I have. Chase has been incredibly good to me over the years. I love working here, I love my job and I'm thankful it brings in enough to help me provide for my family. 

I can't ever see me going anywhere else. Every year (but one) I've recieved offers from other places, but keep turning them down without even giving them an interview. Chase is my home and I'm not leaving anytime soon. 

Things I'm thankful for #4

 I love my little Ella. She's my sweet sweet girl and she loves her daddy. I love her laugh and her smile. She's "Miss Cheerful" around the house and she sleeps through most nights. She's been my favorite around the house lately fo that last fact alone!

She's so pretty too. She loves sitting in my lap and talking to me in the car. She turns her head to look at me when she calls my name. I love it. 

She's content most of the time (unless she's hungry) and I couldn't ask for more in a child. Like all my children, she holds a special place in my heart. 

Things I'm thankful for #3

Oh Meridian. A name I thought I'd never get away with calling my little girl though I've wanted it for decades. 

She's got a million faces and knows how to make friends easy and make people laugh. There's not a kid out there who doesn't love her. She's got my personality. Though she loves her momma way more than me at the moment, it doesn't change the way I feel about her. 

I could hold her all day in my arms and not get tired of it. (though she would after 30 seconds) She's a talented girl and is going to do great things one day I just know it.