I’m at an Air Force Inn, a hotel on the Las Vegas Air Force base. I’m attending a young friend’s graduation from a prestigious military training program. I’m as proud of him, and of his wife, as if they were my own children.

I met Chris about 32 years ago, at his birthday party when he turned 2. I was a junior in college, recently married and TBW worked with Chris’s mom. There was no dad in the picture. He was such a cool kid and we bonded. We stayed in some contact over the years, he’d occasionally come for a visit or I’d attend a graduation. It really wasn’t that many contacts, but our relationship grew.

When he was made an officer, I helped pin the bars on his uniform. When he married, I read some scripture at the ceremony.  I look back on those times, and my time now, with great joy. When we expand our family by choice, we open our lives to more love.

As you head into this Thanksgiving season, I challenge you to evaluate your relationships. Consider where you can improve and what steps you might take. Also, remain open to adding significant relationships. You might just feel a little nudge that would be easy to ignore. You may miss great joy by refusing that little bit of extra effort.

As I was walking the base this morning, I was impressed with the apartment building pictured below. The design really fits with the local terrain and also seems cost effective. Hooorahhhh for the Air Force!