I was recently asked by someone what I was most thankful for this year. I pointed her towards 26 things I was thankful for, but I had to think about what I was most thankful for.

Now you may be asking, dude, Thanksgiving was a week ago, why are you writing this now? Simple. Thanksgiving doesn't get its due.

Believe it or not, I am not a big fan of Christmas. Never really have been. Don't get me wrong, I am all for the birth of Jesus and all, but modern Christmas celebrations seem erroneously selfish and insidiously stressful (future blog coming on this one).

Thanksgiving on the other hand, is the best holiday. It doesn't ask for much. And being thankful is a far more important mental/spiritual position than asking (and even giving).

But the aforementioned person's question caught me off guard a bit. What am I most thankful for?

I still might not know what I am most thankful for, but I know what I am most surprisingly thankful for: my family.

Now this might sound odd to you. Most people are thankful for their family. But in 2008, I have had an increased appreciation for them that I never really had before.

My brother, sister and I didn't really get along much growing up. As a whole we were definitely not a model of a "close" family. I always used to say, and I am sure they would agree, it was kind of like five people living under two roofs, with completely separate lives.

That independence continued into our adulthood. We don't seem to talk as often as other families and we all moved away. I am in Atlanta. Mom & Cassie are in Denver. Michael is in Chicago. Dad and Lisa are Indiana.

But thankfully, while that independence continued on, the relational separation has not.

There are few people I enjoy hanging out with now more than my brother and sister. We are very different people, but man is it a blast when we get together. Some of the most fun moments of 2008 were in Chicago and Denver and Atlanta just hanging out with them.

I have never in my life respected my father more than I do now. It was a respect that I errantly did not display growing up - but one that he deserved. I blogged about this back on Father's day - so I'll leave it at that.

Mom has always been, and continues to be, there for us - even at great sacrifice to her own life - and is our truest example of unconditional love and grace. If I have any grace and compassion in this life, it is because of my mother.

There's a lot more that could be said, but I'll leave it at that in 2008, I am incredibly grateful for what my family has become.

(Be sure to check back for tomorrow's post: it is a fun one)