What more could a guy want- a huge turkey dinner and football on TV! If you can't be thankful for that, you've got issues. But quite honestly, as much fun as those things are, they really don't express my gratitude for so many more important things. Like my family, my health, the fact that I get to serve in a great church with some of the best people on the planet, and that's just a start.

But even as valuable as those things are, there is one thing for which my gratitude can never do justice. It is the one thing that I need more than anything else and without which I have no hope and no future. I cannot provide it for myself and yet I am hopeless without it. It is the greatest gift I could ever receive. It is FORGIVENESS.

Without God's forgiveness, nothing else matters. If I don't have that, I have nothing of any value. And since God offers it so freely, I could easily take it for granted. And given the price He had to pay for it, my gratitude seems feeble and insignificant. But it is all I can offer.

And so on this Thanksgiving Day, I say, "Thank You, God, for forgiving me and letting me into Your family." And now I'll go and enjoy my turkey and football!

Rockin' Weekend!

Lots of cool stuff at CATB this weekend. Its just fun hanging out with kids.



* Heard another story of a family who is coming regularly now because the kids just love their classes.
* Christina Box and Sarah Shea launched Discovery Play this weekend. It went great and helped relieve some pressure from other classes.
* Jennifer Allinder found a train table on Craig's list to add to our SandBox class where the kids just love playing with Thomas the Tank Engine!
* Love watching the increase in boys in the Pier 45 class. 4th & 5th grade can be a tough age for boys because they usually get bored with typical church fare. Our classes are now dominated by boys!
* Love the enthusiasm of new volunteers and the excitement they bring to kids. Want BayKids to be too much fun to miss.

**And you heard it first right here- BayKids Volunteer Christmas Breakfast- Sunday December 14th, 8:30-9:00AM Coffee, donuts, Christmas stuff, and prizes in the cafeteria. Mark your calendar NOW!

Keep up the good work, Gang!

Jelly Telly is here!

I am very excited that Jelly Telly has launched their Beta version of a new website for kids. This is a safe site where your kids can play games and watch cartoons and videos, produced by the guys who created Veggie Tales. It looks really cool.

I know my grandkids love to play games online and now they can do it with a Christian theme. There is a free trial version you can test drive and then an inexpensive subscription if you like it. And this is just the beginning. I expect lots more to come as they grow and develop the idea.

So check it out for yourself and let me know what you think. http://www.jellytelly.com/

Another great weekend!

Here's another "Go God" story from this weekend. Got an email from one of our Friday set-up team members who brought 2 kids on Sunday. Here's what she said: "both were VERY RELUCTANT to attend this morning. I've been trying to get her to come for a few weeks now. When I picked her up today at noon, these were her exact words: 'I LOVED it & I want to come back every single Sunday!'"

That's why we do this thing, Gang! Lots of fun stuff happened this weekend, including a visit from Alicia's cockatoo! The kids loved the bird and it was a great visual illustration for one of our classes.

For all you volunteers, you are creating memories and experiences that will last a lifetime and beyond. Thanks for your passion and dedication. You bring it every weekend and it is making a difference!