More than just turkey and pumpkin pie!

Thanksgiving is just a few days away and many of us are thinking about turkey, pumpkin pie and football games. Thanksgiving is traditionally a time for friends and family to share a meal and talk about what they are thankful for or tell about experiences during the past year which have caused them to feel grateful.

At our house, each person at the dinner table talks about what they are most grateful for this year. They have to come up with something before my wife allows the feast to begin. The top two items are usually family and friends or good health, except for one 17-year-old, who is grateful for his mp3 player.

We often overlook being grateful for the very home we are sitting in. Our kids are often more thankful for their homes than their parents because adults can get carried away with everyday concerns. The Spokane Association of REALTORS® each year has a Third Grade Poster Contest that celebrates how the youngsters honor the homes they live in. It is one of the top promotions to remind ourselves and the children how important a home is to them and their family.

This year the fires in California may help us to remember how important our homes are to us. Recently, fires in San Diego and Los Angeles scorched 368,316 acres, destroyed 1,751 homes and took the lives of eight people. Spokane has had its share of fires over the years, but thankfully nothing of this magnitude.

Give thanks.