Yes, this is another blog entry about being thankful. How could I not be thankful?

My youth group and I rocked the sanctuary of our church tonight. We just took over service tonight. From Worship to the Word to the Rejoicing time. At the end of two of the most amazing youth leaders sharing the Word of God to the congregation they broke of into twos and the worship team got back up and played the bridge of the song "Came To Rescue Me" and as I looked out into the sanctuary, watching everyone in the congregation get blessed, I couldn't help, but think how blessed and thankful I am to be apart of a Church Body who really listens and is sensitive to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit reminded me tonight of how thankful this year I really am. First off, I'd like to say that there is a God and He does love us, He does care, and He certainly answers prayer! I remember the day, I remember the time, I remember what I was doing, and yes I even remember what I was wearing. It was Labor day, it was about 4pm, I was playing my guitar, I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt. I remember saying, "God, I love the youth group you put me in, but I need something more. I need people to relate too, I need people who understand exactly what I'm feeling because they are feeling similar feelings. I need a college group fix. Could you meet me where I am at? I know you can, you've done it before, could you do it again?" A few weeks later at school, a young man by the name of Nick pulled me in. I met him and this young woman named Claire. From that day on, I believed that God could meet you wherever you were at and gives you everything you pray for plus more. I am thankful for my Chi Alpha family. I am thankful for my TLC family. I am thankful for my family in general. I am thankful for a God with unconditional love. I am thankful for life, yeah it's not easy, but I am thankful for it.

In Honor of Veterans Day!

Today upon the craziness of the downhill slope to the end of my first semester of my freshman year of college, I take this time to honor all of the men and women serving throughout the world for our country. To my father Guy Oshiro, who served in the Air Force Reserves before I was born, to my youth leader James "Jim" Kenney, who served in the Navy, to my pastor's youngest son Joseph Cardoza, who just got done serving in the Air Force, thank you for your time. To my other youth leader's youngest stepson Franko Da Re and to my first childhood best friend Cody Lemere, who are currently serving in the Army and to a young man who I once did Venturing with Greg Bringedahl, who is currently serving in the Air Force, my thoughts and prayers are with you as you serve and represent us as a country, I am extremely proud of you all.
As I sit here in the library of my school, really thinking about who the three that I just mentioned who are currently serving our country in the Army and Air Force, it brings me back to an entry that I did not even a year ago in "The High School Years" part of my blog entitled, "They Didn't Have To Do It" (It was actually what prompted me to write this entry after stumbling acrossed it.) I am going to repeat it here, but it'll be a little more updated, if you want my original entry, please visit my "The High School Years" part of my blog, it's the last entry in the December part of it:

I know a few people who are currently serving in an Armed Force serving for our beautiful country and it got me thinking about who they really really are. Half boy and half man. Yes they are between the ages of 18-20 years old, so they are legally considered an adult. The average age of the military man is between the ages of 18-20 years. Referring to them as one man:
He is a short haired, tight-muscled kid who, under normal circumstances is considered by society as half man, half boy. Not yet dry behind the ears, not old enough to buy a beer, but old enough to die for his country. He's a recent High School graduate; he was probably an average student, pursued some form of sport activities. He listens to rock and roll or hip-hop or rap or jazz or swing and a 155mm howitzer. He is 10 or 15 pounds lighter now than when he was at home because well he just graduated from boot camp. This wasn't his first choice, but it is what he's doing now. Yes he's not on the frontlines of Iraq, but his job is still important to our country.
As we continue on through this beautiful Veterans day, why don't we take the time to think about, pray for, and maybe even thank a man or even a woman that we know or maybe even don't know for their service to fight for our freedom, to be that country that is the land of the free and the home of the brave, and to be proud to be an American.
So if you are reading this and you are currently serving or have already served for this country, whether I know you or not, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. You guys amaze me in ways that words cannot ever describe. Thank you for leaving your loved ones, friends, and life back from wherever you're from to go to a whole new place and serve our country. Thank you for risking your life, thank you for all that you do, I am enternally greatful for you all!

A video that says it all:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTb6qdPu8JE

So Much To Be Thankful For This Year.

With Thanksgiving upon us, I want to take a moment or so to reflect about what I am truly thankful for. I will admit that this year has been tough for me and a lot of changes have been and are still happening, but for this blog entry I am putting those things aside. There are so many things to be thankful for this year. Like every year, I am thankful to have a roof over my head, clean clothes on my back, prepared food on the table everyday, and of course the love of my family and friends, and the unconditional love of my Heavenly Father. A lot has happened in my life this year and there's still more to happen in my life as we wrap up this year. I've done things this year that I have never done in my entire life. One thing happened to me this year that was a milestone of 13 years of hard work. On May 21st, I graduated from high school and am now in college. I went on my first missions trip this year to Hollywood, California. I've fixed many relationships this and by meeting so many new people I have made so many new ones. I'm interning at this amazing company, I have so much to be thankful for this year. I look past the tests and trials, I look past all the things that have gone wrong this year. I've grown so much as a person and so much as a musician. Like I said there is so much to be thankful for this year.
Now here's a question for you, what are you thankful for this year?