When Thanksgiving arrives tomorrow, we should all look close to home for reasons to give thanks. Because looking to the horizon, things look pretty bleak.

Across the sea, our efforts over the past dozen years in Iraq and Afghanistan have yielded an entrenched group of Muslim fanatics, the Islamic State, that has taken over large portions of Iraq and Syria and threatens to spread. The Ebola virus is killing thousands in Africa and is a threat to spread. Russia has taken over a portion of the Ukraine and seems intent on taking more.

Here at home, racial violence is threatening to break out in Ferguson, Mo., following a grand jury’s decision not to indict a white police officer for shooting an unarmed black youth. A mid-term election that put Republicans in control of Congress has emboldened the president to govern by himself. And Bill Cosby has people thinking about giving up pudding for good.

So let’s look to our own communities, our homes and our families for reasons to be thankful this year. We’ll celebrate our small successes – the weddings, the new grandchildren, the college graduates, another year of health and happiness at home. We’ll be thankful for the good people who live in our communities and the good work they do. We’ll be thankful for the new school that will be built in New Ulm, the fresh eggs to be found in our backyards and we’ll look forward to a good year ahead.

Happy Thanksgiving to all.