Giving Thanks

Last week we asked our children to write a letter to Santa and there was one requirement they needed to do before they wrote there wish list to him, it was they needed to write 15 things they were thankful for. My children really surprized me especially Isaac the first thing he was thankful for was his Grandma Tomblin. He has no boubt that she is watching over him and he still feels her close. Thank you Isaac for reminding me to be thankful for people and not just things. Ashlee was thankful for Heavenly Father first and the temple second. Thank you Ashlee for reminding me to look upward. Alyssa was thankful for her family first and then a clean body. Thank you Alyssa for helping me look inward at myself. Taylor was thankful for food and toilet paper now what does that tell you? He does have more important things on his list but in his mind first ....nothing beats a good meal. Thank you Taylor for helping me remember to watch what I eat because my body is a temple.

As the month of Thanksgiving began I have had many opportunities to talk about and think about being grateful. Alyssa started with a talk in sacrament about being grateful. Then I gave a Releif Society lesson about being thankful and all our Family Home Evenings have been about being grateful this month and then we have had the constant reminder that Thanksgiving was just around the corner and now its here and I find that my thoughts are turning more towards the Savior. How thankful I am that we have the opportunity to know Him in our lives. That we have His gospel and that through Him we can live forever.

Happy Thanksgiving my family and friends. I am grateful for each one of you. Thank you for helping me be the person I am today. Thank you for riding along on this journey with me. And may the journey end at the feet of the Savior and Him saying "well done thou good and faithful servant".

Fender Bender!

So I got in my first ever fender bender this morning. I was backing out of my driveway not paying any attention and smack right into my neighbors truck that was parked on the street. Wow do I feel like an idiot. I just keep reliving it in my head and the humiliation starts all over again. Luckely the guy was really cool about it. I started crying because I felt so dumb. So I get on the phone with my insurance agent because I have no idea what to do and I start crying with her too. So the humiliation just keeps comin. So people please... tell me I am not the only one out there who has ever done this. I guess I have been pretty good in all my years there has never really been any major damage to any of my cars. I just don't know how to make the stupid feeling go away. And what a time to do this....right when saving pennies is a must for the Holiday season... ugh. At least it was nothing that has lasting physical effects on a person. I can not even imagine that . So I guess I could look on the bright side now and be thankful it is only my back bumper. Oh happy day!

Sunshine!

After weeks of rainy weather we are finally getting some sunshine and it feels so good! The sun really makes me happy. I love to soak up all those vitamin D rays. I crave it. I can tell that in the winter I need to take extra vitamin D. And maybe a trip to a sunny spot. :) So for all you sun worshipers out there .... I am one of you!

Sweet

I love days like this. Don't they just look so sweet. This is up at Manito park one day. I love that place.

I love these gardens. I always picture myself running through it in a long dress and twirling till I drop in heaps of laughter. And then just relishing in the fragrant flowers. The roses are just up the hill and I love those too. The Japanese gardens are amazing. I wish there were more spots like this in the area. They just make me happy.

Hope

Last night when I was watching the elections and saw that Obama was pulling ahead I became so sad and hopeless for our country. Our country !!!! I thought to myself what have the American people done? Do they not know what they have done? It is the beginning of the end. We all knew it was coming and it is finally here. I was so sad and emotional last night and full of dissapointment I cound not watch anymore after seeing Obamas face plastered all over as the winner. I walked out of the room and just could not believe it. I was lost and dumbfounded and felt such hopelessness. And then I walked into my kitchen and sat down to pray and the latest issue of the Ensign magazine was sitting at my table and on the cover was a picture of President Monson waving and oh I just cried and said thank you for that beautiful hope smiling before me. I am thankful we have a prophet on the earth today that we can follow. I will follow the prophet! He is my hope in a time of great turmoil. The gospel of Jesus Christ will bring me peace on this sad day. And may our God still bless the U.S.A.

Gratitude

Well Halloween is over, the weather is turning colder and it is now time to start thinking about Thanksgiving. I will start today for family home evening our gratitude journals again.

Friday I was leaving my house and I paused for a minute because I could hear rustling in my neighbors tree...I looked closer and it was nothing but the leaves falling. I had never heard them so loud before but I was litterally watching all the leaves drop from the tree. What a beautiful moment for me as I paused to reflect on the changes the season brings. It is always so nice to remember to breathe for a moment between the daily tasks and the hustle and bustle.