#GIVETHANKS

Yesterday's message from our prophet was wonderful and inspiring. He invited us to flood social media with expressions of gratitude using the hashtag featured in the title of this post.

A dear friend gave me a gratitude journal for my birthday in 2019. I used it for a few months and then set it aside when negative feelings overwhelmed me and made it difficult to feel grateful. I picked it up again this past summer determined to overcome negativity by thinking of three things to be grateful for each day. Here a sampling:

glorious summer weather with low humidity; open windows and birdsong; habits that help me do the "hard" thing; tender mercies (car stalled instead of moving forward which would have caused a collision); fireflies; Farmers' Market; fresh fruits and vegetables: Rainier Cherries, beets & greens, string beans; miracles of technology-sharing files on Google Docs; AC when it's hot and humid outside; inspiration for a quilt from scraps; TopDad's hard work to make the yard nice; crockpots-Fix it and Forget it!; General Conference talks; Noble's help rearranging the kitchen; pretty, colorful tablecloths; worms and all the other organisms in my compost pile; goals to guide me; appliances: washer, dryer, iron; good books to read; protection while driving my car with the broken suspension; finding pretty composition books; cool weather; seeing the comet with Noble; the wide open prairie sky; lush fields of corn and soybeans; pioneers old and modern; The Word of Wisdom; birds; Mr. Movie fixing my truck; brother-in-law giving his insights and help; water-to drink and to give my flowers; watermelon-the taste of summer; technology for viewing past general conference talks; losing 5.2 lb.; my new sewing machine; fresh vegetables; telephones and free long distance calling; pudding made with heavy cream; squirrel traps; Noble (on her birthday); clouds; emails & texts; evening walks; competent tow truck drivers; cameras; lotion and body butter; courageous patriots; Constitution of the USA; water to drink; waterfalls; peaches; thrift store treasures; bright moonlight; good roads for traveling; talks on cd; priesthood blessings; competent and compassionate surgeons; glorious late summer weather; Craigslist; competent mechanics; Amish popcorn; jackets; oatmeal; fresh peaches; rain that watered my flowers; cheese; well-stocked grocery store; God's protecting care through the storm; family; tender mercies of pain relief; competent physical therapist; books to read and learn from; cooler temperature; gorgeous weather with low humidity; frozen pizza; the right to vote; JET on his birthday; rain; microwaves to heat food; prosperity; prayer; patriots; birds; grocery stores and prepared food; pretty pictures; frozen pizza; summer fruits; low humidity and open windows; 

So much to be thankful for! And there's more to come.

I ALWAYS feel better after a recitation of blessings.

When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed,

When you are discouraged thinking all is lost,

Count your many blessings; name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

#GIVETHANKS

Pears and Prophets

Count Your Blessings - Days Twenty-Nine and Thirty

I think it's because pears are the colors I look good in; or maybe because they taste wonderful at the peak of ripeness, sweet and juicy. All I know is I love pears!

A prophet is defined as "a person who speaks with divine inspiration; a person who foretells future events."

President Harold B. Lee, prophet from 7 July 1972 to 31 December 1973, said this:

We have been called to difficult tasks in a difficult age, but this could be for each of us a time of high adventure, of great learning, of great inner satisfaction. For the converging challenges posed by war, urbanization, dilution of doctrine, and domestic decay surely provide us the modern equivalent of crossing the plains, enduring misunderstanding, establishing a kingdom throughout the world in the midst of adversity. I pray that we may do our part during the journey, and be with, and leading, the caravan of the church as it enters the final chosen place--His presence."

I'm grateful for prophets, ancient and modern, to lead and guide us in following the Savior back to our Heavenly Home.

Good Movie

Count Your Blessings - Day Twenty-Eight

I'm so thankful for those who make really good movies. Steve and I went to see it tonight and were inspired.

Rest

Count Your Blessings - Day Twenty-Seven

I slept in today and the only chore I did was clean the kitchen. We got four letters from Mr. Movie, currently away at Army Recruit Training, I read a novel, and looked up a few things online.

Sometimes a mom just needs a day of rest! TopDad is taking me out to dinner and a movie tonight.

Appliances

Count Your Blessings - Day Twenty-Six

Yesterday and today gave my kitchen appliances a workout. I'm thankful to have them. I'm grateful they work properly. I love Thanksgiving; I enjoy making dinner for my family.

Speedy Delivery

Count Your Blessings - Day Twenty-five

One month until Christmas! I'm grateful for online shopping and home delivery service of the United States Postal Service, United Parcel Service, and Federal Express for their "speedy delivery" services.

A Time For Truth

Count Your Blessings - Day Twenty-Four

We had the privilege of attending a Presidential candidate forum last Friday in Des Moines. After the forum we attended a meet and greet with Senator Ted Cruz. I had read his book A Time for Truth in early July and was eager to have him sign my copy, which he did graciously. We got to shake his hand (I was first!) and hear him present his vision for America. We support him!

I'm grateful for honest, patriotic leaders who stand for principles no matter what.

Music for My Soul

Count Your Blessings - Days Twenty-two and Twenty-three

I love music and when my spirit needs a lift I listen to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

And then there's this wonderful young man:

Internet

Count Your Blessings - Day Twenty-One

Today I completed the final preparations for both a Sunday School lesson for the youth and a talk in Sacrament Meeting tomorrow. The internet in general, and the church website lds.org are such a valuable resource and blessing to me. Frequently I thank God for the miracles of technology that make life so much easier.

Early to Bed and Early to Rise

Count Your Blessings - Days Nineteen and Twenty

Last night I was so tired that I got into bed at 9:20 PM, read for a while, and turned the lights out at 10:00. This morning I felt truly rested when the alarm went off. Speaking of which, I'm so thankful our daughter found an alarm clock with birdsong to wake me up. It's so much more pleasant than the obnoxious beep of my former clock.

A good night's rest leading to waking up refreshed is truly a blessing.

Old Fashioned Letters

Count Your Blessings - Day Eighteen

I love getting mail! Thank you dear friend in Spring Valley who mailed me a handwritten card!

Quiet

Count Your Blessings - Day Seventeen

I am home alone most days now. It is restful to my ears. I enjoy the quiet and solitude. I can hear the whisperings of the Spirit more easily in the quiet.

Sabbath Day and Rainy Days

Count Your Blessings - Days Fifteen and Sixteen

Can I get an Amen! on being grateful for the Sabbath Day? Thank you. I couldn't make it through the weeks without a break and rest from the cares of the world, and the spiritual nourishment of going to church and worshiping with like minded people.

Today I'm grateful, as always, for rain. I enjoy rainy days, especially because I can stay home and do things like put on a quilt, make soup and cornbread, and otherwise exercise my homemaking skills. Having worked outside the home for a while I have compassion for all women who are forced by circumstance to do that; while at the same time I don't really understand the women who choose to leave home and family to work, but that's okay, the freedom to choose ones path is a blessing. I'm a homebody and like being able to set my own agenda and schedule for the work that gets done.

My Favorite Dandylion

Count Your Blessings - Day Fourteen

I'm so grateful for my Dandylion. When he was given a name and blessing, my husband said "I bless you to always be a comfort to your mother." And he has been. He is a cuddler, smart, artistic, a great conversationalist, funny, sweet and wonderful with music in his soul.

Light

Count Your Blessings - Day Thirteen

I suppose it is fitting that on Friday the Thirteenth our local high school put on its fall play "The Walking Dead" based on the television show of the same name. Our son, Dandylion, played Dr. Jenner at the CDC in Atlanta. He did a great job. But the play as a whole was, well, horrible.

The English teacher, new to the school this year, wrote and directed the play. I told TopDad that I am extremely grateful Dandy is our youngest and we don't have to support any more garbage like this.

What does this have to do with Light? Just this:

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (John 8:12)

When we follow Jesus and understand God's plan of happiness for his children we will remember with Paul that "Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness." (1 Thes. 5:5)

And from the Book of Mormon:

For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God. 

But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him.

Wherefore, I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ.  (Moroni 7:16-17, 19) 

At the play the students in the audience were cheering and applauding wildly. I was totally disgusted. Not only was the subject matter awful, the play was full of swearing and using the Lord's name in vain.

If this is what passes for entertainment we are in far worse shape as a nation than I thought. For myself I'm so grateful for the Light of Christ, for the gospel, His grace, love and mercy. I'm thankful for the hope of a better world.

 

 

Weather Forecasts

Count Your Blessings - Day Twelve

Have you ever heard of The Children's Blizzard? Here is the dust jacket synopsis from the book of the same name:

January 12, 1888 began as an unseasonably warm morning across Nebraska, the Dakotas, and Minnesota, the weather so mild that children walked to school without coats and gloves. But that afternoon, without warning, the atmosphere suddenly, violently changed. One moment the air was calm; the next the sky exploded in a raging chaos of horizontal snow and hurricane-force winds. Temperatures plunged as an unprecedented cold front ripped through the center of the continent.

By Friday morning, January 13, some five hundred people lay dead on the drifted prairie, many of the children who had perished on their way home from country schools. In a few terrifying hours, the hopes of the pioneers had been blasted by the bitter realities of their harsh environment. Recent immigrants from Germany, Norway, Denmark, and the Ukraine learned that their free homestead was not a paradise but a hard, unforgiving place governed by natural forces they neither understood nor controlled.

The Children's Blizzard, by David Laskin is a fascinating true story, heart wrenching, and heart warming. I highly recommend it.

We are so blessed to have high tech weather forecasting, and rapid dissemination of those forecasts through radio, television, internet, even phones. Yesterday a violent storm passed through our area. We were under a tornado watch in our town, and just north of us where our daughter was working a tornado warning. I'm grateful for the miracles of technology that keep us safe. Iowa is the only place I've ever lived where the weather has the ability to make me feel nervous.

Photo taken earlier this year (see the date!) Tornado season is April through November

Marines and Other Veterans

Count Your Blessings - Days Ten and Eleven

The Marine Corps birthday was yesterday, November 10, they turned 240 years old! Today is Veteran's Day when we honor those served, and especially those who died while serving our country.

My family is full of Veterans. My father served in the Army Air Corps at the end of World War 2. My husband put in 30 years, (almost 26 of them active duty) in the Marine Corps. His father served in the Navy; his grandfather served in the Army. Our daughter served four years in the Air Force; our oldest son is currently in the Marine Corps Reserves; our third son is currently at Army Recruit Training preparing to serve in the Iowa Army National Guard. Various uncles and cousins have served in the Navy and other services. Two of my brothers served in the Air Force and one in the Army. My brother-in-law served in the Army during the Viet Nam war, a nephew is currently in the Air Force, another nephew served in the Army also. (I think that is everyone.)

I am grateful for all who serve in the military to protect us and our liberties.

"Lt. Lehi's" USMC Graduation 2014 - He's the second one from the left.

Senior Missionaries

Count Your Blessings - Day Nine

Last night we got a phone call from a full-time senior missionary at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, telling us that our son had attended church that day on base where our son is at Army Recruit Training. The Elder told us that our son is doing well and sends his love.

What a sweet man to take the time call us and let us know he'd seen our son. We talked for about 15 minutes and found that he and his wife have much in common with my husband and I. We look forward to meeting them when we go to Mr. Movie's graduation.

My parents served three full-time missions. First to Spain, Las Palmas, which is the Canary Islands; then to Portugal Lisbon North; then they served a year at the Family History Center in Salt Lake City. Our family was so blessed by their service.

Now my oldest brother and his wife are preparing to serve in the Michigan Lansing mission, leaving January 4, 2016. Exciting times for them.

We Thank Thee, O God, For a Prophet!

With the world in commotion on almost every topic under the sun, I'm so grateful to have a living prophet on earth to lead and guide us on the path of righteousness following the Savior.

When The Family: A Proclamation to the World was read in 1995 at the Relief Society General Broadcast, I wrote my feelings of gratitude in the form of a hymn text.

How Blessed We Are

By Rozann W. Thoelke

How blessed we are to have a guide

A prophet of the Lord

To lead us in these latter-days

Of famine, drought, and sword.

With strident voices on all sides

He speaks a calming word

To cheer us and encourage us;

The Lord, our prayers has heard.

He calls to us “Repent from sin.”

And asks us to do more

To live the gospel in our homes

Rich blessings are in store.

We pray for him to lead us in

The way of righteousness.

He has not faltered, nor yet will

Let’s follow and be blessed.

These words fit the tune of God Moves in a Mysterious Way, Hymn # 285.

Twenty years later my gratitude has grown a hundred fold.

Good Friends

Count Your Blessings - Day Seven

Some of my favorite people live in a fictional town called Mitford. I am so thankful for Jan Karon's writings. She is one of my most beloved authors. I wish I could meet her and give her a big hug.

In the midst of everything else I'm doing this month, I'm escaping to Mitford for the latest story about Dooley and Lace's wedding. Her writing is so good I feel like I'm there with them.

If you haven't met Father Tim and Cynthia, Dooley and Lace, and all the other true to life characters in her books you are missing out. Maybe I love them so much because I served a mission in the south and they are just like people I met; or maybe it's because I can trust her writing to be clean, realistic and full of uplifting faith. Most likely it's all of that and the fact that most of my adult life I have lived away from family and friends so I turn to my fictional friends for company and comfort.

Here's to good friends, both fictional and real!