Thanks Giving

Every year as Thanksgiving approaches I become much more aware and reflective of all that I am thankful for and all of our blessings. I definitely try and keep this in mind all year round but there is a definite increase in the time spent thinking about it towards this holiday season. I was going to try and write something intelligent and eloquent regarding giving thanks for all of our blessings but my brain is just not functioning at that level right now so a few simple words will have to do. The fact is that I feel overwhelmingly grateful for my blessings this year. This year especially I feel so grateful and blessed more and more each day just witnessing the things around me. There are so many hard and terrible things happening each day to many many people and that brings more sincere and deep gratefulness for the blessings which I receive on a day to day basis. Seeing people going through things that I can't imagine going through makes me truly appreciate things that I sometimes take for granted. Having a home, a car, a bed at night when I am so tired, healthy parents, health insurance, schools, and especially this year for my husband having a job. Millions of people around the world don't have these blessings and I wonder why I get the privilege of receiving these blessings.

I truly appreciate all that our Father in Heaven has done for me and done in general. I am so grateful for our Savior and the Atonement and the opportunity that it gives us to repent and try again, repeatedly. Without that knowledge I can see how people would give up and I am so grateful for that in a world that is extremely hard to live in sometimes. I know that being able to have the Spirit with us as a constant companion is one of the greatest blessings we can receive. I am grateful for guidance and instruction for myself and my family through the Spirit and the Gospel. I am very grateful for the opportunity we have to speak to our Father in Heaven through prayer and rely on him. I am grateful to be able to teach my children how to pray and hopefully instill in them what they need to be able to use and rely on the Gospel and their Father in Heaven throughout their life. I definitely don't feel worthy of that calling most of the time but I am so extremely grateful for the opportunity to be a wife and mother. I express in words how full my heart is with gratitude for the blessing of being a mom. It is a very hard and challenging at times but more rewarding and fulfilling than anything else I have ever done. I am so grateful for Olivia, Rachel, and this baby boy who will soon enter our family. Everyday I marvel at these little people and their ability in all that they do. I am also grateful, even though I am truly uncomfortable, that this little guy is still in my belly getting stronger every day. I am so thankful that they are healthy and growing and worry daily that something will happen to them but I am grateful for everyday we have. The blessings of the temple and eternal families is another part of his wonderful plan that brings me peace and comfort in this sometimes scary world. I am so grateful to be sealed to my loving husband for all eternity and that we have forever grow and progress with one another. I am so blessed to have a husband who loves me and our children and works as hard as he can to take care of us and keep us safe and happy. I am thankful for great parents who raised me with the gospel and stuck with me through my teenage years! I am grateful to have healthy and safe families and extended families that we get to see often. Although I don't get to live near my family I am so blessed that we have phones, and Internet and planes that are available to us to be able to see one another and stay in touch all the time. We are truly blessed to live near Eric's family and enjoy the blessings of an extended family daily. It is so wonderful to have the blessings of family. They are a wealth of support and love. I'm also grateful for good friends who help me to get through the day to day stuff that sometimes feels overwhelming. I'm sure I could continue to go on for many more paragraphs but I barely got this written with my two wonderful little girls trying to type with me and help them find toys! So I want to thank my Father in Heaven for all that he blesses us with. I am truly thankful this Thanksgiving and I hope that some how I can show that to my children and to our Father in Heaven and use the gifts he sends to us in ways that are pleasing unto him. Happy Thanksgiving!