Giving Thanks . . . . .

Cheerfullness brings sunshine to the soul

and drives away the shadows of anxiety

Happy Tuesday !!! Or at least that's the way I want it to be. Do you ever look around at peoples lives and think "Am I the only one going through struggles?" Well, today started out as a pity party for myself. Sure I could paint you a pretty picture of how I wish my life would be right now but I am going to be honest. I was just overflowing with disouragement.

This morning I woke up discouraged.

Wishing my kids would be more self motivated

Wishing my kids didn't think I was the bad guy for asking them to do their part

Wishing my house would miraculously be transformed to spottless and organized overnight

Wishing I could figure out how to accomplish the never ending "to do" list

Wishing I could get to the gym every morning without making an excuse

Wishing all this halloween candy would disappear from my house so I would stop being

tempted to eat it.

Wishing my sprinkler system was fixed and I didn't have to hand water 4 times a day

in order to get a pretty winter lawn

Wishing I didn't procrastinate things

Wishing I would have taken math my freshman year of college

Wishing the economy would turn around and my scrapbook stores would be busting at the seams with customers spending lot's of money

Wishing my husband made lot's of money

(but I would never tell him that - so you better not either - cause that would really hurt his feelings)

Wishing I could figure out how to get caught up on my bills and pay for

CNA school in the next two weeks.

Wishing I didn't have to juggle the bills the way I do.

Wishing things could have been different with one of the companies I work for.

Wishing I just knew how to let go and didn't allow my heart to be broken.
And what's a party without the cake ?

the icing on the cake . . .

Wishing my freezer would not have died in the middle of the night with a freezer full of food. Just a few hundred dollars thrown in the dumpster.

And now my sewing machine is not working and we have things that need to be done by tomorrow.

 So you see - bet you are glad I didn't invite you to my party. Not a good place to be. Not even a place I want to be. SO let's figure a way to get out of here.

You know as I type these things and as I was feeling lot's of these overwhelming emotions these last few days. I know it is not a place I like to stay. Because when I am there it is very obvious to me it is the adversary trying to beat me down.

In reality I know I can only do what I am capable of doing. And in reality I know that without a shadow of a doubt that "all will be well". We will figure things out. I cannot allow the adversary to discourage or get me down. I know I have a Heavenly Father who loves me and will catch me when I fall.

Then as I sit in the quiet for a moment after all the kids are gone to school (see how lucky I am - quiet is a beautiful thing) I am reminded that I am blessed in so many ways. And if I will just recognize my blessings I will be able to feel that peace I long to feel.

I thought Heidi had an amazing idea and I have decided to join in trying to really focus each day on the things I am grateful for. Counting down everyday until Thnaksgiving all the things that I am thankkful for.

I know I am 3 days late - but I will catch up - don't worry.

Gratitude is a feeling of appreciation and thankfulness for blessings or benefits we have received. As we cultivate a grateful attitude, we are more likely to be happy and spiritually strong. We should regularly express our gratitude to God for the blessings He gives us and to others for the kind acts they do for us.

My list is long and I could go on and on . . . . .

{1} Priesthood Blessings

As I sit and reflect on the changes this past year I am grateful for the evidence of the Lord's hand in our lives. Last year at this time Morgan was struggling with seizures and I never thought I would ever return to life as we know it. As President Ogden layed his hands on her head and gave her a preistood blessings the Lord promised she would return to full health. With all the struggles she had been through the previous year it was hard to beleive in that reality. But I had faith in the priesthood that President Ogden held and I knew at the time of the blessing that the spirit testified to me that the promises were real. It was very evident that the Lord was involved when Morgan met Trent and we found out he was studying to become a Physcial therapist. Now here we are - a year later. Morgan is happily married to the most wonderful young man. We could not have asked for anything better. She is healthy and expecting our first grandbaby in May.

We have been blessed. Have you ever been given a blessing that really impacted your life ? If so be sure to write it down as one of those things you are grateful for.

{2}My Hardworking Husband

Dear Don - Thank you for doing all you do for our family. There has not been 1 day in our 22 years of marriage that you have not gone out and worked hard to provide for our family. For this I am so grateful. You have always taken your responsiblity as a provider very seriously and worked really hard. You are always the first to volunteer to coach our kids teams and go on field trips.

We have 6 very lucky kids. I am so grateful that in this economy you still have a secure job. Thank you for loving us and taking care of us . . . . .

(I will have to put this note under his pillow becuase he doesn't read blogs)

Okay just have to share one more thought that just arrived in my inbox

"Stresses in our lives come regardless of our circumstances. We must deal with them the best we can. But we should not let them get in the way of what is most important—and what is most important almost always involves the people around us. Often we assume that they must know how much we love them. But we should never assume; we should let them know. Wrote William Shakespeare, “They do not love that do not show their love.”3 We will never regret the kind words spoken or the affection shown. Rather, our regrets will come if such things are omitted from our relationships with those who mean the most to us."

Hmmmmm. . . . . . I think someone upstairs is trying to help me out here. I feel so much better already and I know that I really am blessed and we are all going to face challenges, even on a daily basis. But we can do it. And we can grow from them. I must remember what I tell Marge each night as she has to try and stand with my assistance to get into bed - we say "I can do hard things" and I just keep telling her and I know she beleives me. "We can do hard things" - Life is hard - but we are gonna make it.

Okay I am off to register for CNA school. Don't know how I will pay for it. But I have a couple of weeks to figure that out.