Thankful

Before November is too long gone, I want to record some of the things I am thankful for.

• Friends.  I have SO many wonderful friends in my life right now.  They serve and love me and help make me a better person.  I love that my children and their children are also friends.  It gives us all reasons to go out and do things together.  This companionship really strengthens me and improves my life.  I look forward to many more years with these wonderful people.  You know who you are.  :)
• Jobs.  Sounds cliche, but we had a rough summer and it was scary being laid off twice and not knowing whether or not we would have a steady income.  I am so thankful that the Lord blessed us to find TWO jobs this summer, both within a few weeks of lost employment.  And now that Nathan has been at FamilyLink for 5 months, I know it is where he is supposed to be.  My mom told me that it would end up being a blessing when Nathan got laid off from OrangeSoda, and looking back I can now say that it was.
• Family.  Nathan and I have each been blessed with a family that loves us and continues to be a huge part of our lives as we have made our own family.  We love them and don’t know where we would be without them.  I miss my family in Arizona & Colorado, but visiting them last month was so cathartic and helped recharge me until I can see them again.  I am grateful for cars and airplanes that enable us to see each other in just one short day.
• Home.  We have really enjoyed the past year in our new home and I am so grateful every day that we have a beautiful, comfortable, warm house to live in and nice things to fill it with.  And having a garage has been so incredibly wonderful. :)
• Children.  A day never goes by that I don’t thank Heavenly Father for the gift of my two beautiful children.  Raising them has not been easy for me, and I have made mistakes.  I am grateful that the Lord has trusted me with them and I hope I can be the mother that they deserve.
• Nathan.  I couldn’t ask for a better husband and father of my children.  His strengths balance my weaknesses.  He is so patient with me and encourages me to be better.  I love him so much!
• The Gospel.  Where would I be without it?  I am so grateful, especially at this time of year, for the gift of my Savior, Jesus Christ.  I am so far from perfect, and it is so comforting to know that if I do my best, there is someone who has made up the rest.  I am singing “Mary’s Lullaby” with some other women in my ward for the Christmas program, and it will be a miracle if I can get through it without crying.  The second verse in particular touches me: “Away spectered future of sorrow and plight.  Away to the years that must follow tonight.  The pangs of Gethsemane, let them be dim.  The red drops on Calvary, not Lord, for him!”  What would it have been like to be Mary, holding your sweet baby boy, knowing what was in store.  She must have been torn between the motherly love that never wanted her son to be hurt, and the knowledge that this was her Savior who had to suffer and die so that she could be forgiven of her own sins.  I am so incredibly thankful that Jesus Christ suffered and died for me!

Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas!!!