Giving thanks...

It is my prayer that in addition to all else for which we are grateful,

we may ever reflect our gratitude for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

--Thomas S. Monson

A few days ago, following my sister-in-law's wedding, I posted that I was grateful for my in-laws. I'm expanding on that a little. That night, I was specifically referring to Chris' family. Because Chris' parents have both remarried, that family is big and quite varied. The dynamics are different than they were when Chris was growing up. But still, I love each one of them and am grateful to have them in our family. I love their spouses and their children. It's a good family and I'm so glad to be a part of it.

But I have more in-laws. Two of my brothers are married and their wives are so amazing. I could rave about them all day long. They are talented and kind. They are caring and compassionate. They are not the same person. I love them. I am grateful my brothers were both lucky and wise enough to marry well.

And also, there are my sisters' husbands. As mentioned previously, I am extremely close to my sisters. So, I spend a lot of time with their husbands. What cool guys. Every one of them is funny (an essential quality) and goes out of his way to take care of my sister (the one that goes together with him). They also take care of the rest of us. These are good men and I'm grateful to have them in my family.

We had a pleasant Thanksgiving. I took pictures of the place settings, but forgot to take pictures of any people. What a weirdo. Everything came together just right. I only made pies. Three kinds: pumpkin, apple, and chocolate haupia. Chris, Kathryn, and Brynn made the rest of the meal. It was delicious. I set the tables. I may have gotten a little carried away with the table-setting adventure, but I don't care because it looked spectacular!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Giving thanks...

Regardless of our circumstances, each of us has much for which to be grateful

if we will but pause and contemplate our blessings.

--Thomas S. Monson

Instead of mentioning just one thing, I'm going to list 10 little things that I am grateful for today.

1. I made some pies for Thanksgiving. I enjoy making pies. I like making pie crust from scratch. And I usually make pretty pies. They're so tasty, too. I am grateful my mom taught me to bake.
2. I am soooo grateful Chris came up and helped me clean up my pie-making mess. It was about 11:15 p.m. I was tired and stiff. Note to self: don't wait until after the kids go to bed to start making pies. Note to Christopher: Thanks for your help!!
3. During school today, Nathan was in a terrible mood. He complained about everything. I physically carried him back to the school room and handed him a math worksheet. He took it into the other room, where it's quiet. He returned it about 5 minutes later--all 50 problems completed correctly. He was excited and cheerful and diligently completed the rest of his assignments. I was grateful for his change of attitude.
4. Chris has an opportunity to perform next week (it's a job). So, he's been practicing. I enjoy hearing him sing and play his guitar. I am grateful for his talents.
5. I am grateful the kids have a really good friend. I am grateful this good friend's mother lets him invite three of my kids over to play quite often. 
6. Sarah spent considerable time today humming and making Thanksgiving cards for each of our expected guests tomorrow. I am grateful for her creativity.
7. Ammon comes up with scientific theories several times a day. Today they were about static electricity. He experimented his theories with a balloon and the hair on his head. Sometimes his theories are a little more complicated. I am grateful for his curiosity and love of discovery.
8. Beth got new toy dishes for her birthday. She makes me elaborate meals consisting of her favorite foods: mashed potatoes, chicken noodle soup, and more. I can't think of what else. I'm really tired from all that pie making. Anyway, I'm grateful for her imagination.
9. You're probably thinking to yourself that I already spent an entire day being thankful for each kid so I shouldn't have done it again today. But guess what? I'm thankful for them everyday. Guess who else I'm thankful for? My parents. I have great parents. I love them and appreciate them.
10. I am thankful for my Savior. I know I need Him and I know I can trust Him. This is not a little thing, by the way.

 

Giving thanks...

To truly reverence the Creator, we must appreciate his creations.

We need to plan to take time to observe the marvels of nature. . . .

All the marvels of nature are glimpses of his divine power and expressions of his love.

--M. Russell Ballard

I think that the quote I used here from Elder Ballard sums up my gratitude tonight. I am grateful for the beauty of the earth around us. In the past few months, we have hiked to Timpanogos Cave, taken a road trip through Yellowstone, driven through southern Utah's amazing canyons, and we also went to Las Vegas. I like the Joshua trees in Nevada. And there are sometimes nice sunsets. Anyway, even though these places are close together geographically, the views are so diverse. God has given us variety and beauty sometimes for no other reason than to "please the eye and to gladden the heart" (Doctrine and Covenants 59:18). The beauty of God's creations make me very happy and grateful. I know that God lives and that He loves me. One of the primary ways I feel His love is by enjoying His creations.

I really love it when one of my little children runs to get me so I can come see a sunset. I love it when they search for shapes in the clouds--and identify the cloud types. Today, Beth (who is 5) gasped as she looked out our front window. "Mom, look at the mountains! They're so pretty." I am grateful for God's creations and grateful that my children are aware of the beauty.

This is the view from our front porch: (It's not from today. There are fewer leaves today.)

Giving thanks...

Gratitude is our sweet acknowledgment of the Lord’s hand in our lives;

it is an expression of our faith.

--Bonnie D. Parkin

I love this quote because I remember realizing for the first time that gratitude is part of faith in God. But that has nothing to do with what I'm thankful for tonight.

You'll probably think this is crazy unless you know me. Even then, it's a little weird. Tonight we went to see the local high school production of Seussical the Musical. One of the young women in my ward had the lead, you see. They did a fine job. Excellent, really. But that's beside the point. I was sitting between Ammon and Nathan and watched them as they recognized even tiny tidbits of Seuss from all the different stories. Ammon was a little annoyed by the way they changed some stories so that they could mesh them all together. He reminded me of me watching Harry Potter. Again, I'm getting off subject. I watched the high school musical and thought about Dr. Seuss.

So, as the story goes, Dr. Seuss thought that Dick and Jane primers were boring. He decided that children would enjoy the process of learning to read if their books weren't so dull. So, he wrote "The Cat in the Hat." Some book critic (Ellen Goodman) described it as "a little volume of absurdity that worked like a karate chop on the weary little world of Dick, Jane and Spot." I've always loved that description.

Today I raise my kids on Dr. Seuss and those who followed after him: Sandra Boynton, Mem Fox, Mo Willems, Don and Audrey Wood, Kevin Henkes, Marcia Vaughan, Eric Carle, Judy Schachner, and Judith Viorst. I could probably think of more of my favorite authors if I stood up and walked over to the bookshelf. But those are the ones that came immediately to mind without effort. I love picture books. I think that some of the best artists alive today make their living by illustrating picture books. I am amazed at the complexity that goes into the simplest children's book--when it's well-written, that is. We have a remarkable selection of really, really good picture books available to us. It makes learning to read more fun. It makes reading aloud more fun. Which, for me, makes parenting more fun. And to think it all started with a cat in a hat.

Seriously, one of my little sorrows about having children grow up is when they grow out of these read aloud books. We almost never read Sandra Boynton around here anymore (but I'm keeping all her books just in case I babysit a small child who cares).

Anywho (ha, ha. Who. That's a Seuss-reference right there. Did you get it?), I am absolutely grateful (no matter how silly it sounds to say it out loud) for Dr. Seuss and all of the good authors and illustrators of children's books. I love to read aloud! 

Giving thanks...

My brothers and sisters, to express gratitude is gracious and honorable,

to enact gratitude is generous and noble,

but to live with gratitude ever in our hearts is to touch heaven.

--Thomas S. Monson

Today I am grateful that there is a true and living God and that He hears and answers prayers in many different ways.