Giving Thanks

I have so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving, it's hard to know where to start with this post.  I thought I might give you my top ten... but they are all very predictable...My Faith, my family, my country, my health and the health of my children are all things I am so very thankful for.  Sometimes I marvel at the love that God has shown to me.  

Gordon B. Hinkley said," We would do well, to cultivate within ourselves a spirit of thanksgiving for the blessing of life itself and for the marvelous gifts and privileges we enjoy.  The Lord has said that "the meek shall inherit the earth".  It is difficult to escape the interpretation that, rather than an attitude of self-sufficiency, meekness implies a spirit of gratitude, an acknowledgement of a greater power beyond oneself...Gratitude is the beginning of wisdom.  Stated differently, true wisdom cannot be obtained unless it is built on a foundation of true humility and gratitude."

Speaking of "true wisdom",  something I have been thinking about a lot lately is a book I read many years ago called the "Hiding Place" by Corrie Tenboom.   In it, she, along with her sister Betsy and her father, are captured by the Nazi's for helping Jews hide,  and placed in a concentration camp where she is humiliated, brutalized, starved and living in filthy flea-infested conditions.    Betsy insisted that Corrie give thanks to God for the fleas... which she eventually did, although, grudgingly.  An amazing thing then began to take place...the flea ridden conditions caused the guards to stay away, instead of assaulting the women as they had many times before.  It was a blessing which allowed the prisoners to hold prayer meetings and read from a bible that they had miraculously smuggled in.

The lesson for me.   Yes, there is an economic "crisis", yes, the future is uncertain and our children are being raised in a world that is flooded with all forms of immorality.   The prospect for many of us raising children is terrifying.  But today I am going to focus on thanking God for the struggles and obstacles that he has put before me.  Those trials that he allows me and each of us pass through are also the same things that expand our hearts and make us look to him with trust and faith, ultimately leading us to unseen blessings and "true wisdom".  Today in my own imperfect way, I am thankful for my struggles, for the experiences of loss,  of loneliness, and of opposition.    I am going to think of fleas..and give thanks!

Love to all of you and Happy Thanksgiving!

So glad to have Sarah, Tim, Lewis and Stanley to visit!

Shane and Bella take a little Thanksgiving nap.

Mason wearing Lewis' beenie.

Backyard Turkey Bowl with the neighbor boys.

Lewis lookin' cute with his football and beenie but wouldn't cooperate for the picture.

Jackson and baby cousin Stanley.

Mason and Jackson love the Turkey thighs... they are fearless eaters.

Happy Birthday Bella!

I can't believe my little baby girl is already a year old.  Time is flying! 

Here are some pictures from her little birthday party.  

Make a Smilebox slideshow

With Thanks, On Veterans Day

This morning I feel profoundly grateful for the many sacrifices made by so many on our behalf.

Several years ago when living in Arlington, VA. Shane and I went to the Arlington Cemetery. At that time 2,000 brave soldiers had died in Iraq and there was an exhibit of paintings which depicted each one of the fallen 2000 individually. It was very touching to see each of their faces and heart wrenching to read the notes that their children and loved ones had placed next to their paintings. It was an experience that I will always treasure because it made me realize that each soldier has a face, a story, a family-- and that the loss for their families was deeply painful. It also reminded me that we all owe each of our past and present military men, women and families a huge debt of gratitude. So THANK YOU, to all who may be reading this who have served or will serve. Thank you for your profound sacrifices of which none of us will ever fully comprehend.

I also wanted to take a moment and remember the military service of my grandfathers. Both served in WWII. They have both passed on, but I hope they know of my gratitude just the same. They are, no doubt, deserving recipients of the title "The Greatest Generation".

Grandpa Ellison

I never met my grandpa Ellison, he died of a heart attack at the age of 40. But I have thought of him often and have wondered how he and my grandmother made it through the profound trials they faced in their lives.
My grandfather served as a scout on the ground in France. As a member of the 95th infantry division he earned a bronze star which was presented to him by general Patton, for his bravery in clearing a row of 25 buildings. In the battle for Metz France he saw some of the most brutal fighting in the entire war. As the story has been told, during some of the heaviest fighting he was running in the street and fell, in front of him he saw a cross among the debris. He picked it up and felt an immediate calm come over him. He carried it with him throughout the rest of the war. My mother still has the cross he found. He suffered the effects of "Shell Shock" for the rest of his life.

Grandpa Gomm

I don't know much about my Grandpa Gomm's story in the war. I do know that he was on a ship in the Pacific for the duration and that his experiences and trials lead him to have a profound sense of patriotism. These experiences also helped him gain his own appreciation for his ancestry and the sacrifices they made. He was an avid geneologist and submitted over 6,000 names for Temple work and published many biographies on their behalf.

Thank you! Happy Veterans Day.

Halloween Happenings

This year I think I had more fun than the kids-- making Jedi and ballerina costumes and  playing dress up with Isabella.  The boys trick or treated until they literally dropped and then we went to a party for the surgery interviewees for next year.  There was a moon bounce and lots of kids to run around with.  The kids had a ball!

Can't wait to look around the blogs and see all the costumes and fun!  

Make a Smilebox slideshow