A Grateful Heart

'Tis is the season of thanks and gratitude.  Every Thanksgiving, I am reminded of a talk given by a wonderful man named James E. Faust.  This talk comes from the April 1990 General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. You can read the talk in it's entirety here: LDS.org - Ensign Article - Gratitude As a Saving Principle  The talk never fails to touch my soul as I read and re-read it time and time again.

I have shared President Faust's youthful story about being grateful for the meager, simple things like hot, homemade bread, oatmeal and sweet smelling soap, several times with the Primary children in my ward while I have been serving there (10 years now!)  It causes me to stop and reflect upon my own life, and the small - often times simple things that I have been blessed with.  Since I haven't updated this blog in awhile, I thought I would list some of the things that have brought me great joy this year, things that have caused me to have a grateful heart:

I'm grateful that after 19 years, I was able to make a career change in January.  This little girl is Katie or Katie-Nana, (the nickname she received from me at birth).  I started tending her when she was 3 months old.  She lives close enough that I still see her a lot.  (She's also one of my favorite Primary kids).

I was able to stay home on Thursday's all summer long to tend these two little tornadoes.  I'm grateful for them.  They bring much joy to our house.

This is their new brother, Easton William.  He was born November 18th, 2010. We are grateful to have this new beautiful baby join our family.

I took a rap from my nephew because I originally didn't say anything about being grateful for my oldest son Brad.  My nephew's idea was that once the grandkids came along, Brad didn't matter anymore.  So here is another picture of Brad's family.  Brad worked all summer long on the Layton Interchange project.  I guess I could say I am grateful that he didn't fall off the bridge.  Seriously, I learn a lot from this fine gent.  He is an amazing example of happiness and what a true friend is.  

I'm grateful for this daughter.  She is one of the smartest people I know.  This year she is teaching 6th grade at the same elementary school she attended growing up.  It is fun to listen to her teaching stories and hear her say how much she loves the students in her classroom.

I am VERY grateful that I have been able to wrap my brain around the new world of embroidery digitizing and running a 6 head embroidery machine.  The two pictures above are a couple of the first designs that I did "all on my own".  I still have a lot to learn, but this has been a major accomplishment for me this year, especially after Kimball left on his mission and I was "on my own".

I'm grateful for friendships that last thru the years.  We met this young man when he was a new freshman at BYU.  We have followed him thru a mission, schooling, marriage, the birth of 3 children, more schooling (med school), moves to Ohio, Washington, and back to Ohio.  I'm grateful that we were able to visit him & his family in Ohio last September.

I have been to Kirtland, Ohio many, many times in my lifetime.  It is one of my favorite places on earth.  I was so grateful to be able to take my fine husband there this past fall, to let him experience for the first time the great history and spirit that the Kirtland area has to offer.

I'm grateful that I get to go to trade shows with my husband.  I usually plan detours to other places in the area. Recently we spent a long weekend in Las Vegas at a trade show.  On Saturday, I hauled my husband to every quilt shop in the Las Vegas valley!  The last shop was in Boulder, so we traveled a little further to go see the new bridge at Hoover Dam.  The picture doesn't do it justice.  What an amazing feat of engineering!

I'm grateful that I get to hang with such a fun person.  I have been married to him for nearly 28 years.

I am grateful for this fine boy, my youngest son.  He is currently serving a 2 year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, in the Philippines.  Right now he is living in a small town called Rizal, on the Luzon Island.  He loves living among the Phlippino people, eating rice, noodles & ulam & riding in jeepneys.  They are a happy people even though they don't have much. It is a great blessing for our family to have him there serving and teaching the Philippino people, as he searches out the lost sheep and helps bring them back into the fold of our Master, Jesus Christ.  

I am grateful for traditions.  Even silly ones like putting olives on all your fingers at Thanksgiving.  So what if the olives are already consumed by the time the meal is ready... just open another can.

To quote President Faust once again:  "A grateful heart is a beginning of greatness.  It is an expression of humility.  It helps us develop such virtues as prayer, faith, courage, contentment, happiness, love and well-being.  Said the Lord, "And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea more" (D & C 78:19).