Yes, i did make enough for 15 people, even though this year there was just the seven of us, lol.
I had the pleasure yesterday of giving a talk in church and was asked to speak about being thankful, so writing this blog is much easier than it would normally be as i have been consumed with thankfulness these past few days.
Thanksgiving is a great time to reflect on all the Lord has given us and continues to give us. It's a shame we are not all programmed to reflect on these things on a more regular basis. I noticed this year that on Facebook several of my friends posted something they were thankful for each day of this month of November. What a great idea, only let it not stop there. This summer there was an article in the Friend magazine, which is put out by the church, in which Elder Henry B. Eyring wrote about this very thing. He said that from the time he was a small boy he decided to keep a journal at night and write two or three things each night before he went to bed that he was thankful for that happened that day. After he did this he then wrote why these were blessings form Heavenly Father. We thought it was such a fantastic idea that we did it as a family home evening lesson and Sarah has still kept up the practice, although i do the writing. I am amazed at how often one of the first things Sarah says to me to have me write in her journal each night is that she is thankful for John and I. I am thankful that i am doing a good enough job that my daughter is grateful for me. :-)
I will first begin with a relatively short list of things that i am thankful for that came to my mind this year. They are in no particular order, but are all special none-the-less.
1. Priesthood blessings that give hope for the future that are finally coming to pass.
2. Good music
3. The Schutzes, The Claytons, and The Wrights.
4. That my mother lives with us and the kids love being with her.
5. My sons and daughters.
6. My husband, who is ever serving and giving and is righteous.
7. John's new job
8. Our fabulous Springfield home.
9. Nature and all its beauty and splendor.
10. The Gospel of Jesus Christ.
11. That i can read and love books.
12. That i have a college education
13. The Lord's Tender Mercies
14. Prophets and Apostles
15. Relief Society.
16. The Temple.
17. Phones and computers.
18. Self-sufficiency.
19. My cats.
20. My sisters and brothers.
21. Good food and the means to have it.
22. My scriptures.
23. A working reliable car.
24. That my kids love being with me and spending time with me.
25. That i have freedoms and this includes freedom to educate my own children at home.
26. Christmas movies and music.
27. Cameras to capture the memories.
Something that i have learnt over the last 3 years in particular is that in being thankful for our blessings we need to include our trials as they are really our greatest blessings in disguise. If we are faithful to the end and we are doing all we can then our trials are nothing more than just what the Lord knows we need to grow in the right direction which will then allow us to come to know our true identity and know what our mission is here upon the earth. I can say with a firm and strong testimony that the trials i have had in my life have been my greatest asset. If i had not experienced the things that i have in life good and bad then i would not be who i am today, which is a strong woman, determined to do the Lord's will at any cost. I am able to see things in a much different light than i did three years ago and life is much simpler and easier because of the perspective i now have, not because life necessarily got easier or simpler. If we humble ourselves and have faith, then weak things (which the Lord gives us) will be made strong. (see Ether 12:27)
As we sat around the dinner table and began our Thanksgiving feast we all took turns saying two things we were thankful for for this year. Here's what everyone else said:
Immanuel - thankful for being in this family and for his brother and sisters
Eden - thankful for this house we "accidentally" found and for all her animals
Jack - thankful for the food and for this house (also as a side note we had sparkling apple cider to toast with and we referred to it as the bubbly which Jack called the "bumbly." :-)
Sarah - thankful for her parents and thankful that we found this house to live in.
Mum - for her children and special friends
John - for the Priesthood and his testimony
President Thomas S. Monson said that being grateful opens the gates of heaven and brings miracles to pass. I hope that we are all able to open the gates of heaven and have real miracles happen in our lives as we remember to be thankful daily for anything and everything.
The next few are some pre and post Thanksgiving dinner activities. :-)
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