Thanksgiving

I am interrupting the memories of our houses to give a little thanks. Gratitude is something that I need to be better at. I have so much and appreciate it so little. I have had a wonderful life. I have been healthy, happy and all my basic needs have always been met. And somehow, I still seem to spend time wishing for more when I have everything I could really want and more than I could have ever imagined. So on this Thanksgiving Day, here are a few of the things that I am truly thankful for:

I am grateful for my family. The family I grew up in and the family I helped to create. I had wonderful parents that gave us everything we needed and were wise enough not to give us everything we could ask for. They taught us to work and to get good educations. They were good examples of everything they wanted us to be, and their children have pretty much turned out like them—they work hard and serve others, they are good parents and spouses, they are honest and kind. I am grateful for my sister and my brothers and the awesome people they have brought into our family.

I am grateful for the opportunity I have had to be a wife and mother. I can’t imagine my life without Dave. He brings out the best in me and supports me in whatever I want to do. He makes being married better than I could have ever dreamed it could be. After almost thirty years I can still say he is my absolute best friend and I still love to be with him.
I am thankful my children grew up to be such nice people. I am constantly amazed at what they can do and how hard they work. I love to watch them now as they are parents—they are so cute with their own little ones. It seems that they were just that age a minute ago. I am thankful to be a grandmother. I didn’t think life could get better than rocking a baby of my own. Now I know that just continues down the generations. “Grandma” and “Grandpa” are two of the words I best love to hear. I am thankful for amazing sons-in-law and a wonderful daughter-in-law and the little blessings we are adding to our family—the ones so far are named Bianca, Ava, Joseph, Sandy and Lexie.

There is so much more than I have room to write. I am so thankful for the gospel, for my testimony, for the knowledge of who I am and where I came from and why we are here. I am grateful for my healthy body and mind. I am grateful for the chance I have had to get a good education. I am grateful to be able to read and for the many books that made such a difference in my life. I am grateful for so many people that have made me who I am. I am grateful for teachers that really taught, for friends and neighbors that made the effort to be my friend and enrich my life. I am grateful for friends that still keep in touch even though we have moved apart. I am grateful to live in such a beautiful world with flora, fauna, seasons and all that goes with it. I am not grateful enough, but I do truly give thanks for my many, many blessings.