11/5 to 11/11

As Thanksgiving approaches, I am thankful for somethings that many may consider small things but as President Joseph F. Smith remarked that "Gratitude is said to be the memory of the heart." I am so thankful for kind neighbors and friends who just call and say hi or visit.  When I am not much in the mood to move around because of achy joints and limbs their best wishes are appreciated.

Life is Good when we look to all that we are blessed with

On Tuesday I met Kathy for lunch at Kneaders. She is such a fun person and has such a positive outlook on life.  I have never been Kneaders and it was a fun place to meet and eat.  They have some wonderful pastries, which we each got one and shared.  Boy, they were good.  There is nothing like a sweet desert to pick up the soul.  Chocolate is the best.

Glena with her grand daughters.

Thursday Glena, our neighbor, came over with her grand daughters just to check on me.  They were so sweet. We then took them to the Temple open house with Don her husband.  They all seemed to really enjoy it.  Don especially appreciated the art work since he is an artist.  He remarked that he wished he had more time to take it all in. There were so many people there and it was a silent tour in order to move that groups along fast.  We were grateful that we got to share the temple with them.

I love these thoughts on gratitude I thought I would share because they made me stop and think of all the things that I have to be gratitude for.

“God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say “thank you?” — William A. Ward

“He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.” — Epictetus

“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” — Albert Einstein

This is one of my favorite poems on Gratitude

Be Thankful

Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire,
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don’t know something
For it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations
Because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge
Because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you’re tired and weary
Because it means you’ve made a difference.

It is easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are
also thankful for the setbacks.

GRATITUDE can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles
and they can become your blessings.

Author Unknown

 
Today I am especially thankful for all those veterans that have served the country.  Many have given much to serve this great country.  I know of the sacrifice personally because I have 2 sons, husband and a father  many grandfathers who have given much to defend our nation.  Some have given their lives, like a Grandfather Benjamin Reed who was killed at the Battle of Saratoga, and a 3 Purnell brothers that were all killed in the War of 1812.  Freedom isn't free and we must do all we can to preserve the liberties that so many have giving their all for.   I am thankful for the rich heritage and great examples of heroism and bravery that all the veteran that have served this nation,