Give Thanks

I have been thinking a lot about being grateful lately. Mostly how being grateful for our blessings is a key to a happy life. It started out as I tried to teach my kids to be grateful for what they do have instead of complaining about what they don't have. As happens a lot of the time, I then started to realize that I will also be happier if I apply that lesson to my own thoughts. And who doesn't want to be happier =0)? Our prophet President Monson, gave a great talk in General Conference that encouraged me again to focus on gratitude. Today I decided to listen to this talk again while I cleaned up the kitchen. It did wonders for my mood =0)! Here are a few quotes that stuck out to me as I read it:

• President Joseph F. Smith, sixth President of the Church, said: “The grateful man sees so much in the world to be thankful for, and with him the good outweighs the evil. How much happier we are in the presence of a grateful and loving soul, and how careful we should be to cultivate, through the medium of a prayerful life, a thankful attitude toward God and man!”⁹
• When we encounter challenges and problems in our lives, it is often difficult for us to focus on our blessings. However, if we reach deep enough and look hard enough, we will be able to feel and recognize just how much we have been given.

• “And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And [the disciples] said, Seven, and a few little fishes.

  “And [Jesus] commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.

  “And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.”

  Notice that the Savior gave thanks for what they had—and a miracle followed: “And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.” (Matthew Chapter 15:32-38)

  A grateful heart, then, comes through expressing gratitude to our Heavenly Father for His blessings and to those around us for all that they bring into our lives. This requires conscious effort—at least until we have truly learned and cultivated an attitude of gratitude.

• to live with gratitude ever in our hearts is to touch heaven.

So, it's the perfect time of year to be thinking about our blessings, right? {Since Thanksgiving is right around the corner.} To start, A few things that I am really thankful for today:

1. The times when Brad hugs me, and tells whoever is nearby- Our kids, his parents, "Do you know how much I love Betsy? I'm so lucky to have this girl." I love him.

2. For my favorite jeans, and that I can wear them day after day, and they never get stretched out.

3. That I live in the woods and our yard is quiet, peaceful, and private.

4. That I finished the last little bits of my kids Halloween Costume prep today.

5. Every morning when Liv runs downstairs to be able to watch out the window while Brad drives away to work.