{ Thankful. }

 So thankful. So blessed we are in this corner of the world. 

I look at this past post and and seriously I can't believe a month has gone by again......

I'm thankful....... for the long sub hours I've been getting in the past two weeks {though I feel so far behind with Christmas coming} but thankful for the opportunity to get out and work a bit....

I'm thankful....... SO SO thankful for the best Christmas gift we ever received in 2001 thats 14!!

 

years ago and my long awaited for baby came five days before Christmas and now he is turning 14!!! I can hardly, hardly stand that ........that means pretty much 4 years..... 4 summers till he's out on his own mission bound college bound grown up:((( and that kinda fills me with anxiety.  Have I taught him enough, been an example, helped him develop a strong testimony, a strong work ethic. Have we made him a spoiled entitled brat;) no, we haven't ......though he can be brat sometimes;) ha ha ! But this boy is a joy he is kind, helpful & sees what needs to be and sees the needs of others, he is a good talker and we have a strong relationship that I really, really cherish and am so thankful for! With 14 comes more responsibility more fun.......  stake dances ....boy/girl parties ahhh!..... a learners license and a few other things. I hope he always knows how proud we are of him!  That he knows how much we love watching him grow through football and basketball and honor roll. I love seeing him find his strengths and work on his weaknesses. I love seeing him read his scriptures or the new era and becoming a leader. I love the times he helps his little brothers and sister. The times he teaches them things and takes time for them! Love my tall, dark haired, handsome boy   

HAPPY BIRTHDAY K!

I'm thankful for a warm home when I come in from the cold to my cozy warm house I can't help but feel gratitude for all that I have when there is so much suffering all around us everyday! Sometimes if I think about it to much I can hardly stand it!

I'm thankful for  a good husband who loves me, for me. Who loves our children and is not only a stellar example of serving others, but a great father who takes the few extra minutes he has sometimes and spends it with the kids. I'm thankful for the importance he puts on our marriage and family. Seems all around that too is crumbling far faster than ever before people giving up so easy, people being so selfish despite the affect on their children and people falling away and a people unforgiving.

I'm thankful for the temple a place of peace and a true refuge from the world its quite incredible really to feel the love  there, the peace and the strong feeling of clean and of hope. Like I can breath again.

I'm thankful for my children they truly are my happy, my sad, my tears my joy my worries...... my life.

I'm thankful for the good things that still exist.


 I'm thankful for great friends and their husbands especially who build beautiful things like this for my kitchen!! SO happy to have an island again!! Love it slowly getting the kitchen close to finished:) slow and steady:)

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 Marie Osmond wrote the following and I love it:

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Obedience is something we all must learn. Whether it's teaching our children not to run into the streets, abiding by the rules and laws of the land, to become good, productive citizens or to choose whether we will be the kind of person who has integrity and can be counted on.

A lot of thought, knowledge and consideration go into these guidelines and laws. Why? They're aimed at creating peace and order to prevent harm, save us from stress, heartaches and spare us from bad experiences!

The Lord has also given us His ‪#‎TenCommandments‬ that we may know how to make good choices that will safeguard us throughout life's journey.

Whether we obey them or deviate from these rules—it's solely at our discretion. He has given us our agency or the freedom to choose, positively or negatively, for ourselves. The beauty in choosing obedience, is that it comes back to us 100 fold in the form of blessings! This does not mean our challenges will go away, but by striving to be obedient, we don't create more unnecessary challenges from our disobedience. The ones we do experience, are somehow made easier to bear because of our trust in God's love! 

Thomas S. Monson said about God's laws:
"When we accept or reject them, our decisions will determine our destiny."

I know throughout my life the words of Harold B Lee have rung true in my heart. He told me in life, I would find that there are only two choices, either you do it or you don't! Choose the one that will take you back to the presence of God! I know that's where I'd like to be..... in a few more years! 

We go through lessons in order to grow and their outcomes will be determined by our desire to choose to be obedient. The greatest example was Jesus Christ who taught us to obey in the most simple terms, "If you love me, keep my commandments," and "Come follow me."

May we follow Him as we wind up the year and start a new one. Take comfort in the fact that obedience can bring an abundance of blessings and great wisdom! Remember our promise, that IF we keep God's commandments, we will receive "truth and light" to help us continue to feel his direction so that we can make right choices for our lives and ultimately gain eternal happiness!

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Onto Christmas getting there guess we have to since Christmas is next week ha ha:)

Merry Christmas :)