So Much to Be Thankful For

I loved this Mormon Message recently posted on YouTube. It has gotten me thinking about the things I'm thankful for. There are so many things, from random simple pleasures (I'm thankful for the Andes mint cookies my mom and I discovered at the store today, for example) to the very big things, like being thankful for my faith in God and my knowledge of His plan for me and my family. Here are a few other things I've been thinking about this week in anticipation of Thanksgiving. What are you thankful for?

I'm thankful for ...

• My health. Seems like I've been more aware of what a blessing this is over the past year. Lots of different factors and events of this past year have made me really grateful that my family and I are well and have healthy bodies. I'm thankful I can see, hear, walk, play with my son, and enjoy so many things in this beautiful world because my body is healthy and strong.
• My family. I'm especially thankful for my good husband who works so hard for our family and who makes me so happy. I adore and cherish my little Eliot, who is my joy and delight. I love being a mother and getting to see the world through my child's eyes. I'm grateful for wonderful parents and in-laws who have done so much for me. I love my siblings and their spouses and children. I look forward to moving back closer to them so I can have more frequent contact with them.
• Good friends. So many of my good friends have become like family to me, especially while we've been away. I rely on my friends here in Oregon to fill the gaps in my life that have come from not having family close. I am humbled by friends who offer to serve me and are somehow able to pass off their favors to me as a blessing to them. I have been strengthened by the influence of good people in my life. I know that I am a better person because of the examples of those who have served and loved me and become eternal friends. I'm grateful to know that, if I'm really good, I might get to be heavenly neighbors with some of my favorite people someday.
• Education. I'm especially grateful for Grant's education. We are thankful for the opportunity he's been given to get an advanced degree. We know it will be worth the sacrifice involved. I'm grateful for my own education and how it's helped me prepare for motherhood. I'm thankful for the skills and knowledge I'm now able to use in raising my son. I'm thankful for the small ways that I've been able to supplement our income through my talents and abilities. It makes me feel good to be able to help our family in even small ways. I'm thankful for the love of reading my parents have passed on to me and the role of good literature in my life. I'm uplifted by good music regularly and thankful for its positive and sacred influence in our home. I'm thankful for the scriptures and to be spiritually nourished through my studies. I'm thankful for the learning opportunities provided by my church service and daily as a mother. I'm even thankful for the "hard things" in my life that force me to be brave and try new things.
• Employment. We don't have a lot of income right now, but what we have makes a huge difference. Grant's job has been the answer to my prayer that I prayed at the beginning of our law school experience. When I prayed for guidance in where to go to school and that everything would turn out well for Grant and for us as a family, the scripture that kept coming to my mind was "... prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it" (Malachi 3:10). There have been many blessings throughout our law school journey, but I feel that my answer has been most demonstrated by Grant's employment opportunities, which have been greater than we could have ever dreamed, especially given such a difficult economy. We pray that all will come together as we hope, and feel overwhelmed by how mercifully we have been taken care of. We have had to pinch our pennies and be very careful, but we have always had just enough to meet our needs.
• Simple pleasures. I'm thankful for sunny days, for a thoughtful, handwritten card from a friend, for love notes on post-its from Grant in my kitchen cupboards. I'm thankful for special times with Eliot, like watching Jeopardy together while snuggling under a blanket and sharing a special treat. I'm thankful for Eliot's delight at small things -- seeing the garbage truck, hearing a plane, jumping to a favorite song, welcoming his daddy home at the end of the day, giggling hysterically when he "scares" anyone when they come out of the restroom. I'm thankful for the occasional date night with Grant when we get to remember, even if only for an hour or so, what it was like to eat a meal straight through and be able to pay full attention to one another. I'm thankful for simple kindnesses -- when Grant makes the bed in the morning, when a friend tells me how much she enjoys Eliot, when ward members forgive our inability to serve as wholeheartedly as we'd like to because of the demands on our time and resources while Grant is in school ... the little things really make a big difference in my daily life.

One of my favorite talks about gratitude was "Oh Remember, Remember" by President Henry B. Eyring, in which he urged us to "find ways to recognize and remember God's kindness. It will build our testimonies. You may not keep a journal. You may not share whatever record you keep with those you love and serve. But you and they will be blessed as you remember what the Lord has done. You remember that song we sometimes sing: 'Count your many blessings; name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.'"

I hope that you will find many reasons of your own to be thankful, not just this Thanksgiving, but always. Have a wonderful day and season celebrating the many things the Lord has done for you.