Thankful Thursday

What a splendid day!  I love this time of year. I am by nature a very thankful person but I love this day when I can more deeply appreciate all that I have been given and with any amount of luck will be able to express a portion of what I feel. Rather than list those things to which I am thankful,  I thought I would just share some valuable thoughts on the importance of being thankful always, not just on Thanksgiving Day but always. When you are thankful always, there is nothing cliche or prescribed about Thanksgiving Day, it just ultimately like everyday, filled will peace and joy as you absorb the sublime emotions of honest gratitude. I love being thankful,  it is a choice I make everyday, to look for the good, the blessings and the abundant gifts I have been given and it makes me happy.

The Lord has promised, "He who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious" (D&C 78:19). Gratitude is an uplifting, exalting attitude. People are generally happier when they have gratitude in their hearts. We cannot be bitter, resentful, or mean-spirited when we are grateful. True to the Faith (2004), 78–79


Mosiah 2:20...you should render all the thanks and praise which your whole soul has power to possess, to that God who has created you...


D&C 78: 19 And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred  fold, yea, more.

1 Ne. 18: 16 Nevertheless, I did look unto my God, and I did praise  him all the day long; and I did not murmur against the Lord because of mine afflictions.

Psalms of praise 100:1-5

 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness : come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.  Enter into his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.  For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

President Joseph F. Smith has instructed us that “the spirit of gratitude is always pleasant and satisfying because it carries with it a sense of helpfulness to others; it begets love and friendship, and engenders divine influence. Gratitude is said to be the memory of the heart” (Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed. [1939], 262).

President Joseph F. Smith said “I believe, one of the greatest sins of which the inhabitants of the earth are guilty today is the sin of ingratitude, the want of acknowledgment, on their part, of God and his right to govern and control. We see a man raised up with extraordinary gifts, or with great intelligence, and he is instrumental in developing some great principle. He and the world ascribe this great genius and wisdom to himself. He attributes his success to his own energies, labor and mental capacity. He does not acknowledge the hand of God in anything connected with his success, but ignores him altogether and takes the honor to himself; this will apply to almost all the world. In all great modern discoveries in science, in the arts, in mechanics, and in all the material advancement of our age, the world says, ‘We have done it.’ The individual says, ‘I have done it,’ and he gives no honor and credit to God. 

Elder Richard L. Evans once said, “Gratefully we acknowledge the infinite mind of our Maker, and gratefully ought to offer our tithes and offerings, and earnestly consistent service, in thanks for all that God has given, and keep his commandments in remembrance of the love and providence and purpose of the Creator, the God and Father of us all, the organizer and operator of heaven and earth, without whom all these things would not be so. Thank God for all this: for life and what sustains it, for loved ones that make it meaningful, for faith and purpose and continuance, always and forever. Thank God for all of this—and much, much more.” (“Thanks: for the Organization and Operation of the Earth,” Improvement Era, Feb. 1968, p. 74; KSL “The Spoken Word” broadcast, Nov. 19, 1967.)

 President James E. Faust said  "One of the evils of our time is taking for granted so many of the things we enjoy. This was spoken of by the Lord: “For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift?” (D&C 88:33). The Apostle Paul described our day to Timothy when he wrote that in the last days “men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy” (2 Tim. 3:2)." ...The thankful heart opens our eyes to a multitude of blessings that continually surround us.  “Gratitude As a Saving Principle,” Ensign 1996

President J. Reuben Clark, formerly a First Counselor in the First Presidency, said: “Hold fast to the blessings which God has provided for you. Yours is not the task to gain them, they are here; yours is the part of cherishing them” (Church News, 14 June 1969, 2).

We have been commanded by the Lord to be thankful.I am truly very thankful and without question certainly have more room to pour out my earnest appreciation for all that I have been given. 

Happy Thanksgiving to ALL! 

Consumed

I am consumed, flooded , immersed, overwhelmed, saturated in utter glorious and joyful feelings this day. Indisputable, undeniable, irrepressible, absolute certainty has captivated me and I sit here lost in an endless abyss of gratitude and love... there are infinite inefficiencies to describe the enchantment in which I enjoy at this moment in time.

Pause, breathe, for this moment in time has been a confirming gift beyond expression. This moment in time has been a gift to which I am eternally grateful. 

Photo taken 11/2005

“He that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.”D&C 50:24

Hangin With da' Boys!

Free "ballin"

Cute little sugar! In the throwns of potty training... this day was a little unreliable so he ditched the pants to air things out.

THANKFUL THURSDAY

Tis the month of gratitude. Oh I am overjoyed with gratitude. Today and every day.

Today I am grateful for the voices I hear in my head. I have sorta been flooded with nudges, promptings and occasionally literal voices in my head. I am listening.

I am grateful I love learning life (more to come on that.)

I am grateful for sweet children who have so much to teach me. Yesterday I was being inpatient with Bubba and he said "Mom, you are drawing meanness to me" ... punch in the gut! Note to self, SHOW THEM HOW I FEEL ! (another thing the voice in my head said)

I am grateful I am happy, naturally, it is my gift.

I am grateful my Christmas is up. It seems to take a week to do it, so now I can enjoy the holidays.

I am grateful my husband said I was the "glowiest person". He is absolutely the most adorable, sensitive, tender, sweet, gentle, safe, loving, affectionate and understanding man I know. He fills me with warm fuzziness and butterflies all over every time I think of him or see him. I wonder if everyone feels like this?? It just keeps getting better and better and more and more intense. Forever is a beautiful gift! I am SO grateful for him and our immensely wonderful marriage. (Sorry to be braggy.. that is not my intention) He is so blasted precious to me. Another gift.

SO while I am at it, I might as well just say it. I am grateful for my gifts. I have worked my entire life to be able to claim those without feeling guilty or ashamed.It is still a bit painful to believe it but I am trying hard to "own" it, love it and use what Heavenly Father has given me with out making any excuses. There seems to be something politically incorrect about unconditionally expressing gratitude for our individual attributes, gifts and talents. I suppose at the risk of sounding proud I will go ahead and say.... I AM truly grateful for what I have been given and have just recently made the connection between Heavenly Fathers love for me and those blessings. Thank You.

Thank you to all of you that care enough to read this. I love you!

The 3 Word Journal

I can not begin to explain how this little notion of keeping a "3 Word Journal" has affected me. The author of this book is in our ward here in Austin, PHD Randal Wright and I consider that a tremendous blessing in my life, he is truly exceptional. This book is brilliant. It is simple. It is fascinating. It is affirming. It is therapeutic. It is a wonderful exploration through ones self, memories and intelligible life experiences. It is no mystery that I am passionate about journaling and have been for most of my life but this approach of recording experiences in "3 words" is an idea I could have never conceived. I have been compelled into meaningful reflection as I am stirring up the memories of my past where indeed influential memories and invaluable life lessons have been revealed and I am in love with this journey.

In just the past few days I have discovered 33 - 3 word experience that have profitable lessons associated. This process has been alluring and enlightening and hopefully I will be blessed with the gift of words and the ability to discern and translate so that I can articulate those memories so that they are not merely figments of my past but actual, literal stepping stones towards the person I am.

Understanding my past, an exploration I have been imploring recently seems to have been inspired in lieu of the recent introduction to this book. Those particulars of my life have all motivated me in one way or another in becoming the person I am AND more importantly the person I am aspiring to be.

In Randals book, on the back side of the front cover reads a quote from Harvey Cluff "No intelligent person in youth or old age should merely drift along. Look the world squarely in the face, listen and learn... for there are grand lessons before you every minute." That is what I intend to do, "look the world (my life) squarely in the face... and listen and learn!

This is the commencement of a new tradition I am beginning on our family blog. Every Sunday (time permitting) I will post one of my/our 3 Word experiences, presented with a developed story and lesson learned and I intend to thoroughly enjoy the journey and hope you do as well.

You can learn more about it here 3wordjournal.com

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it” (in John Bartlett, comp., Familiar Quotations, 15th ed. [1980], 703).

"Learning the lessons of the past allows you to walk boldly in the light without running the risk of stumbling in the darkness.... Learning the lessons of the past allows you to build personal testimony on a solid bedrock of obedience, faith, and the witness of the Spirit... Nourished by testimony and watered with faith, the lessons of the past can take root in your hearts and become a vibrant part of who you are." Elder M. Russell Ballard

Henry B. Eyring said …. “Tonight, and tomorrow night, you might pray and ponder, asking the questions: Did God send a message that was just for me? Did I see His hand in my life or the lives of my children? I will do that. And then I will find a way to preserve that memory for the day that I, and those that I love, will need to remember how much God loves us and how much we need Him.”

3 Word - "Primary, Program, Signal"

Today was our primary program in sacrament. It was so sweet. So well organized and well thought out. I was rather exhausted when it was over, it was a lot of work watching all 4 of them and devoting fair quantities of of eye contact with each of them while keeping little Burger happy and contained... oh how he wanted badly to be up there with his siblings and Dad. I was able to sit right up front and had a straight shot at my sweet angel daughter. My face hurt badly by the end, as my perma-grin fatigued the muscles in my cheeks.

I eagerly looked around at each of the kids hoping they would see me watching them. As I maneuvered in my seat, adjusting my face as to gain the "just right" advantage so I could see their cute faces and they see mine. Secretly, I was hoping they would jump up and down and wave as they did when they were all Sunbeams. I was able to get responses from all of them but one. Douey would enthusiastically smile from ear to ear as we made eye contact, Eddie would wink, Bubba would smile and shine so big I could hear a high pitch squeal... very reminiscent to when he was a little boy. Fish, well every time I made eye contact with him he would turn away. I was starting to wonder if he WAS seeing me, even though I could see him. As I sat and thoroughly enjoyed myself I thought to my self how grateful I am for these remarkable people, oh I love them so!

As the program ended, each kid came walking down from the stand and eagerly approached me to receive their usual token of affection and approval. As I hugged each of them and expressed how much I loved them, I made specific mention to Bubba how grateful I was that he acknowledged me (lovingly) when I looked at him. When I said that to him, there went his signature big shining smile again coupled with a smidgen of embarrassment as he tried to break free from my embrace in an attempt to make his way to class, I just could not let him go. Fish waiting patiently for his turn finally got with in my reach. I smothered him with love and then held his face in my hands, locking eyes and told him I wanted him to acknowledge me when I look at him and not look away. He said with a blushing grin " Mom, I can't... I get too off task if I do that". Ahhh... could I possibly love him more,. That is SO HIM! I then said "ok then... we need to come up with a signal so that I know you see me." and he said "that will be my signal, I will look away." I just giggled at his honesty and his humble limitations.

THIS EXPERIENCE TAUGHT ME the ever important lesson of individuality. And the even more important lesson of accepting and embracing each of my childrens personalities, that includes what they are able to give and receive. It would be completely ineffective as a parent for me to expect the same responses from each of them as they are completely independent spirits, motivated by different things. Likewise, the same would be expected in how I nurture and love them, accepting them for who they are and loving them for it even if it is not exactly what I had prescribed.

I am grateful for this little lesson I learned today and realized that we all love and show love differently. Looking for it, seeing it and understanding it in all it's facets is as important to me as it is to those I love.

Foot Punch

When your hands are tied.... a foot punch works too! Good to know!

Matching Jammies

Well, I made my 1st ever Mom and daughter matching outfit #1 = matching fall Jammies. Isn't she the most stinkin cutest thing ever! Holy smokes, I cannot bear it! Yum!

Happy Halloween

Very fun Halloween this year! Hope yours was great! Love Texas Octobers!

More Twins Birthday Pics

On the twins birthday we had quite the party. We went to see "Where the Wild Things Are" with a bunch of familes and then we all gathered at our house for dinner and cake. It was a fun day!

Creepy Crawlies

2 questions?

What are these going to hatch into... small birds?
and
WHY does he want to pick them up?

Yuck!

What Little Boys Do

There is a vacant lot near our house where the boys find all kinds of scraps... this is what they constructed one afternoon so they could sail away...somewhere... Too Cute!

Happiness