Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Attitude of gratitude

Here is a list of SOME of the things I am thankful for (in no particular order, just as they come to me)


1. A wonderful husband, who is hard working, selfless and honors his priesthood

2. Arwen . . . and the way she can make me laugh, the way she comforts me when I am sad and when she tells me that when she sees people cry it makes her cry.

3. Jackson. . . and the way makes me laugh as well (he is funny) the way he snuggles me and tells me he loves me regularly.

4. Parents . . . (both mine and Richard's) who are amazing examples for us and who have given us so much (temporally, spiritually, emotionally, etc.)

5. Grandparents . . . need I say more?

6. Sisters (and in-laws) who have been there for me through the ups and downs and can almost always help to make me happy if I am sad.

7. Brothers (and in-laws) who have sacrificed so much of their time to serve my family.

8. Friends who are like sisters and who would do anything and have done so much for me.

9. Cousins, aunts and uncles. . . again need I say more?

10. The church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

11. A living Prophet on the Earth - President Thomas S. Monson - and all of his apostles (general conference).

12. The Book of Mormon.

13. Temples - where I have had the opportunity to be sealed to my family forever.

14. My Savior Jesus Christ who has made it possible for me to live with him and my Heavenly Father again - he has felt every single feeling of sadness and pain I have ever felt - I am never alone because of this.

15. My Heavenly Father who loves me so much and has showed that love to me in many ways.

16. My testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

17. A beautiful home to live in to keep us safe and warm.

18. A car that runs well and can take us where we need to go.

19. Food to eat . . . we have never had to go hungry.

20. Richard's wonderful job and the fact that he still keeps busy with work.

21. Clothes and shoes.

22. Running water, working toilets, electricity. . . we took this for granted until we lived in a trailer in front of our unfinished house.

23. Volleyball . . . as cheesy as it may be there are many days that I have not been pregnant where I have volleyball to look forward to and cheer me up.

24. Dr. Pepper. . . I have to be honest.

25. Great movies . . . Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter

26. Great music.

27. Running. . . sometimes I am more grateful than others.

28. Christmas.

29. Birthdays.

30. Modern medicine, Doctors, hospitals, etc.

31. The power of prayer.

32. Priesthood blessings. . . have been comforted so many times because of these.

33. Digital cameras. . . we can take as many pictures as we want and make memories last forever.

34. Modern technology. . . internet and computers, email, etc.

35. Chocolate.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

"Lessons From Liberty Jail" - Jeffrey R. Holland (September Ensign)

A couple months ago (when I was having an especially hard time with my infertility trial), I was reading the Ensign and came across this talk by Jeffrey R. Holland. I am putting the link up, but I just wanted to quote a few of the things that really brought me comfort. http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=70dd1a01e8d43210VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

". . . In one way or another, great or small, dramatic or incidental, every one of us is going to spend a little time in Liberty Jail—spiritually speaking. We will face things we do not want to face for reasons that may not be our fault. Indeed, we may face difficult circumstances for reasons that were absolutely right and proper, reasons that came because we were trying to keep the commandments of the Lord. . ."

". . . Whenever these moments of our extremity come, we must not succumb to the fear that God has abandoned us or that He does not hear our prayers. He does hear us. He does see us. He does love us. When we are in dire circumstances and want to cry, “Where art Thou?” it is imperative that we remember He is right there with us—where He has always been! We must continue to believe, continue to have faith, continue to pray and plead with heaven, even if we feel for a time our prayers are not heard and that God has somehow gone away. He is there. Our prayers are heard. And when we weep He and the angels of heaven weep with us. . ."

". . . We are not alone in our little prisons here. When suffering, we may in fact be nearer to God than we’ve ever been in our entire lives. That knowledge can turn every such situation into a would-be temple.
Regarding our earthly journey, the Lord has promised, “I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up” (D&C 84:88). That is an everlasting declaration of God’s love and care for us, including—and perhaps especially—in times of trouble. . ."

". . . Furthermore, we note that not only has the Savior suffered, in His case entirely innocently, but so have most of the prophets and other great men and women recorded in the scriptures. The point is this: if you are having a bad day, you’ve got a lot of company—very, very good company. The best company that has ever lived. . ."

". . .Therefore … let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed” (D&C 123:17; emphasis added).

". . .What a tremendously optimistic and faithful concluding declaration to be issued from a prison-temple! When he wrote those lines, Joseph did not know when he would be released or if he would ever be released. There was every indication that his enemies were still planning to take his life.
. . .Yet in these cold, lonely hours, Joseph says let us do all we can and do it cheerfully. And then we can justifiably turn to the Lord, wait upon His mercy, and see His arm revealed in our behalf.
What a magnificent attitude to maintain in good times or bad, in sorrow or in joy!"