I have been thinking a lot about Thanksgiving this year and been thinking about how wonderful my life is. There is so much to be thankful for and I know everyone around me is extremely blessed. Because there are so many things to be thankful for I thought I'd list a few, particularly related to this past year.
1. I am SO thankful for such a solid and loving marriage. I am so thankful for Landon and for our life together. It has been complete bliss! This also relates to being thankful for parents who have been the ultimate example of what a marriage should be. Especially in these days where it is common for marriages to be broken and fail, it is something to truly show gratitude for.
2. I am so thankful for health. I have been so blessed. Since being "diagnosed" with Rheumatoid Arthritis my junior year of high school, I have been off my medicine for about 2 years now!! RA is supposed to be an irreversible condition but I feel healed. Because it's been so long since I've not been able to walk in the morning because my feet felt bruised and broken, I feel I owe a special thanks to Heavenly Father for blessing me with this miracle of health.
3. I am thankful for school. An education is one of the reasons we are here. We need to embrace learning. I complain a lot about having to get a master's degree and how much work it is and how it would be so much easier to just get a job and be done with school! But I know it is a blessing that not a lot of people get to experience. I will make friendships and learn things that will last me a lifetime. It is important and something I can be proud of.
4. I am thankful for the summer jobs we had. Because of the money we made this summer we are able to both attend school and not work. There is no time in our schedules for a job and we are so lucky that we have the means to survive this school year and make it till next summer. Although it's scary at times, with the student loans and budgeting and family support I am so thankful to know that everything will work out in the end.
5. I am so thankful for primary. Landon and I are primary teachers. We have four 5 year old girls and one boy. It has been so much fun re-learning primary songs and seeing firsthand what the Lord means when he says we must "become as a little child". Our little class is so cute and enthusiastic and smart. Primary is such a wonderful place for children to build a solid foundation and I LOVE primary!
6. I am so thankful for blogs! Being introduced to blogs this year has been so fun. I love hearing and seeing what my friends are up to. It is such an amazing thing that I can keep informed and read the thoughts and feelings about people that I look up to and admire. Every person has something to offer and I am thankful for everyone's zest for life!
7. I am so thankful for the temple! This year has been one of the best as far as strengthening my testimony. The temple is such a wonderful symbol and place to feel like you belong. The blessings there are eternal and so real.
8. I am so thankful for family. My immediate family means so much to me. This year has been one that has strengthened us. I am so thankful for the support, love, sacrifice, comfort and friendships in my family. My in-law family is also amazing. I am so thankful that I am able to feel 100% comfortable with my in-laws. They have shown me selflessness, generosity, love and kindness. Its been a great year being close to them.
9. I am thankful for warm weather! Maybe I'm being biased because it's just now starting to get cold here, but I am a die-hard born and raised Arizona girl through and through. Weather is such a hassle and bother. Layer after layer never makes you feel cute and I can only fit one layer under my jeans because they're too tight. haha Anyway, the sun is a wonderful thing that I am thankful for!
10. I am thankful for our car. I was so lucky to have my Dad buy me a 2008 Mazda 3 for my 21st birthday. I didn't know then just how much this car would mean to me. Landon and I have been living with one car. Some people think we're crazy, but it's the best thing for our financial situation. But this car has been so reliable and so wonderful and I know that our appreciation for transportation (especially Landon's experience with riding a bike in 20 degree weather at 5:30 in the morning to school, (bless his little heart)) has greatly increased this past year.
Those are just a few things. I could go on and on... but couldn't we all??? And we should remember who the person is that we should ultimately be showing gratitude to... our father in heaven.
What a wonderful thing it is to have SO much to be THANKFUL for!
It's been a while
6 years ago