I am thankful for many things

We're off to South Carolina on Saturday to spend Thanksgiving with Bryan's family. The last two weeks have been extremely busy and I have hardly had time to really reflect on what I am thankful for, which is something I usually try to consciously focus on during the month of November (and all year). But it seems I don't have time for anything lately. So here I sit at 2 a.m. because I can't sleep, even though I am exhausted. I can't sleep because my mind is busy making lists of everything that has to be done before we go, before Christmas, and before the new year.

I thought about doing something on that list, but instead I want to take a minute and write down my feelings of gratitude. I don't mean to sound cliche, or braggy, or holier than thou, or anything else. However, I do want to say how thankful I am.

I am thankful for healthy children. I don't take for granted that my children have strong, healthy minds and bodies.

On that note, I am thankful for my own healthy body that allows me to keep up with my girls.

I am thankful for an honest, hardworking, dedicated, patient, loving, funny, kind, sincere, handsome husband, who is good at openly showing his love for each of us individually and makes me laugh every day. He sees beyond my mommed-out, yoga pants and no make-up get up and loves me for me.

I am thankful for my the unconditional love my children give me. Nothing can compare to the slobbery kiss of a 10 month old, a "super-duper-ice cream scooper hug" from a 2 year old or a simple comment like "I love you mama" or "You're a cool mom."

I am thankful for impromptu dance parties that make everyone in my family laugh. Speaking of laughs. I am thankful for the unique laughs that each of my girls have that match their individual, funny personalities so well.

I am thankful for run-away cheeky bums (although irritating in the moment) that can move faster than I can at every diaper change. Those cute little bottoms will be much bigger, and much less cute,way too soon.

I am thankful for little fingers that pinch my arms/back when I rock my babies. Both girls do it when they are falling asleep. I don't want to forget little things like that.

I am thankful for singing children. They all do it. Eleanore makes her own fabulous lyrics up to familiar tunes, just an octave or two higher than the original, Maya have a beautiful "ahhh, ahhh" which comes out most of all when she is giving hugs, and Ivy sings herself to sleep.

I am thankful for Eleanore's amazing memory. Although it gets me in trouble sometimes, I am so happy she is blessed with such a beautiful brain.

I am thankful we have good jobs. Everyday when Bryan leaves for work Eleanore asks why Daddy goes to to work. She knows the answer, because she asks every day, so I ask her, why and she'll respond "so we can have nice things." Yes, I am so thankful for that. I know that we are very blessed at time when many are struggling.

I am thankful for a comfortable home -- kind of like the comment above. I know it is a BLESSING not everyone enjoys to have a warm, comfortable home that provides refuge for me and my family each day.

I am thankful for my siblings. I love my brothers and sisters and am so thankful that we have each other. Don't know what I'd do without them. Even though we are spread out by thousands of miles I feel an amazing support system from them.

I am thankful for my in-laws. I am lucky to be part of an extended family that I love (I know everyone isn't so lucky). Bryan and his brother are BFFs and Eleanore adores each of her cousins, looking up to the four big girls like nobody's business. I am SO THANKFUL Bryan's parents will be here this  winter. I am so excited for Eleanore to get to spend time with her grandparents (my Grandma was one of my dearest friends, there is nothing like a Grandma) and that we'll get some extended time with them.

I am thankful for good friends. After being in Florida for more than four years, I feel like we've finally settled in and are making good friends. We have a great ward here, and we are so blessed to have good friends near and far who we love.

I am thankful for the Gospel. I love my Savior. I love that through Him I can start anew each week and try to be more perfect, because I fall short every week. I am thankful for a loving Heavenly Father who provides many tender mercies to remind me of His love and care every day. I am thankful for the knowledge that I can be with my family for eternity -- which makes every crazy moment worth it.

My list is getting long and I have so much more I could say. I've thought a lot about a talk given by our prophet President Thomas S. Monson at the last General Conference. Here is an excerpt from his talk:

We can lift ourselves and others as well when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues. Someone has said that “gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.”

How can we cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude? President Joseph F. Smith, sixth President of the Church, provided an answer. Said he: “The grateful man sees so much in the world to be thankful for, and with him the good outweighs the evil. Love overpowers jealousy, and light drives darkness out of his life.” He continued: “Pride destroys our gratitude and sets up selfishness in its place. How much happier we are in the presence of a grateful and loving soul, and how careful we should be to cultivate, through the medium of a prayerful life, a thankful attitude toward God and man!”

President Smith is telling us that a prayerful life is the key to possessing gratitude.

Do material possessions make us happy and grateful? Perhaps momentarily. However, those things which provide deep and lasting happiness and gratitude are the things which money cannot buy: our families, the gospel, good friends, our health, our abilities, the love we receive from those around us. Unfortunately, these are some of the things we allow ourselves to take for granted.

The English author Aldous Huxley wrote, “Most human beings have an almost infinite capacity for taking things for granted.”

We often take for granted the very people who most deserve our gratitude. Let us not wait until it is too late for us to express that gratitude. Speaking of loved ones he had lost, one man declared his regret this way: “I remember those happy days, and often wish I could speak into the ears of the dead the gratitude which was due them in life, and so ill returned."

The loss of loved ones almost inevitably brings some regrets to our hearts. Let’s minimize such feelings as much as humanly possible by frequently expressing our love and gratitude to them. We never know how soon it will be too late.


A grateful heart, then, comes through expressing gratitude to our Heavenly Father for His blessings and to those around us for all that they bring into our lives. This requires conscious effort—at least until we have truly learned and cultivated an attitude of gratitude. Often we feel grateful and intend to express our thanks but forget to do so or just don’t get around to it. Someone has said that “feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.”


When we encounter challenges and problems in our lives, it is often difficult for us to focus on our blessings. However, if we reach deep enough and look hard enough, we will be able to feel and recognize just how much we have been given.

So this Thanksgiving, I know most resolutions come at the new year, I take on new resolve to have an "attitude of gratitude." To be more prayerful, less selfish, more vocal in my thanks, and more aware of my blessings in an effort to acquire and grow this noblest virtue.

Happy Thanksgiving.