Giving Thanks!

I realized this year how much I love November. It stirs up some great memories and emotions of gratitude that are unique to this season of the year. Somehow I can feel deeper gratitude for the smallest things: a quiet night at home with the family, playing board games with Nathan, listening to my kids share their favorite Christmas memories, helping my recently widowed mother go to the grocery store, resurrecting favorite Christmas piano duets with Brittany, smells of homemade treats, and the anticipation of Christmas from sounds and lights that slowly pop up randomly around town.

My family is the greatest blessing to me. I am most grateful for the legacy of love, loyalty and commitment that was established by my parents. They established their life based on faith and obedience that I was taught and I hope to pass on to my posterity. My father passed-on to the next life 6 weeks ago and this is our first holiday season without his physical presence. I feel a great peace and comfort because of the example he set of righteous patterns. I continue to live by his example and daily follow the good patterns that he established in our family. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Obedience to the commandments of God, Honor to my parents, Trust in God's plan, and Respect for our fellowmen.

Now that I am a grandma, I feel an even deeper commitment to living a righteous life and leading by example to trust in the atonement of Jesus Christ, so my posterity "will know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins." (2 Nephi 25:25) Living righteous patterns is the best gift I can give those who will follow in my footsteps.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING 2013!!!