A Season of Thanks - part 4

Today I am thankful for work.  Good old-fashioned work.  The philosopher Korsaren said this about work: 

If you are poor, work.  If you are burdened with seemingly unfair responsibility, work.  If you are happy, work.  Idleness gives room for doubt and fears.  If disappointments come, keep right on working.  If sorrow overwhelms you and loved ones seem not true, work.  If health is threatened, work.  When faith falters and reason fails, just work.  When dreams are shattered and hope seems dead, work.  Work as if your life were in peril.  It really is.  No matter what ails you, work.  Work faithfully - work with faith.  Work is the greatest remedy available for both mental and physical afflictions.

Today we built a dog house as a family.  It was frustrating at times and inspirational at times.  It was a great teaching opportunity and it was fun to watch my boys use power tools. And it was another opportunity to Keep Breathing.

Oak Park

Nov 5 - Friday

Today I am thankful for the time I spent living at Oak Park in Boise.  I met some wonderful people there.

Today, while I was in the temple, I ran into a couple that was in our ward in Boise over 10 years ago.  I wish I could remember their names, but I am horrible that way.  I did "talk" with them though, which was amazing because they are both deaf.  We had the deaf branch as part of our ward years ago.  I was able to talk with them in sign language and they understood me!!  It was a neat experience.

I also spent time this afternoon talking with a good friend, Crystal.  She lived by us in Boise and when we moved to Nampa she moved to the same neighborhood 6 months later.  I am so glad that I have had the opportunity to get to know her over the past 14 years.  She is going through some really rough times right now and has been diagnosed with 2, possibly 3 types of cancer.  She continues to take care of her family and to work overtime to bring in enough money to meet their needs.  She is an inspiration.

I learned so many life lessons at Oak Park.  I learned about being poor and humbling myself.  I learned that for every stereotypical welfare household there are also many welfare homes where the children are loved and cared for and the parents are amazing, wonderful, intelligent people who just happen to be living through a rough time at the moment.  I learned that some people will NEVER grow up.  I learned that when someone is hurting and can't fight back against the person who hurt them, they will often attack whoever is closest.  I learned that just because someone spreads nasty rumors about you, most people who matter won't believe them.  I learned that it's important to tell my story FIRST... instead of waiting for the rumor mill to stretch and distort the truth.  I learned that a family with nothing can be incredibly happy.  I learned that hot tubs and Haagen Daaz go great together.  I learned that 3 of my best friends in the whole world are amazing people and I will hold them in my heart forever!!

And I've learned to Keep Breathing.

Nov 4 - Art Thou Greater Than He?

Today I am tired.  So very tired on so very many levels.  Today I am thankful for my new book, "5 Scriptures That Will Help You Get Through Almost Anything" by John Bytheway.  I am thankful for the perspective and the scriptures that help me. 

One thought from the book that I especially like today is a quote from Elder Neal A. Maxwell:

How can you and I really expect to glide naively through life, as if to say, "Lord, give me experience, but not grief, not sorrow, not pain, not opposition, not betrayal, and certainly not to be forsaken. Keep from me, Lord, all those experiences which made Thee what Thou art! Then, let me come and dwell with Thee and fully share Thy joy!"

Christ has suffered more than us all, and has overcome.  Through His miraculous atonement we can overcome not only our sins, but our griefs, sorrows, pains, oppositions, and betrayls. 

"The Son of Man has descended below them all.  Art thou greater than He?" (D&C 122:8)

 Through it all just Keep Breathing.

A season of Thanks

With Thanksgiving approaching many people begin to reflect on the blessings of the past year. This is my attempt to focus on the many blessings that I have been given. I want to post each day this month and explore at least one new blessing each day. I'm a few days behind, so this post will have to be a catch- up =).

November 1 - Monday

I am so very grateful for Becky Grover. She is absolutely amazing. She is a wonderful wife, mother, friend, and best of all for me - counselor. She fulfills her calling and goes above and beyond what is expected. She is much more patient than I am, and I would be lost in my calling without her. Today Becky gave me the blessing of truly sustaining me.

Novemeber 2 - Tuesday

Today was the Pinewood Derby. I am so thankful for leaders who love the boys and take care of their responsibilities. I'm thankful for Cub Scouting, that gives boys a place to have fun and learn and be boys. I am thankful for the mom who did an emergency paint job on her son's car and rushed it to the church when he had forgotten it. I am thankful for the Boy Scout who lent his car to this boy so he could have something to race until his mom got there.

I am also thankful for my husband, for priesthood blessings, for a morning of quiet reflection and alone time, for clearance racks and $10 off coupons, for random strangers who jump start my car, for my Daddy who I can call anytime about anything, for LDS bookstores and their owners, for Activity Day leaders who LOVE what they do, for sons who begin and end my day with pure joy and laughter.

November 3 - Wednesday

I may add to this later, but so far this morning I am grateful for Rabbit Flowers. I found this flower/weed on my walk this morning. This is a flower that I have loved since I was a young girl. The little purple flowers remind me of rabbit faces and ears. Right across the ally from where the rabbit flowers grew when I was a girl, was the patch of blue forget-me-nots and lily of the valley. This was my special place where I would gather flowers and then draw into my own private world where no one could hurt me and feel the love Jesus had for me. I could smell the flowers and pet the "rabbit ears" and feel that He had created these just to remind me that He was always there for me.

Finding one today, in November, after the frost was my little miracle. Jesus' way of reminding that that He is always there for me, even now. I was able to draw back into that private world and feel safe again.

I am grateful for rabbit flowers, for walks, for a husband who rescued me from my walk when my joints could go no further, and most of all for a loving Heavenly Father and Savior who watch over me and provide rabbit flowers along my path throughout my life.  I'm grateful to just Keep Breathing.