GRATITUDE

Yesterday was Thanksgiving in the States. I went out to lunch with 3 friends and we talked about it a bit. Mostly worrying about our kids and hoping they all had a place to go for dinner. One of my friends found out one of her boys didn't have anywhere to go and she was a little upset that he would be spending Thanksgiving alone. We both shed a shared tear over it. :0) We are having 11 people over for a Thanksgiving dinner on Saturday night. We had to do it Saturday since the guys had to work Thursday and the kids had school. We have to do it Saturday night because the teenagers (4) have sports during the day. So since it hasn't been Thanksgiving for us yet, I have been thinking about gratitude and so I've decided to post 10 things that I am thankful for:

1) My husband - we will have been married for 40 years in June. Even though I miss my family terribly I have been grateful to be able to be here in Ireland where we really don't do much during the week except just be with each other. It has brought a sweet peaceful tender feeling to our relationship. I'm glad that I can spend more time with him here than I would have if we had stayed in the States and I'm happy to find out that we do enjoy being around each other even more.
2) My Children - I'm thankful to have such loving, caring children who are trying to be responsible adults. I'm grateful for the person that they have become and who they are striving to be. I am thankful that they are loving parents to their own children. I'm extremely grateful for the fact that all but one of them have lived close by me after they were married. I don't know how long they will be able to do that, but I know that if they were to move away I would miss them terribly, just like I miss our oldest who is not able to live by us. I miss them so much and will be so glad when we can finally come home.
3) My Grandchildren - I'm thankful that I can have fun with my grandchildren. I'm so happy that they live close by (we won't be in Ireland forever) and that they love to come and visit us. I'm thankful that they are such good children and that they are healthy. I'm so thankful for the love that they show to me. I also miss them so very much.
4) Our Parents - I'm grateful for honest, loving parents who raised me in the gospel. I'm thankful for all their care and advice to me and for raising me to be who I am. I'm grateful for a mother-in-law who I love to sit and talk to and who loves her son so deeply. I'm grateful that the Lord has allowed all of our parents to live as long as they have.
5) The Gospel of Jesus Christ - and the fact that Christ died for us so that we have the opportunity to repent of our sins and be resurrected. I'm thankful that we have a living prophet who leads and guides our church. I'm thankful for the saving ordinances that allow us the opportunity to live with Him again. I'm thankful for a church that involves it's members and for all the knowlege and talents I have gained by serving in the church.
6) Friends - I'm grateful for the friends I have at home and who I miss. I think of lots of people and it's funny that sometimes I will see someone on the street here or in a store that reminds me of someone I know. I think of that moment as a "tender mercy" that the Lord has given me to help me rememember the friendships I have. I am grateful for the friends I have here in Ireland who help me make it through the weeks here.
7) My Health - I'm thankful for my health and especially for my 3 yr old knees. I'm so thankful that I can walk again without pain and don't have to act like an 80 year old person anymore. I'm thankful for a doctor listened to me and did the operation even though he originally wanted me to wait 5 more years.
8) My Country, the Good Old USA - I'm so grateful to have a country that is so abundant in everything. You never realize how much more we have in the US until you go to another country. I'm thankful for the big wide streets, the wonderful freeways that make it so easy to travel around the US. I'm thankful for the grocery stores with their many, many choices and different brands. I'm thankful for the cleaning supplies, believe it or not. :0) I''m thankful for the different scenery the US offers - deserts, mountains, plains, hills and valleys.
9) My Home - I'm so thankful for my home, my house and my yard. I love the view out of my back patio. I'm thankful for being able to have such a wonderful home and for the fun that my husband and I have had in remodeling it.
10) I'm thankful for me and who I am. I'm thankful for all the influences in my life - husband,parents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, enemies, the gospel, teachers, trials, successes, failures, and talents. I'm thankful for who've I've become, and even though I know that I'm not perfect, I'm thankful that I can still strive to be a better person.