A Week of Thanksgiving

The past seven days have been abundant – full of blessings -- in more ways than I can describe.  So I name just a few.  My sweetheart Kay and I thoroughly enjoyed :

1) a piano recital feast in the Kaysville Tabernacle, by a world-famous concert pianist

2) Thanksgiving dinner with most (27) of the family in our cozy frontier home; (the antithesis of fast food, although Kay rushed me through third helpings, to join the family program); note: Kay is absolutely the best cook, and did most of the work – she is so amazing!!

3) freedom from Black-Friday (and Thursday-night) madness, as retailer discounts didn’t  budge us one bit, or two bits (= 25 cents)

4) sleeping late Saturday morning, fortunately missing the 6 a.m. second tsunami of sales

5) the annual Kaysville Nativity Celebration at the Kaysville Tabernacle and cultural hall, full of artistic international displays of nativity scenes and music

6) a senior-siblings get-together at Kay’s sister Susan’s gorgeous home in the land of Bountiful, with an abundance of pies, nuts, and story-telling by older folks like us

7) a 360-degree, surround sunrise this morning, starting another week of counting blessings; (actually, Kay enjoyed sleeping while I took photos for her to see later)

8) making cherished memories we hope to keep alive for years to come.

I thank Heavenly Father for His goodness and mercy, and for a loving, forever family.

The Morning After

Surprisingly, I woke up early, smiling with relief that Election Day is over, life goes on, and the sun will come up for another gorgeous day here on our frontier.  I feel refreshed by assurance that the gospel of Jesus Christ brings real hope and change, and we can find true happiness by applying it on a local level, namely the family. 

I am reminded that I can control personal spending, do my best to balance my budget, reduce debt, and be self-reliant.  I am grateful that our grandson survived four hours of surgery yesterday in a great world-class hospital, and we, the people, survived four years of political campaigns in the greatest nation on earth.

The morning after, do we remember how fortunate we are to live in the United States of America?  Let’s forget how political rhetoric temporarily divided our country at a time when we desperately need to solve problems together.  (In my advancing age, I find it gets easier to forget some things.  Being a senior citizen has its advantages.) 

During this month of Thanksgiving, what are you grateful for?  Now that I think of it, focusing on a specific plan, the morning-after is a good time to restart my gratitude journal -- and enjoy some healthy fast food.