Just stuff...no pictures

I have been thinking a lot today about Gratitude. Not a big surprise since it is the Thanksgiving season. David has been gone a week now and even though I miss him terribly things are okay. He sacrifices so much for our family. I am eternally grateful to David. He is the most wonderful spouse, father and friend. He does so much for me and gives so selflessly. I am grateful to my Father in Heaven for so many things. I am grateful for my calling. This Wednesday we had activity days. I was super nervous because I was the one in charge and I was teaching the girls a family home evening lesson on the First Vision and prayer. We had nineteen of us squeezed into a little classroom. We have serious room issues. Two wards and a branch all have all the youth activities on the same night, so there are lots of kids at the church and our poor activity group are the ones that are kicked from room to room. We make it work though. Back to my gratitude, I wondered how much the girls got out of the lesson and if they had a good time. A few of the older girls kept complaining that they have had this same lesson three or four times. These same girls bring their electronic devices and disrupt the activity. Overall the activity went well. I enjoy our activities (most of the time). Thursday was our wards Relief Society meeting (or whatever they call them now). The Bishops wife approached me and told me how excited her daughter was after our activity days and how she couldn't wait to share the lesson with her family for Family Home Evening. It was her daughters first activity. The bishops wife's words made me feel so good! I am grateful that I have the opportunity to work with these girls and maybe teach one or two of them more about the gospel. Yesterday I went and bought a car window marker. I wrote for sale on the Fords windows. We have been having some issues with the Ford. Both David and I dislike the Ford. I refuse to drive it so David has been stuck with it. We have been talking about selling it since we have another car that was being repaired and we defiantly don't need three cars. The check engine light has been on in the Ford for quite some time. We took it to Pep Boys and they checked it out and told us that there are two codes that account for the check engine light being on, the water pump needs replaced, the heater doesn't work, one tire needs replaced, the arm rest in the middle of the two front seats busted off and only half of the lights on the dashboard work. So around three in the afternoon I wrote for sale on the windows, not really thinking that anything would happen right away. By five thirty I had sold the Ford for $1000 cash. I know that's not a lot of money and I might have got more had I waited to see if anyone else came about the car, but I felt good about it so I went ahead and sold it. Today Christy and I had a great day. It's been a while since I can say that that has happened. We butt heads so much. But not today. Tonight we went to the movies and tomorrow there are some fun activities going on at two of the bases. This morning I went visiting teaching. I just became a visiting teacher and I am excited about it. I am looking forward to getting to know more women in the ward. The message that was given was about Gratitude and how we should not just be thankful but live a live full of gratitude. We talked about different ways that we can daily live a gratitude filled life. This week two different ladies in the ward have given Christy clothes. One lady gave me three bags full and the other lady gave me a bunch of dresses for Christy. Christy already has plenty of clothes. She has so many that once she wears each article I wash it and set it aside until she cycles thru all her clothes. I am so grateful to these women that thought of Christy and decided to share these clothes with us. Even though Christy has tons she was so excited to get some new to her stuff. Also on Thursday I was able to attend the food exchange and receive food for my family. The extra food we get each month really helps supplement and stretch my food budget. I am grateful though that I do not have to depend on the food exchange and other food sources to feed my family. I offer my thanks so often that we live in the comfortable circumstances that we do. Daily I am reminded of what it would be like when I pass the homeless on the streets. I am grateful that occasionally I can afford to give them a small monetary donation. I am so thankful to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I would not want to live a life without the Church. So many times members of the Church have reached out and touched my life whether they were aware or not. Also the many blessings that come from being a member bring so many daily blessing, both large and small. I am grateful to the knowledge I have that I can pray and speak directly with my Heavenly Father. I am so grateful to my earthly family both immediate and extended. Families are such a great support system. I love my parents for all that they have taught me and continue to teach me and for the examples they are to me and my siblings. Because of the things they taught me and the lives that they have led their future generations have been blessed. This is my most favorite time of the year. I love the smell, the colors, the grateful attitudes, the gifts both given and received (not just worldly gifts) and the love. Oh yes and we can not forget to be grateful to modern medicine! Well that's all of my ramblings for now. I hope as Thanksgiving Day approaches that we can take a quiet moment and think over all the things that we have to be grateful for and how we can live a gratitude filled live each and every day!