Giving Thanks

We just arrived at my in laws house in Valley Springs, CA yesterday and will be here for 2 1/2 weeks. If you have never been to Valley Springs it is a small community with rolling hills, wild flowers and big ancient oak trees around every bend. It is so peaceful here and the weather stays around the 80-90's in June. Jay and I make sure we take a few weeks each Summer to come here and relax. It gets harder and harder to leave each time I come here. The children play outside all day, everyone has a garden and tons of animals. Yesterday Maddy was feeding the neighbors cows through the fence and bossing them around (her favorite thing to do lately) and then spent the rest of the evening playing outside. I heard her say something I don't think I have ever heard her say "Mommy, I'm tired!". I don't think I have ever heard a two year old say that.

I have always loved nature because it relaxes me and allows me to step back and analyze my life. Today I was thinking of a few things that I am grateful for and I wanted to write them down. First and foremost I am so grateful for the gospel. This morning as I woke up with Maddy at 5:40 AM I decided to start reading the book "Finding Light In a Dark World" by James E. Faust (I have read about 25 pages and highly recommend it). The gospel just brings so much peace to my soul and eases my worries that life brings to my plate. It fills me up in ways that nothing else can. I love reading about my Savior and ALL that he has done for me. I was thinking today how I need to live each day as if I was going to see my Savior tomorrow. How much more peace this thought would bring.

Second I am grateful for my husband and children. Jay is more than my best friend. He is my soul friend. I trust him with my soul thoughts and words. I never feel that he is judging or comparing me to others. I am salt and he is the pepper. We are so different in many ways and yet so alike that our conversations never lull. I am soooo grateful that my children have the father that they do. I am grateful for the chance I have to be a mother. My girls bring so much love and joy into my life. I find that since I have had children my SOUL laughs more than it ever has. I am sooo grateful that I can be with my family forever!!!!

I am grateful for the choices that I made in my youth (going to college, going on a mission, dating decisions, pursuing my dreams, getting married in the temple, having children ....). My cup overfloweth when I think of how the good decisions I made years ago have made my life so complete now. I am living every dream I have ever dreamed of. Now I need to start thinking of others. I just got released from being in the Young Women's and now I am working in the Primary. I have said so many prayers for the youth in my ward and it is so rewarding to see them make excellent choices in their lives. I love working with the youth of the church because it was the leaders in my youth that helped me make the choices I made that have brought me so much happiness.

Lastly, I am grateful for wonderful friends. I love reading all of your blogs and learning from each of you. Stephanie Waite's blog on the death of her daughter this past week has given me so much strength in my own life. I am so grateful that she is being so open with all of her friends and allowing us to learn from her. That is what the scriptures teach us "to morn with those that morn and comfort those in need of comfort..." I love being able to hear about all of your lives. To pray, mourn, worry, laugh, and learn with and from you. Thank you for your blogs!!! I love you for them!!!