I am grateful for this 1998 BYUI devotional.

Yesterday I was told that one of my dear high school friends is dying.  I am very sad, but I receive great comfort from Elder Holland's Christmas talk. Listen here.

I am grateful for music.

In an instant, music can turn a troubled day around.  Click here.

I am grateful for a funny moment.

I walked downstairs to find my 7 year old and 9 year old boys watching ESPN. 
I was a little surprised and said, "Why are you watching this?" 
My 9 year old looked at me and said, "We're men now."

I am grateful for one on one time with the kids.

My husband and I, several years ago, worked out a rotating schedule so that each child goes on a "date" with me or my husband every couple of weeks.  Last week my little girl and I went to IHOP together while my husband and my second oldest son went to KFC. 

This hasn't been an easy tradition to work into our already crazy Saturdays, but it is an essential tradition.  I cherish these moments to attentively focus and listen to each individual child's concerns and interests.  At the end of each "date" (my kids hate it when I call it that), I tell them how much I love them, and how grateful I am to have them in my home.  I ask them if there is anything I can do to help them, and if there is anything we should be doing differently as a family. 

I am grateful for the sun.

Have you ever craved the warmth of the sun on your face?  I have ... and I got my wish this week.

I am grateful for sleepless nights.

I haven't been sleeping well lately, which is a combination of a lot of things.  At first I viewed these restless twilight hours with frustration and even desperation, but now they have turned into the most beautiful quiet time I have to reflect on our Savior's great love and mercy.  I have been reading Jacob's teachings in 2 Nephi, and I can't get over how much our Savior loves us.  How He overcame physical and spiritual death by living a perfect life, by suffering in the garden of Gethsemane, and by allowing men to crucify Him ... all for us.  I am humbled and overwhelmed with gratitude for the sermons He gave, the love that He shared, the forgiveness that He bestowed, and the miracles that He performed and still performs to this day.  I am grateful for the Spirit that testifies to me, in the middle of the night, that our Savior is real and that His redeeming love is for all who come unto Him, and that "His hand is stretched out still."

I am grateful for paint.

It is astounding what a little bit of white paint can do.

Before

After

(the light box will be coming down soon)