What Songs of The Heart

A lot of this week was spent basking in the gratitude that was being posted all over social media. I decided this post would be a continuation and expansion of the things I gave thanks for more publicly. I do a gratitude journal daily. Here are the things I was grateful for this week:

-Sunrise! It gives me such a great feeling of hope. And it's gorgeous. And it happens at the best time of day. I am trying to witness it more often, especially during these darker months.

-A birthday for my last two miracle babies. We can't even believe they are already old enough to be baptized!

We started the day with happy pancakes

And had some hot chocolate too.

We had a fun day, but didn't truly party until Alan got home that night.

So many generous gifts! Their siblings REALLY know them!

The new Lego sets lived in the kitchen for several days.

-The beautiful pool! Swimming (or rather prancing and running and whatever it is I do in the water) is one of the only ways I can exercise these days, and I am so very thankful to have found a beautiful, never crowded place to do it.

I get to spend my days with people who are awesome. And they think I'm pretty awesome.

-Food!  Excellent plants that have pretty much everything we need to nourish a body. This was the smallest Thanksgiving feast I have ever been a part of I think in my LIFE. And in many ways it was just a dinner with the people who usually eat dinner at our house. But it was kind of fancy at least. And it was definitely delicious!

Green salad (G), mashed potatoes with roasted veggies and vegan cheese sauce (me), pumpkin pasties (Eve), "stuffing" and a smidgen of turkey and cranberry sauce (Alan). All served along with the necessary sparkling grape juice.

-Time. I am struck with how we are granted these minutes and hours and days and years to learn and try, try again to invite the spirit and goodness into our lives. And I'm getting old enough to see that it is fleeting.

-Family!

-Alan Wimmer

-Beautiful, smart, good children and also the people who hosted most of them for Thanksgiving.

-Juliet and Buddy!

 -The gospel of peace. I sometimes give into my fears and insecurities and forget that this gospel is about peace and joy. When I'm not feeling that I'm doing it wrong.

-Iterations and repentance

-Jesus Christ

-Roots and branches. I came from a heritage of excellent parents and grandparents and pioneer ancestors. And I married into one of the best families ever! And I am seeing the wonderful people my children are bringing into our family and I adore all of them. Even the little guy I haven't met yet, which is wondrous and gives me such a thrill!

-The gift of the Holy Ghost.

-Children who are choosing to let God prevail in their lives.

-The Book of Mormon. 

-Really, really good parents. And Marj, who is so loving and good to my dad and to us.

-The Wimmers. Just all of them. They are wonderful.

-Flushing toilets. I don't want to imagine life without them!

-My veins are feeling mostly tolerable right now. I am so thankful for that!

I keep finding myself being more grateful for funny little things after deciding what to post each day and having more of a focus on what I actually feel thankful for in each moment. I love that! It doesn't take away the hard things, which are definitely there--even in this magical week--, but it eases and soothes them and shows me what is most important.