Counting Blessings - Day 30

I am thankful for journals
and the hope in Christ 

they leave to others.

President Kimball's words, "Journals are a way of counting our blessings and of leaving an inventory of these blessing for our posterity."  I keep a journal, but I don't think it is as full of blessings as it should be.  I'm going to try and make it more of that in my twilight years - showing my gratitude will hopefully show my family the importance of the Lord in our daily living.  I am thankful for journals - in all forms (blogs, journals, saved talks, and my collections of letters I have sent to my missionary children).  It's been a good month of being thankful.  I need to do it more. I'm off to a good start. This will be one of my goals in 2014 - being more thankful and recording it.

Counting Blessings - Day 29

I am thankful I can walk.  It seems a simple enough thing, but after falling last February and falling hard; I very much appreciate walking.  I still don't feel too sure on my feet, but all the same I'm grateful. Part of our Thanksgiving holiday has been to walk/hike at the Joshua Tree National Park.

Walking is the best possible exercise.

Habituate yourself to walk very fast.

Thomas Jefferson

Counting Blessings - Day 28

I'm thankful for Thanksgiving.
It's my favorite holiday.
  I love it!

I think I  have made Thanksgiving my favorite holiday for several reasons.  One, the gathering of family - extended family.  Two, I definitely love the food. Three, I have such lasting memories and fondness of these gatherings even though there are gatherings of extended family and food at other celebrations during the year. Four, it's traditional and I love carrying on the tradition.  And last but not least, five, Thanksgiving is all about being thankful - counting our blessings.

"And in nothing doth man offend God,

or against none is his wrath kindled,

save those who confess not

his hand in all things,

and obey not his commandments."

Doctrine and Covenants 59:21

Happy Thanksgiving!

Counting Blessings - Day 27

I am thankful for my house.  You can't see much of it in this picture, but this picture got me thinking about our home. We moved here in 2006; had lived in an apartment before that for eight months waiting for this house to be finished..  This was our original group moving into what was then the Juniper Ward.  In this photo it's June 2008.  We would have lived in this house for a little over two years.  How much has changed from this time.

Here's a few things I have chronicled:

1.  We had just switched to the Sierra Ward because they changed the church boundaries. Since then we're still in the Sierra Ward, but we go to church back at our old building. No more walking across the street like we had planned.

2.  Hugh had been released from the stake presidency having served in that position for seven years, then served at the prison for two years, then as high priest group leader and now bishop again; at work he's laboring harder than ever.

3.   Sam was a nine-year-old Cub Scout.  Now he's a freshman in high school.

4.  Tommy would be leaving on his mission in August.  Since then he served in the Texas Houston South mission for two years, came home and worked for a year, some school, and then decided to be a carpenter, got married and now has decided to join the army.

5.  Janna was 16 and driving, going into her junior year of high school in the fall, and going on the stake youth conference trek the following month.  Now she's had several years of college and is serving a mission in the Florida Orlando mission.

6.  Becky, doesn't look a whole lot different.  Her hair is almost as long now as it is in this picture even though she has cut it several times.  A young adult here, but will be 31 this next February 2014.

7.  Me, I had been home a good 30 years.  I will start working the following August as a substitute teacher. I'm still substitute teaching; it's been five years.  We had been dealing with the care of my parents. My mother has since passed away and we have a full-time caregiver helping with my dad.

This house has been grand central station - that's why we bought it; traffic, traffic, and more traffic - so many visitors, so much going on.  It would have been very difficult at our other house.  It dawned on us one day that we should move and everything fell into place.  This house has served us well. More has happened than I've stated and, no doubt, more will happen over the next five years. - where will we all be then?

"There is nothing

like staying at home

for real comfort."

Jane Austen

Counting Blessings - Day 26

I am thankful for pie.

My assignment for Thanksgiving is making the pies.  When I was a girl, my grandmother, Cassie, always made the pies.  When I got older (after my grandmother passed away), my mother would give me the assignment of making the pies for big gatherings.  I asked why she never made the pies because I knew she could do it.  I absolutely loved her pumpkin pie - Costco can't top it.  She said, "Because I don't like to make pie!." So that was that.  For whatever reason, I like gardening, I like doing dishes (that is if I'm putting them in the dishwasher), and I like (or at least I'm very willing) to make pie.  I'm getting things ready for the big day on Thursday.  We'll have two chocolate, pumpkin, apple, and pecan.

Counting Blessings - Day 25

Me, Adam, Mark, Beth

This pictures was taken in November 2009

We gathered together to visit my parents.

My mother had been placed on hospice.

She died weeks later.

As a kid growing up, you could do a lot of griping about your siblings, but I have to say in the big scheme of things I've got it pretty good.  I know the reason I've got it good is because my brothers and sister all try to live the gospel and if you live the gospel you can't help but get along.  I'm the oldest, Mark, Beth, and then Adam.  I am thankful for my brothers and sister.

"Children of the same family, the same blood, with the same first associations and habits, have some means of enjoyment in their power, which no subsequent connections can supply ..."

Jane Austen, 
Mansfield Park, 1814

Counting Blessings - Day 24

We all promised.

REMEMBER

Luke 22:19-20

I am thankful for the Sabbath day.  I found a talk I wrote years ago - as in, before I ever had a computer.  I pulled some quotes from the talk to post here.  I believe in the Sabbath.  I believe in keeping it a holy day.  I know we are blessed in many, many ways by following this commandment.

"Ever since Adam's day the divine law of the Sabbath has been emphasized repeatedly over the centuries more than any other commandment.  This long emphasis alone is an indication of its importance."

Elder James E. Faust
"The Lord's Day"
Ensign, November 1991


"How we observe the Sabbath indicates our feelings toward our Father in Heaven."

Elder LeGrand R. Curtis
"Happiness Is Homemade"
Ensign, November 1990


"There appear to be three things that the Lord would require of us in keeping His day holy.  The first: to keep ourselves unspotted from the world.  Second is to go to the house of prayer and partake of the sacrament.  The third is to rest from our labors."

Elder L. Tom Perry
"And, Why Call Ye Me, Lord, Lord,
and Do Not the Things Which I Say?"
Ensign, November 1984


"Does the Lord love and bless those who keep the Sabbath day holy!  I testify that he does in eternally meaningful ways.  I further testify that when we eventually see things through the proper perspective of eternal truth, we will be amazed at how much we were blessed in important--though often unperceived--ways through keeping the Sabbath holy; and to our sorrow we may sense how many blessings we kept from ourselves by not consistently keeping the Sabbath day holy."

Elder John H. Groberg
"The Power of Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy"
Ensign, November 1984

Counting Blessings - Day 23

 

I am thankful for fish.  Not everyone likes fish, but I do.  I like fish tacos.  I like a variety of shell fish, but I really shouldn't eat it because I'm allergic.  As a kid, I was definitely all about a tuna fish sandwich or tuna fish casserole; I still am.  If Hugh and I ever go out, I almost always go for salmon - yum!  I like trout too.  I do draw the line on a few fishy things like octopus, clams, and sardines - "Sorry, no thank you!" 

My friend, Cathy, taught me how to cook fish one evening when I had dinner in her home; just fried it in a pan - so easy.  It was delicious, but I haven't been brave enough to try it myself. I don't know what my hang up is, but I've got fish on my mind because the boys left early this morning to go deep sea fishing.  If they come home with something, I just might have to cook it. It seems I always like food better when someone else fixes it, especially fish.

"Give a man a fish

and you feed him for a day;

teach a man to fish

and you feed him

for a lifetime."

Maimonides

Counting Blessings - Day 22

"God writes the gospel

not in the Bible alone

 but on trees and flowers

and clouds and stars."

Martin Luther

We had a lot of rain yesterday and it's still raining today.  Rain helps things grow.  The state flower for California is the poppy.  I remember going out to see the poppies as a child and having my picture taken in what seemed to be a sea of orange.  I still love seeing the poppies and we carry on the tradition of taking pictures in the poppy fields, but the last few years have been very sparse.  We live in the poppy capital of California.  I'm praying for rain and praying for a good year of poppies in the spring.

I am thankful for poppies.

Poppies bring happy childhood memories.

I plant them in my garden and  look for them every year!

Counting Blessings - Day 21

“I may not always be with you 

But when we're far apart

Remember you will be with me

Right inside my heart” 

― Marc Wambolt, Poems from the Heart

I am thankful Tom and Haley have moved in with us.  Should I be? That doesn't seem right - kids coming back to the nest, but they're here. They arrived yesterday and I am so happy about it.  Tom has joined the army - it's official. Tom is scheduled for boot camp in April, but it's possible he could leave even sooner. Like Tom's brother, Rick, who serves in the Navy, you don't usually end up living close by - meaning, we won't see them as often as we'd like. We are grateful for this precious time together and I could really use the help around here. 

Tom and Haley moved from Clovis where they lived close to their cousins plus Uncle Mark and Aunt Jo. After they left Aunt Jo called and said, "We're sure going to miss Tom and Haley.  They kind of spiced things up around here."  I don't doubt it. We know they are a lot of fun.  Looking forward to spicier days at the Blair house - loving Tom and Haley and wishing them the best!

Everyday an adventure!

Haley and Tommy spicing up life.

Counting Blessings - Day 20

I am thankful for kind people.  I love it when people are generous. I had a man in line that was shopping just like me and made a point to carry out a big item for me because he knew it would be an awkward task for me. In this world that seems to get uglier and uglier, I'm grateful for a happy "hello" and the gesture of opening a door.  It brightens my day in so many ways. Kindness makes for happy memories. Today I received a fun email from someone who took the time to send us a picture of Janna.  She sent this note: You have a wonderful daughter. Of course, it made my day.  Thank you Amy from Ocala, Florida!

Sister Pitts and Sister Blair

"Kind people

are the best kind of people."

Author Unknown

Counting Blessings - Day 19

I am thankful for gardens.

"Use plants to bring life."

Douglas Wilson

There is lots to be thankful for when it comes to gardens and gardening.  Here are some of my feelings:

1.   Gardens are beautiful (or at least they can be - no one likes weeds).

2.   Gardens can provide food - YUM!

3.   I personal enjoy working in the garden (definitely like it more than cleaning house).

4.   It's a great place to meditate.

5.   Sunshine is a good thing (except in my case - yikes! - skin cancer - wear sunscreen).

6.   Gardening can help you learn to live providently. I'm not sure it's working in my case.

7.   It's a form of creativity.

8.   It's something to share with others - seeing the flowers, giving the flowers, giving the food.

9.   Love the fragrance - except the allergy part.

10. Love watching things grow.

11. I delight in seeing humming birds and certain birds frequent my garden (not so happy when birds, bugs, cats, and squirrels abuse my garden and definitely no dogs allowed).

12. God's earth is a garden. 

Counting Blessings - Day 18

"The soul is healed by being with children."

--English Proverb

As I have counted my many blessings this month, I have already said I'm thankful for being a child of God, thankful for my children and grandchildren, but let me take my thanks and expand it - I am grateful for all children. For many years I have had association with my own children, grandchildren, and extended families with their children plus neighbors and friends.  I have taught in church and at school. I have no doubt - children bless our lives.  Yes, they can be very busy and get into things and exasperate us beyond belief with their doings, but I am still thankful for them.  Children with all their innocence can lead us to Christ. They are examples to us with their forgiving spirits, love, and trust - just to name a few. Watch the bible video included in this post which takes the words of the Savior and teaches the importance of children and becoming like them.

Counting Blessings - Day 17

Favorite Season:  AUTUMN

“There is something incredibly

nostalgic and significant

about the annual cascade

of autumn leaves.” 

Joe L. Wheeler

I am thankful for four seasons.  Granted, I live in the desert and things might not seem that seasonal around here especially compared to other parts of the country. In my younger days, I was all about summer with the freedom warmer months bring; like running, biking, swimming, climbing trees, not to mention - no school. Since I'm older now, autumn has become my favorite with the changing and falling leaves, cooler weather, and my favorite holiday - Thanksgiving.  I am grateful to see the years pass watching the seasons come and go.  There is something special about each one with memories tagged to each transition.

We can also look at our lives having seasons.  Ecclesiastes 3:1 reads, "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven."  Unfortunately, my life has stepped into winter. There are things still to do even in winter and memories to be had, but I'm certainly not functioning like my earlier years. Looking forward to my spring with hope in Christ.