~by Marsha

What are you grateful for?

I’m grateful my missionary is serving the Lord. I’m grateful that my children are pretty much healthy, happy and contributing to society. I’m grateful that even through the difficult years, they all came through with loving relationships, open hearts and generous spirits. I’m grateful to have found someone who loves me unconditionally and who makes life fun. I’m grateful for a long extended family, back through the generations that are examples to me and help me know the paths to take. I’m grateful for a Savior who extends His hand to me when I’m tired, when I’m dancing for joy, when I’m distraught, and when I’m humbled.

I’m grateful for a God who listens to my every whine, complaint, desire, frustration, joy and gratitude. I’m thankful for the Spirit that directs, teaches, comforts, nudges, reminds, whispers and warms. I’m grateful for friends who do the same. I’m grateful for artists and musicians and composers and writers who share their talents with me. I’m grateful to live in a country that while imperfect, is a place I love. I’m grateful for the gospel that connects us, instructs us, guides us and supports us as we strive to support one another. I’m grateful for trials and for all the relationships in my life, past and present, that have taught me, molded me and sculpted me into who I am becoming. I am grateful for beauty, music, dance, literature, nature, sparkly things and shoes!

I’m grateful for technology (when it works!), pictures, art, graphics and email! I’m grateful for my home, my desk, my fluffy blanket and my pillow! I’m grateful for Oso (even when he soils the carpet… Gggrrrrr) . . . . For our wonderful ward, for my missionary’s companions, our leaders, our friends all across the world! For Facebook and Visiting teaching, for authors, artists, composers, perfume and dental floss. . . . It is pretty easy to go on and on isn’t it?

And I’m grateful for my family. What a joy to be knit together in a circle of love and warmth and family.