Thankful

"The happiest people I know are not those who find their golden ticket; they are those who, while in pursuit of worthy goals, discover and treasure the beauty and sweetness of the everyday moments. They are the ones who, thread by daily thread, weave a tapestry of gratitude and wonder throughout their lives. These are they who are truly happy." - Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Thanksgiving is tomorrow and I've been thinking a lot about gratitude this week. One woman said, “Don’t try to be happy. Try to be grateful and then happiness will naturally follow.”

1 Chronicles 16: 8 “Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.”

Mosiah 2:23-24 “And now, in the first place, he hath created you, and granted unto you your lives, for which ye are indebted unto him. And secondly, he doth require that ye should do as he hath commanded you: for which if ye do, he doth immediately bless you; and therefore he hath paid you. And ye are still indebted unto him, and are and will be, forever and ever: therefore, of what have ye to boast?

D&C 59:7 “Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things.”

“Mercies and blessings come in different forms—sometimes as hard things. Yet the Lord said, “Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things.” D&C 59:7; [emphasis added.]

All things means just that: good things, difficult things—not just some things. He has commanded us to be grateful because He knows being grateful will make us happy. This is another evidence of His love.”– Bonnie D. Parkin

Please bear with me as I share just a few things that make my life so rich: I'm so thankful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I'm so thankful for the freedom of religion, I'm thankful for my little family and for good people everywhere I go. I believe the majority of people are good in every land and every country, so I say I'm thankful for the good people all over the world. I'm so thankful to live in the United States, I'm thankful for the freedoms I enjoy here and the men and women throughout this country's history that have given their lives to make it free. I feel so blessed!

Thou shalt thank the Lord, thy God in all things.

I've been thinking a lot lately about the enabling power of gratitude. Don't you love it when you have those "ah-ha" moments where you look around you and realized how incredibly blessed you are? I think of how freeing it is to ponder on everything I already have rather than the few things I don't.

A Perfect Morning

I went for a bike ride this morning, rode past an apple orchard and saw 10 deer. Excitedly, I circled around the orchard trying to see if I could find anymore. “What a fun way to start the day!” I thought.

Breathing deeply, I savored the moment of the morning’s cool, crisp air. As I rode away, off to the side of me, I could see a doe and 3 fawns running in my same direction. I tried to follow them as long as I could but of course they were much faster. One of the fawns frolicked as she ran. It was such a beautiful sight! I said a prayer in my heart to thank God for this awesome experience.

Light at the End of the Tunnel

I'm starting to feel my old energy back again. I'm not quite up to par yet, but I'm getting there. It's such a relief to see a light at the end of the tunnel and know that it's not because I'm dying ha ha ha. My kids have all had some kind of throw-up bug all last week and I've been sick for 11 days, practically bed-ridden. I've had such violent coughing that I think I bruised my diaphragm. I seem to get bronchitis easily. I remember having it a lot as a child. I've never smoked before but when I was growing up some of my best friend's parents smoked... maybe I got a lot of second hand smoke then? I really don't know why I'm so susceptible to bronchitis? I'm just glad that I'm getting over it for this year at least.

There's a bunch of things I take for granted and health is one of those things. Man, when I'm old I hope I die quickly and not from some slowly deteriorating disease that drags out over 10 years... I can barely handle being in bed for 10 days!

A Website all About Gratitude

Because next week is Thanksgiving... I thought it would be appropriate to share this really cool website all about gratitude.
I think gratitude is one of the main keys to happiness.

...At least I know in my own life, when I'm in a slump it usually is because I am thinking about everything that is going wrong or everything that is difficult rather than thinking of what I have and all that is going right.

What am I grateful for??
I'm grateful to see there are good people everywhere you go who enrich and bless the lives of all around them.
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!

Feeling Grace

I've tried to put into words how Grace makes me feel.... it's not easy because

it's so much more than this. Either way, here it goes:

FEELING GRACE

"Warm rays of sunlight stream down upon me and dance across my face.

Darkness is dispelled as the morning breaks.

I breathe in the crisp refreshing air that follows a summer rain.

I smile.

I breathe deep again.

I feel blessed, I feel free.

I am home.

A new day has arrived,

I am rested and renewed.

Hope is alive,

It pulses through my veins.

There is nothing I fear,

I am safe here.

And it's only the beginning..."

by, alicia rawlins

No matter where I've been or what I've done, after I have experienced a mighty change of heart and after I have given all I can and tried my best, no matter how imperfect or flawed my best may be......Grace is the enabling power that allows me to lay hold on the things of heaven. Through sincere prayer, sincere repentance, I feel strengthened, sweet forgiveness.....I am made whole, washed clean, I feel hope and enabled to keep going because of the amazing miracle of Grace through Christ and the atonement....and I want to share it!

So Blessed

I had such a wonderful day with my husband and my little children today. It's not all the time that things go this smooth, it was great. So many times today I just stood back, looked at my little family and thought, "I am so incredibly blessed!!" I love being a mommy and I love sharing these experiences with my husband.

I thought this quote would be fitting for today:

"Behold your little ones. Pray with them. Pray for them and bless them. The world into which they are moving is a complex and difficult world. They will run into heavy seas of adversity. They will need all the strength and all the faith you can give them while they are yet near you. And they will also need a greater strength which comes of a higher power. They must do more than go along with what they find. They must lift the world, and the only levers they will have are the example of their own lives and the powers of persuasion that will come of their testimonies and their knowledge of the things of God. They will need the help of the Lord. While they are young, pray with them that they may come to know that source of strength which shall then always be available in every hour of need." - Gordon B. Hinckley

Thanks Unto God

These are some verses from the Book of Alma found in the Book of Mormon that have been on my mind today. I love these verses! Alma 26:16, 35-37

"Therefore, let us glory, yea, we will glory in the Lord; yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we will praise our God forever. Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord? Yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel....

...Now have we not reason to rejoice? Yea, I say unto you, there never were men that had so great reason to rejoice as we, since the world began; yea, and my joy is carried away, even unto boasting in my God; for he has all power, all wisdom, and all understanding; he comprehendeth all things, and he is a merciful Being, even unto salvation, to those who will repent and believe on his name.

Now if this is boasting, even so will I boast; for this is my life and my light, my joy and my salvation, and my redemption from everlasting wo. Yea, blessed is the name of my God, who has been mindful of this people, who are a branch of the tree of Israel, and has been lost from its body in a strange land; yea, I say, blessed be the name of my God, who has been mindful of us....

... Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever. Amen."

-Alma 26:16, 35-37

One of my favorites

Today I have been thinking of one of my favorite Hymns. I guess it's been running through my mind alot lately.

I have had a few days where depression has tried to drag me down but I am thankful it has only dragged me to my knees in supplication to my Father. As I pray to God and seek His Spirit to comfort me and help me see more clearly myself and others, I feel Him answer and guide me so tenderly. I am am so thankful for the tender mercies of the Lord and the quiet whisperings of the Spirit. I know God lives. I know Jesus Christ is His Son and that the Atonement is real and saves me. I am so incredibly thankful for prayer! I am so incredibly thankful for my Savior!!

I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me,

Confused at the grace that so fully He profers me.

I tremble to know that for me He was crucified,

That for me a sinner, He suffered He bled and died.

Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me

Enough to die for me!

Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!

I marvel that He would descend from His throne divine

To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine,

That He should extend His great love unto such as I,

Sufficient to own, to redeem, and to justify.

Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me
Enough to die for me!
Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!

I think of His hands pierced and bleeding to pay the debt!

Such mercy, such love and devotion can I forget?

No, no, I will praise and adore at the mercy seat,

Until at the glorified throne I kneel at His feet.

Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me
Enough to die for me!
Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!

By- Charles H. Gabriel, 1856- 1932

Grateful

I wish I was good at expressing my heart with words....but I'm not gifted at speaking or at writing. If it weren't for "spell check" you'd see how bad I am at spelling too. I often feel like I have so much in my heart and I don't know how to adequately express it all.

I am so thankful for the talents of others who share their testimony through music, through art or through beautiful words. I need their talents to find expression for myself.

I may not be gifted at writing or speaking... even my artwork is amateur too. I wish I could find some way of truly sharing how blessed I feel....


For me to say "I feel so incredibly blessed" just doesn't seem like enough though.... and I just don't know how else to say it...

When I think of my Father in Heaven, when I think of His Son, Jesus Christ and His grace, when I think of this glorious plan of salvation and look at the beauty surrounding me, when I think of God's miracles big and small and how He has heard and answered so many of my prayers, countless prayers answered so perfectly, when I think of how God speaks to Prophets and Apostles today, when I think of the temple and the blessings there, when I think of the power of the scriptures, when I think of all the amazing things my children teach me.... I feel like falling to my knees with gratitude. I can't help but cry. He loves me, He loves me, He loves me!! I know God is the Father of my spirit, that He is so loving, so patient, so merciful to me. Do you ever just look around and feel so consumed with gratitude that you feel like shouting with joy for all you have? Miracles happen all the time. God is so aware of the fine details of our lives and He cares so deeply. I know this, I have witnessed it for myself.

Trust. Have Faith. Believe. Keep Going.

"And he said unto me: Knowest thou the condescension of God?

And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children;

nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things....

And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father! Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw?

And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things.

And he spake unto me, saying: Yea, and the most joyous to the soul. ."

-Nephi 11: 16-17, 21-23

If you are raising children...

I enjoyed General Conference so much!!! It is my favorite time of year. I know we have a living Prophet of God to guide us and direct us. I know that Thomas S. Monson has been called by God to lead us all, I know it with all my heart! I love to sit at the feet of these great leaders, The First Presidency, The Quorum of the 12 Apostles, The Quorum of the Seventy, The General Relief Society Presidency etc. I love to sit at their feet and be fed spiritually, to be counseled, warned, guided, encouraged and uplifted. For this blessing alone I am RICH, my cup is overflowing... for they lead me to Christ, the one and only way to God. Thanks be to my Father in Heaven and my Savior Jesus Christ for this TRUE and restored Gospel on the earth today!

I want to share just a small little portion of what the Prophet of God said this most recent conference. I really needed to hear this!

"If you are still in the process of raising children, be aware that the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly cleaned surface, the toys scattered about the house, the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled will disappear all too soon and that you will—to your surprise—miss them profoundly.

Stresses in our lives come regardless of our circumstances. We must deal with them the best we can. But we should not let them get in the way of what is most important—and what is most important almost always involves the people around us. Often we assume that they must know how much we love them. But we should never assume; we should let them know. Wrote William Shakespeare, “They do not love that do not show their love.” We will never regret the kind words spoken or the affection shown. Rather, our regrets will come if such things are omitted from our relationships with those who mean the most to us.

Send that note to the friend you’ve been neglecting; give your child a hug; give your parents a hug; say “I love you” more; always express your thanks. Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved. Friends move away, children grow up, loved ones pass on. It’s so easy to take others for granted, until that day when they’re gone from our lives and we are left with feelings of “what if” and “if only.” Said author Harriet Beecher Stowe, “The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone.”

- President Thomas S. Monson - Prophet, Seer and Revelator of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

This is a world-wide church. To listen to conference in almost any language click on this link: http://www.lds.org/conference/languages/0,6353,310-1,00.html

Gratitude: A Sign of Maturity

A grateful person is so inspiring to be around. Ever notice how uplifting it is to talk to someone who focuses on all the blessings they have? It's contagious! One of the sisters in my church has this wonderful quality. Her name is Cami, she's amazing and I love her dearly.

Anyway, I am reading about the virtue of gratitude in my book "Standing for Something." I thought I would share a few things that Gordon B. Hinckley writes:

"Gratitude is a sign of maturity. It is an indication of sincere humility. It is a hallmark of civility. And most of all, it is a divine principle. I doubt there is anything in which we more offend the Almighty than in our tendency to forget His mercies and to be ungrateful for that which He has given us."

"Where there is appreciation, there is also courtesy and concern for the rights and property of others. Without these, there is arrogance and evil. Where there is gratitude, there is humility instead of pride, generosity rather than selfishness."

"When we walk with gratitude, we do not walk with arrogance and conceit and egotism, but rather with a spirit of thanksgiving that is becoming to us and will bless our lives. We should all be thankful to the Almighty for His wonderful blessings upon us."

"Gratitude is of the very essence of worship - thanksgiving to the God of Heaven, who has given us all that we have that is good."

"Above all else, I am grateful for my belief in God and in His Beloved Son, the Redeemer of the world, the Lord Jesus Christ of the New Testament. In all of human history there is nothing to compare with the Savior's gracious gift of atoning sacrifice."

"We have forgotten God."

I got this in my E-mail from "Daily Gems," provided by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. If Abraham Lincoln said this about our Country back in 1863.... just imagine what he would say about our Country now! "Consider these words written by Abraham Lincoln as part of a resolution in 1863: "

'We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in number, wealth, and power as no other Nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God who made us. "'It behoovesus, then, to humble ourselves before the offended power, to confess our . . sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.' (John Wesley Hill,Abraham Lincoln, Man of God, 4th ed., New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, p.391.)"

Topic: Gratitude(Marion G. Romney, "Gratitude and Thanksgiving," Ensign, Nov. 1982, 50)

For the Strength of Youth

Even if you are not of the same religion as me and we have a few different doctrines... I believe that most of the Christian community would agree on the same principles... such as honesty, gratitude, charity, and so on. This is a wonderful guide and resource for Youth and Families. I believe if we apply these principles in our lives the world will be a better place. Check out the topics below by clicking on them-
God bless you,
Alicia

Table of Contents
Message from the First Presidency 2
Agency and Accountability 4
Gratitude 6
Education 9
Family 10
Friends 12
Dress and Appearance 14
Entertainment and the Media 17
Music and Dancing 20
Language 22
Dating 24
Sexual Purity 26
Repentance 29
Honesty 31
Sabbath Day Observance 32
Tithes and Offerings 34
Physical Health 36
Service to Others 38
Go Forward with Faith 40
The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles 43
The Family: A Proclamation to the World 44

So Blessed

Do you ever have those moments when you wake up with your heart so full of gratitude you feel like you're about to burst? I feel so increadibly blessed to have the hope, the mercy, the grace, the comfort and the perspective that comes from the Gospel of Jesus Christ that I can't keep it to myself, I just can't! I wish I could tell it to the whole world. I know it's not possible for me to reach every single person but I am thankful I can use this little tool I have, called a 'blog', to help me share this good news in my own small way. I feel so blessed!!!

I am thankful for God's tender mercies.

My heart is somewhat heavy today. I am thankful for a loving Father in Heaven who I can address through my Savior, Jesus Christ. Sometimes the trials I face can strike a hard blow and tempt me to feel discouraged in life, discouraged in circumstance but mostly discouraged in myself. I find solace and comfort in the quiet moments of prayer where I know that God sees all and knows all and still loves me. He manifests that love through the ultimate sacrifice of sending His only perfect and sinless Son to ransom me from my failings, to redeem me from my sins, to comfort me through trials and offer His complete forgiveness. Oh how my heart is filled with gratitude for His mercy, His patience and His great compassion... it compels me to follow, I want to "pay it forward" in my small little way, it inspires me to love others as He has loved me. I am so thankful for the tender mercies of the Lord and the quiet moments of peace through prayer.

The following is one of my favorite poems by Roy Campanella. It's about God's love and wisdom. I know He hears and answers prayers and ultimately knows what is best for us I know that each of us are so precious to Him and His love for us knows no bounds... of this I am eternally grateful!

"I asked God for strength, that I might achieve.
I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey...
I asked for health, that I might do great things.
I was given infirmity, that I might do better things...
I asked for riches, that I might be happy.
I was given poverty, that I might be wise...
I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men.
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God...
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life.
I was given life, that I might enjoy all things...

I got nothing I asked for but everything I had hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am, among men, most richly blessed!
- Roy Campanella

Christmas Doesn't Have to End

What a wonderful Christmas me and my family had yesterday. I feel blessed beyond measure to have such an abundant life... I'm not talking about material abundance although I know I have more than most of the people in the world... the abundance I'm talking about is the abundant wisdom, guidance, light, knowlege, comfort, peace and joy found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Herein is found the riches of eternity, riches that will never rust or decay- riches that cannot be stolen by theives on earth... these are where the greatest gifts are found.

May I share with you some bits and pieces of a Christmas devotional given December 1992

President Monson quoted, “President Hugh B. Brown counseled that the spirit of Christmas illuminates the picture window of the soul, and we look out upon the world’s busy life and become more interested in people than things. To catch the real meaning of the spirit of Christmas, we need only drop the last syllable, and it becomes the Spirit of Christ.

“This is the spirit which marked that first Christmas day—a day foretold by the prophets of old,” President Monson explained. After quoting several scriptures prophesying the birth of Christ, President Monson continued: “One penetrating lesson taught at Christmastime is the lament of the Lord: ‘The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.’ (Matt. 8:20.)

“ ‘No room at the inn’ dogged His footsteps and saddened His heart,” President Monson continued. “Let us remember the supreme gift described by the Apostle Paul: ‘The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.’ (Rom. 6:23.) His promise is forever valid: ‘Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him.’ (Rev. 3:20.)

“The real spirit of Christmas lies in His assurance: ‘I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: “ ‘And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.’ (John 11:25–26.)”

President Gordon B. Hinckley, First Counselor in the First Presidency, conducted the devotional. He, too, remarked on the gift Jesus Christ gave to all people. “His is the gift given to all men to rise from the grave in resurrection. His is the invitation to go on to eternal life. “We love Him. We honor Him. We thank Him. We worship Him. He has done for each of us and for all mankind that which no other could have done. God be thanked for the gift of His Beloved Son, the Savior and Redeemer of the world, the Lamb without blemish who was offered as a sacrifice for all mankind. “We testify of His living reality,” President Hinckley concluded. “We testify of His divine love. In our times of grateful meditation, we acknowledge His priceless gift to us and pledge our love and faith. Again at this Christmas season, we bear witness of Him.”

Thanks for the Anonymous Gifts

Someone has been leaving gifts on our door step these last few days. They might not ever see this blog entry... but just in case, I want them to know how grateful my family and I are for their generosity and kindness. In our prayers each night we have asked the Lord to pour out blessings upon whoever is behind these secret gifts. Thank you with all our hearts - you have brightened our home and fill our hearts with joy. Merry Christmas!

Thanksgiving

Today has been a wonderful Thanksgiving. I am grateful for the freedom to believe as I choose. I am grateful to be able to practice my religion. This is what the pilgrims came to this land for and I thank God that they did. My greatest treasures are my religion, my faith in God and His Only Begotten Son, my family and my Country. I have riches not measured by money. I have riches that cannot be stolen or taken from me. I have riches that bring real and lasting happiness. These riches are embedded within my heart. I thank my Father in Heaven for helping me see where real treasures are found!

Quotes on Gratitude

"As gratitude is absent or disappears, rebellion often enters and fills the vacuum... I refer to rebellion against moral cleanliness, beauty, decency, honesty, reverence, and respect for parental authority. A grateful heart is a beginning of greatness. It is an expression of humility. It is a foundation for the development of such virtues as prayer, faith, courage, contentment, happiness, love and well-being." - James Faust

"There isn't a word in all the English language with more magic in it than the word gratitude. Love makes fertile the soil for things to blossom and to grow, and love begins with gratitude."
- Geraldine Anderson

"Thankfulness is measured by the number of words; gratitude is measured by the nature of our actions." - David McKay

"It has been said that the sin of ingratitude is more serious than the sin of revenge. With revenge, we return evil for evil, but with ingratitude, we return evil for good." - Eugene Hansen

"Think to thank. In these three words are the finest capsule course for a happy marriage, a formula for enduring friendship, and a pattern for personal happiness."- Thomas Monson