Still Thanksgiving to me...

Because we still have family in town, and because we just had our Thanksgiving tacos yesterday, and because we haven't decorated or gone Christmas shopping, and because our Christmas decorations were up 'til JUNE last year, I'm holding on to Thanksgiving just a little longer.  :)

I'm truly thankful for SO many things.  First and foremost is my best friend and husband.  While not every moment is pure fairy tale, we have a great marriage and it's only getting better as we get more experience.  Even in our most frustrating moments, we still love each other and we always work through it.  I'm thankful for ALL my family, really.  And that includes his.  Our families are crazy and occasionally difficult, but in the end each member is something amazing and we are blessed to be family.

I'm thankful for the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I'm thankful for my testimony.  I'm thankful that I understand the gospel and try to live it the best I can, not making excuses, not fearing correction from His spirit.  I don't understand everything, of course, and what I do know I only have touched on, but I'm grateful for the Spirit that's in our home and our lives, and especially right now I feel the urge to invite it into every day more "on purpose." 

I'm thankful for good friends.  The few I have are QUALITY.  I'm thankful to be finally reaching out a little and making new friends in our ward after all this time.  Speaking of which, I'm grateful for our callings as primary teachers together.  I'm thankful for our amazing kids that teach me every week.  They are our friends as much as anyone!

Isn't it funny that when you ask people to get serious and name the top few things that they are grateful for, it's usually stuff like this?  Family, friends, faith, food and shelter and all our basic needs being met.  I love this time of year mostly because it forces me to reflect on what matters most, and appreciate what I have rather than me focus all my time and energy on getting more and taking care of day-to-day matters.

There are lots of things I'm thankful for every day, though.  Every day is a new miracle and it brings with it a new something to be grateful for.  I'm happiest when I remember those things, writing them down each day so I can see more clearly the Lord working in my life and the many small ways our day is blessed.  I'm grateful for the moments that make me laugh out loud.  I'm thankful for many beautiful things that I come across each day.  I'm thankful for the things that "just work out" with or without my sincere effort to make them happen.  I'm thankful for the HOPE each day that I'll learn something new, make a new friend, travel somewhere magical, deepen my relationship with God, and get that much closer to understanding *happiness*.  Among my many gifts, being of good cheer is not one of them.  But in times like these I think, maybe, it could become one.