thankful

i have so much to be thankful for. it's overwhelming to think about all of the blessings i have. i went to the temple with my roommate last night, and as we were sitting in the celestial room i was overcome with gratitude and love. i kept thinking about my granny and how much i love her. and how grateful i am for the knowledge that families are forever. i need to be better at expressing my gratitude. here's a start. a list of things i'm thankful for.

. the gospel of Jesus Christ

. temples

. parents that taught me the value of hard work. my dad is one of the hardest working people i know. and my mom...well, if you know her, you know that she is amazing. she may not have had a "professional" career, but i honestly don't know of any mother who worked harder to provide a loving, safe, comforting, CLEAN and supportive home. i aspire to be like both of them. if i ever get the opportunity to stay at home and raise a family, i want to do it just like my mom did.

. a granny that would do anything for me. i get emotional just thinking about how much i love that lady. and the thought of losing her some day terrifies me.

. my amazing family. immediate and extended...they're the best. 

. trials

. the fact that my mom made me take piano lessons up until my jr. year of high school. i love playing the piano.

. my job. i love it.

. friends that have been there through it all, and love me no matter what.

. opportunities to serve

. financial comfort

. talents

. opportunities to try new things

. this beautiful country we live in. i'm amazed a the beauty that surrounds me

. modern conveniences like cars, technology, space heaters!!

. a home that invites the spirit. 

. the fact that i have so much family in close proximity to where i live. i can't imagine going through this last year without them.

i'm sure i've left something off the list. but these are the things that come to my mind when i think about gratitude. i love the holiday season because it gives us a chance to reflect on our lives and the many blessings we have.

i've been divorced for 9 months now. it's hard for me to believe that it's been so long. that list that i just shared? yeah, pretty much the only reason i'm not a complete mess right now. i feel like i've always recognized my blessings and been appreciative of them, but not on the level that i am now. sometimes it takes a big change to help us understand just how lucky we are. i hope we can all find time this season to count our blessings. 

xoxo-meg