Dear Family and Friends ~

A great man passed recently, one of the Lord's Apostles. Shortly before his funeral, BYU rebroadcast several of his talks. This one was from a BYU Devotional in 2000. As I listened to Elder Wirthlin speak, I was struck with the importance of his message to us all. It was entitled "Live in Thanksgiving." His words made me pause and reflect. So often we hurry through life and don't stop to consider our many blessings. Sure, we're thankful, but in the "busy-ness" of our lives our gratitude seems to get pushed to the back burner. After all, we have jobs to go to, mortgages to pay, children and grandchildren to provide for and teach, chores, church responsibilities, schooling, groceries to buy, yards to keep up, snow to plow, parents to care for, good neighbors and bad neighbors to interact with, civic duties, scriptures to read, bills to pay, ancestors to find, fellowmen to love and help, PTA meetings and socials to attend, home and visiting teaching, lessons to prepare, missionaries to write to, the economy to worry about, wars, earthquakes, famines---the list goes on and on an on and on . . .

Think about it. Are we grateful for any of the things I've just listed? We're alive, we have jobs, homes, family, friends, the Gospel, we live in a choice land . . .

In the 59th section of the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord restates some of his commandments and then promises many wonderful blessings and warns us that 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."

New Year Resolutions

Starting next year (which is tomorrow), I won't be sending or forwarding as many e-mail messages. It's one of my new year resolutions. Since there is so much concern about global warming, conservation of energy, greenhouse gases, etc., I have decided to wear a sweater so I won't contribute so much to global warming by burning fossil fuels, exercise less (and send what e-mails I can with used electrons) to conserve energy, and avoid soda pop, thus reducing greenhouse gases by not belching as much. Have a happy new year.

Thanksgiving: Giving Thanks

Just what am I thankful for? Having survived two heart attacks, I know I'm thankful to be alive. I'm thankful for my sweet wife and her love, support, and inspiration. I'm thankful for family and friends, for their example and innate goodness. I'm grateful for this country and those helping to defend it. I'm thankful for missionaries, young and old, who brave contempt, hatred, bigotry, indifference, and yes, hardship to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ---not only because they feel it their duty, but also their privilege.

I'm thankful for children, grandchildren, and pets---for loving unconditionally, and overlooking faults. For loving parents who prayerfully taught and inspired me to do my best; who exemplified goodness, kindness, respect for others, hard work, charity, and love for Heavenly Father. I'm thankful for His Son, who willingly gave His life that all of us can live again. I'm grateful to know they live and love me.

I'm thankful for the miracles of technology and medicine; for advances that help us live longer, better lives. It's great to have neighbors and friends who lift hearts and spirits with a smile or nod, who live the golden rule, and are always ready to lend a helping hand. These are things to treasure.

I'm grateful for music---it lifts the spirit and causes the soul to soar. It stirs both imagination and emotion. It soothes and calms as well. The laughter of children is also music, and brings back memories of happy childhood days---days spent exploring dusty roads and having great adventures, climbing trees, playing 'cops and robbers' or tag, wading and fishing in the pond. These activities were always better when shared with a best friend (or two, or three).

Laughter with family---especially with siblings---brings everyone closer. 'Ice cream' headaches from laughter are common in our family. It doesn't matter what triggers the laughs, but soon we're all hysterical, tears running down our cheeks.

I'm thankful for books, for the thoughts and ideas found between their covers. Books never grow old to me. Re-reading a book is such a treat. It's like sitting down to a favorite meal with an old friend. I can savor the words and hear the characters speak. One can visualize situations presented, travel to foreign lands or galaxies, relive history, learn science and language, and experience so many things---all from the comfort of an easy chair.

The list could go on and on---I'm sure that you could add more. Why are you thankful?

Met Singer

This morning while visiting Mother Nature, I broke into song. I belted out "Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, Zip-a-dee-ay," in my best opera type voice. My 5-year-old granddaughter said, "Gramps, I really like it when you sing like that---but you need to practice more."

Welcome

My daughter helped me set this up. I thought that she said blob, which describes me to a T.