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.