Giving Thanks

The amazingly thought out post I was going to write never happened, & as Thanksgiving came & went I realized I never put up anything! Oh man!

We had a quiet day at my parents home. It was nice, but we missed our nieces & nephews. We enjoyed all the traditional food & learned that half the family likes deviled eggs made with miracle whip & half with mayo... this is huge! Next year we'll keep it even, this year the poor miracle whip'ers had a fourth of what the mayo'ers had!

We went & saw The Blind Side, which now ranks among my favorite movies. I absolutely loved it. I can say that while I am mostly content with my life, I do long for & dream of someday doing something so extraordinary as Leigh Ann Touhy. A lady who cared little about what others perception was & helped create a beautiful life for someone else. She thought she had it all, but learned in giving we receive. It was very touching, I loved it!

This brings up to Black Friday... so fun! I love the rush! I love finding all the things on the lists. I love playing Santas elf & selecting awesome gifts for my sisters. I'm glad my mom & I are able to keep this tradition alive!

Friday night we spent with the Miner's. Doug & Lanette decided to go to Utah for Thanksgiving last minute so we didn't get to see them until then. We had a yummy non-traditional dinner, which was loved by all & then we had some fun. The boys rented a Mario brothers Wii game & the girls opted for a puzzle... of a clock shop!

Saturday, I spent at my parents helping get things ready for Christmas while Clint worked. Later in the evening we went to Brad & Meg's for the infamous BYU vs The U game. I'm glad the sports lovers got their fix of some great Cougar football!

These may or may not be things that you or your family enjoys, but for me this is home. This is reality. This is love. This makes my heart swell with thanksgiving. I am grateful that I have my family, both of them so close. I cherish the moments we spend together & wish I could freeze time sometimes to drink it up.

I am grateful to be in the arms of my best friend everyday, Clint is one of the most amazing men I've met. He is thoughtful, precise & unwavering. He makes me a better person, for this we should all be grateful!

I am thankful for the gospel of Christ in my life, for this aides in the betterment of me as well. I would be lost without the knowledge I have of Jesus Christ & the example he was to me of love, sacrifice & kindness.

I am thankful for where we are in our lives. It's not perfect, or easy. We don't have nor get everything we want. We struggle just like so many around us, but I am really glad we are here... in this place now.

We have learned far more these past couple of years that I could have ever imagined & you know what, we are better for it. These experiences I've had will allow me to look at others with understanding & compassion.

Knowing they may have been doing their best, but things happen & life isn't always what they plan either. I can be there encouraging them on, because I've been there. I have true empathy because I've experienced the same thing. I think their is much to be said for that.

I don't understand the pain that is experienced from running, because I'm not a runner. Just as I can't understand the frustration of being a parent because I'm not one.

But, when it comes to long-suffering, patience, charity & a million other things. I get it. I've been there, on the giving & receiving end. This is reason to give thanks, this & this alone for me.

So, as I enter this Christmas season, I do so with a heart full of Thanksgiving. For the big & the very small & seemingly un-important things in my life that make it mine.