I took this from a blog I read. I thought it was perfect for Thanksgiving. Thanks Wendy. (You always have the best quotes.)
"The unthankful heart...discovers no mercies; but let thankful heart swee[ through day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings."
Henry Ward Beecher

Good Things

I have been thinking of everything I am thankful for. Of course, there is the obvious, family, husband, temple, atonement, home, job, life, prophet, etc. Today, I want to name a few littles things...some of life's simple pleasures. . .

my own bed, games to play with my family, home grown tomatoes and fresh mozzarella, bubble bath, cell phones, soft quality toilet paper, friends, a dishwasher, grapefruit spoons, keyless entry and start on my car, sisters, my camera, hot chocolate with whip cream, my sewing machine, new recipes, counselors, internet, warm fuzzy socks, prayer, gym instructor, zip lock bags, symphony bars, dvr, hand sanitizer, music...

The list could go on and on. So while you are thinking of what you are thankful for, don't forget the little stuff. Yes, we could all do without it if we had too, but it sure makes life a pleasure. Your assignment...name one of your simple pleasures on the comments.
Happy Thanksgiving!

A Tender Mercy

As many of you know, I am not an animal lover by any stretch of the imagination. We have a dog at our house, whom I am not very fond of. She is really D's dog, and he loves her dearly. D seems to get the short end of the stick in many areas because boys are a minority at our house. The dog is truly his, and he takes pretty good care of her. See pees on my grass, digs in my garden, climbs on top of our cars, jumps up on you, and runs away. A few weeks ago, on a very busy day, I received a call from the pound. She had run away yet again, and was found in town roaming the streets. Because I know D loves her, we went and got her and brought her home, with instructions to not let her free. She was to be on a leash or tied up all the time. Which worked well until K let her go yesterday. Of course she ran away, and the kids hollered, and drove around looking for her for a long time. D was very sad, and I really didn't think she would come home. Really, who would if you were tied up all the time.
This morning I kept telling D to eat breakfast, several times, I told him, and was getting a little irritated that he was going to make us late. He finally said, I am fasting! Well, feeling rather foolish for bothering him, I said a quick prayer to please bring Mia home and answer a boy's humble prayer. Needless to say, Mia did come home.
What I have learned is that:
1. I need more faith
2. Fasting and prayer really works
3. Heavenly Father really knows each of us on an individual level, and he knows what is important to us
4. He provides us with experiences that strengthen us
Call it coincidence if you want, but I know, that the faith of an eleven year old boy brought the one thing home that he cares about.

Good Things:
1. Tender mercies
2. Faith of a child
3. D

One of these things is not like the other...

WARNING!!! This blog entry may contain offensive material.

Prom was last weekend, and K looked beautiful. Thanks to ______ for lending a dress to us. However, she would have looked beautiful in a sack. I realize I am a little biased in my opinion, but her beauty went deeper than the dress. So... if I may, I would like to get up on my soap box for a minute...

One of these things is not like the other. Not too difficult to figure out is it? Modesty has been on my mind for awhile now. And I just don't get it. I was so sad when K came home and said so few LDS young women were dressed appropriately. And quite frankly, I was very disappointed. They know better, have been taught better, but somehow when it comes to prom and swimsuits, all previous knowledge goes out the window. Why is that? Feel free to enlighten me so I may better know as a Young women leader how I can teach this important concept. I realize it is all about agency. Don't get me wrong, I am so far away from perfect. And while I admit I have so many issues of my own, that I have to work on, this is one of those things that I just don't understand. We all have our own struggles and maybe mine are just struggles that others don't see, such as reading scriptures everyday. I believe it was Sister Dalton who said something to the effect of ..."When we truly realize who we are, and what we can become we will make better choices. " Are young women missing that they are a Daughter of God, and as a princess they need to act like a princess and dress like a princess. Do we no longer know how REAL princesses act. (and dress) I don't have the answers here, only pose questions. As tradition goes, K wore her dress to church on Sunday. A dad told G later what his daughter said, "She looks like a real princess." I know it is not all about the dress that makes young women feel so pretty. It is about so much more. It is about what is really inside the dress. The confidence to know they are pure and divine, to know they are loved, to know where true happiness can be found, to know there is more to life than themselves. So... Thank You to those young women who will not let "fashion" tell them what to wear, who stand strong for what you believe, and who look so beautiful on the inside as well as the outside. Your light will shine no matter how dark it gets!

Good Things:

1. knowledge

2. doing whats right

3. beauty, the real kind

Can you help me down now?!

I also must add, that their are some amazing young women out there, and that there better be some great young men preparing for them.