Thankful Day 9

Chelsea is always giving HUGS to her cousins and other family members. I am thankful today for the Hugs and Snuggles I got in our rocking chair before I headed for the dentist today. I am thankful for each of these sweet grandchildren who are anxious to show love and give hugs freely.

Thankful Day 8

Thankful for family! Today we went to Upland to visit Sharlene and John, attend church with them, and enjoy dinner. They are doing very well and truly blessed.

I'm thankful for phone calls to hear how family is doing. Annika was making cookies with her daddy and I told her I wanted one. She reminded me that she was coming Christmas and I told her we would make cookies then...Trees, "oh goodie" she would say; and stars "pink stars?" Also thankful to have a call from Aunt Dale and GG to tell us they are coming for Christmas.

And happy to know Ashley is sitting on her potty...now she just needs to learn what to use it for. And to know that John has arrived safely on his trip to Sweden...but sad their little Maddy is home sick. Guess I am really thankful for family blogs, cell phones, facebook and e-mail...to keep us close!

Thankful Day 7

Tonight I am grateful for the 'dentist' which is where I am going to have to go on Monday. Just lost my gold crown on one of my back teeth....guess what my Christmas gift will be this year?

Thanksgiving Day 6

I am thankful for Seagull Book and Costco where we were able to get some Christmas shopping done this morning. I love Christmas, I love decorating the house, I love the smell of pumpkin pie and fresh rolls, and I especially love being together as family and the phone calls from them who are far away. The first thing that goes up is the Nativity Scene...I am so grateful for the birth of Jesus, for his example of love and obedience. I love walking through the stores and smelling pine cones and Christmas trees. And yes, I do love shopping this time of year. I am very thankful to live in the USA where we can enjoy all these traditions of Christmas.

Thankful Day 5

I am thankful for the scriptures that we are free to read and ponder each day. We believe the Bible and the Book of Mormon to both be the word of God, as well as living prophets in our own day. As we look around us and watch the tv news, I am even more grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and His plan for us.

"The latter-day scriptures are published so that the honest in heart may be cheered and comforted and go on their way rejoicing, as their souls become exposed and their understanding enlightened by a knowledge of God's work through the fathers in former days, as well as what He is about to do in latter days to fulfill the words of the fathers." Joseph Smith

"He that reads it oftenest will like it best!" Joseph Smith

Thankful Day 4

We're thankful for the pictures we received in the mail today of Christa, Jenna, and Nate!

We received these a few weeks ago of Jordan and Rachel

Thankful Day 3

I am thankful for trials and what we learn from them. Each of us are facing trials today and we cannot, nor do we want, to escape from them; but pray for strength to go through them. One of my favorite scriptures over the many years is found in Romans 5:1-5. We cannot escape trials, but we can endure them well and learn from them we will feel His peace. I am reminded of what President Hinckley’s father told him when he was struggling on his mission, “Everything will work out – now put on your shoes and go to work!” Whether it be medical, financial, emotional, spiritual…He is there knocking on the door in hopes that we will open the door & invite Him in. So let's all put a smile on our faces and be grateful for all the blessings we have right around us.

Jesus At The Door
I hurried through my daily chores

And didn't stop to pray,

But a knocking sounded in my head

Did you make time for Me today?
I had so much that I must do

I pushed the thought away,

And hurried on to get things done

I've no time to pray today.
When at last my work was finished

Happy...I should have been,

But within me I felt empty

There's that knocking in my head again.
Down on my knees I dropped

With Jesus I would soar,

To answer that sweet knocking

It's Jesus at the door.
~ Charlotte Anselmo ~

Thankful Day 2

i am grateful for a husband who pitches in on our Prep-Day to clean the apartment, do the laundry, shopping as we prepare for another wonderful week in the temple. Marv is thankful to be in our apartment tonight to just relax after a busy day.

What we are thankful for today

One of our daughter's family, the Harrells, had a great idea to post what they are grateful for every day in the month of November. Another daughter, the Bjorn's, liked the idea and are hoping to keep it up as well. So, we decided to follow their example. I am thankful today for the priesthood and security here on temple hill that made it possible for us to attend Sacrament Meeting and hear the beautiful children's program in the Westwood 1 & 2 wards...even though the protesters were outside demonstrating. Marv is thankful today for the the inspiration he is feeling right now as he prepares a talk he is to give in Long Beach tonight to a 4-Stake Singles Fireside.

Where shall we find peace...

In November 1st Church News there were two statements by President Monson that I thought very applicable to what we have faced this past week:

"Occasionally discouragement may darken our pathway; frustration may be a constant companion. In our ears there may sound the sophistry of Satan as he whispers, 'You cannot save the world; your small efforts are meaningless. You haven't time to be concerned for others.' Trusting in the Lord, let us turn our heads from such falsehood and make certain our feet are firmly planted in the path of service and our hearts and souls dedicated to follow the example of the Lord." Finding Peace, Ensign March 2004

"The blessings of the temple are eternal. Those who come to this holy house will feel of God's love for His children and come to a greater understanding of their own divine origin and potential as His sons and daughters." Announcement May 24, 2008 of a new temple in AZ.

As we had to close and leave the LA temple on Thursday you could definitely feel a peace, even on the grounds of the temple. Our temple grounds were secured by police, firemen, rangers, and riot squads. Since most of them had never been on temple grounds before, there comment was "your grounds are so beautiful" and "you can feel such a peace here". As we opened again on Friday and Saturday, our phone lines were flooded with positive calls from those from many different faiths from all over the country in support.

For our church's response on this issue of traditional marriage go to: http://www.newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/church-responds-to-same-sex-marriage-votes

A group that has gathered "facts on prop 8" is: Get the Facts about the LDS Church and Proposition 8.