Our niece Emily in Provo has been posting a daily “Thanks list”. It has inspired me to stop and think about what I am really grateful for. Of course, I am most grateful for my life, for my Father in Heaven and His Son, Jesus Christ and for the Plan of Salvation and all the innumerable blessings of the gospel in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am also most grateful for my family: 1) for a loving and thoughtful husband who shares the same ideals, beliefs and goals, 2) for six kind and loveable children who bring us great joy, 3) for eight grandchildren, six boys and 2 girls, (counting Princess Knoll who is soon to arrive) who delight and surprise and entertain us daily with their progress and cute conversations, 4) for my sweet sisters and their families, 5) for all of the members of my husband’s family and their kindness to me, 6) and for my parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles, and ancestors who lived their lives striving to make my world a little better.

There are other things for which I am grateful—lemon meringue pie, campfires, the color skyblue pink, starry skies, music of almost all kinds, especially the hymns, classical music-particularly baroque, and country western, piano, organ, bells and chimes and the guitar. Also hot baths, early morning walks in the fall, pine trees, education—learning anything, books, mountains, streams, rivers and the ocean. I am thankful for mentors, listening ears, teaching moments (to teach or to learn), good friends and exemplary leaders. I feel gratitude for my scriptures, for opportunities to help others, any opportunity to lead a choir and for a desire to love and serve God. I am certainly well-blessed. And for those who may read this blog, thank you for being in my life!