IFG

The letters were on a license plate at a gas station:
IFG
I had no clue what they meant, but this is what immediately sprang into my head:
I
Feel
Grateful!


And, indeed I do on this incredibly gorgeous spring day.

The Meeting

It was just one of those meetings where you feel so uplifted and hopeful and positive.

I loved it.

Thank you to:

Bishop Forbes;  your talk about your father and your go-cart in the parade was tender and poignant.

President Ricks: I've always loved your great sense of humor...your very short talk on HOPE was inspiring and gave me hope for so many things.

President Topham;  your talk gave me goosebumps.  You told about the 13 year old boy who died suddenly and how his parents came to see you in the hospital shortly after the funeral.  In spite of their overwhelming grief, they were thinking of you and your recovery....wow, such charity.

I am often filled with gratitude for marvelous Sabbath experiences.

Humbled - again!

NOTE: this is a very difficult post as it shows the real MOI! And, I don't like what I saw in me last night.

But, this is my journal, so I need to attempt to be honest. Here goes:

Monthly meeting of the organization. Interesting people, fun music, stories, historical tidbits.

BUT...blah food that seems rather pricey for what we get.

We were at the very back corner table, so I could see the server bringing out the plates of food...good gracious, what is THAT on those plates, I wondered?!??! (Usually it is ham/turkey/roastbeef w/ mashed potatoes, and green beans.)

Then the plate was put before me; baked beans (probably Bush's from the can), barbecued chicken (probably bottled barbecue sauce), 4 little baby carrots steamed for about 60 seconds.

Goodness, I thought, didn't they learn in home ec that you need a rainbow of colors (the entire plate was bathed in orange/browns)? It didn't have a very appetizing appearance, frankly. So, I was mumbling to myself....blah, blah, blah.

Then, as I put the first bite of food into my morth, the images of the Haitian people popped into my head...

starving children too weak to cry
fathers looting to give their children something - anything - to eat.
hands straining through a gate to plead for water from the military
children with big, beautiful brown eyes with parched lips
people drinking water that was filthy, but water nonetheless.

And, I was ashamed and embarrassed.

I felt like one of the many politicians who promise to make a difference, change the way things are done, and then lead lavish lifestyles, with no care or concern for the people.

Oh, I was shamed. I ate the food, grateful to have it. Grateful to live in America. Grateful that people will give up their lives to go help. Grateful for FOOD.

Convenient Truth

It's true -
I love CONVENIENCE...
like microwave popcorn,or
TIVO, or
instant Internet, or
drive-by flu clinics where I don't even get out of the car to get my flu shot.

I'm all about CONVENIENCE.

So, to stay in a condo with the car parking garage a long way away....

Well, that's INconvenient.

I left something in the car yesterday, but I wasn't willing to walk down the steep stairs

and the long way to the garage.

So, there's one more thing to add to my gratitude list:

a garage attached to my home!

I'm Thankful I Can......

Make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and eat it.

Put on shoes.

Vacuum living room.

Scoop up a grandchild and hold him/her close.

Drive to town.

Get up and/or go to bed whenever I please.

Get down on knees to pull weeds.

Fold laundry.

Hold and read a book.

Stand up to salute when flag goes by.

Take a long, luxurious bubble bath.

These are just a few of the things I can do - and think nothing about them - and Sylvia is unable to do any of them.

Yet, she doesn't complain. Just smiles, and says "Thank you...."

Friends: Life's Great Blessings

A lot of years ago, Allen said that he loved to see people having a good time; it is really fun to see people we love enjoying life.

Here are just a very few of the many friends who have helped me love and enjoy life; thank you dear, dear friends, for your great influence in my life!

Hands and Arms

Arms.....what can you do with a pair of arms?

Hands...what can you do with a hand or a pair of hands?

So many things; it's just hard to imagine life without those marvelous, useful appendages.

And, yet, today, in a restaurant when I saw a beautiful young lady, with no hands or arms, I gave thanks indeed for something that I don't really think of much....my two working hands and arms.

What a blessing to have hands and arms!

Gratitude Attitude

Today while running errands, I was overwhelmingly grateful for 4 things:

1. Health - at this time in my life. I went to the hospital to visit my cousin Karole, who has cancer, and other health problems. Seeing her so weak and helpless made me realize - again - that every day we can walk, talk, and breathe is a gift.

2. Food - particularly fast food when I'm in a hurry. I hadn't eaten breakfast; it was noon - I was hungry, so I drove through Taco Time. (Our daughter, Kristi, once made up the best song ever about Taco Time. We all used to beg her to sing it to us...something about the food makes you want to smile and the cheese stretches out about a mile...) Ironically, while I was waiting for the very few minutes for the food to be processed I was reading an article about Pioneer life and Pioneer meals. This verse was in the article:

"Rabbit young, Rabbit old,

Rabbit hot, Rabbit cold,

Rabbit tender and Rabbit tough,

Oh please, Dear Lord,

We've had enough."

from Pioneer magazine, Vol. 56, page 9

WOW, I was so struck with how easy I had it, and the incredible variety of foods that we can choose from. I drove through TT with my car and picked up something to eat. Tonight, I'll thaw some fish from the freezer and bake it in an oven...how easy is that? My errands took me to the grocery store where I bought some boneless, skinless chicken. I'll stir fry that another night with some veggies that I also picked up at the store.

I've got it easy...and I'm very, very grateful!

3. Deseret Industries - great place to drop off items that I no longer need, but that are still very usable; like a great pair of running shoes that got to be too tight for me. That, and other still-good items. I love that someone will be so excited to get a pink sweater that is new, but didn't fit me! Or, a very lovely formal blue dress to wear on a cruise. Oh, I dropped off some good stuff. Someone is going to be glad they went shopping at DI today!

4. Family History Center - I am so grateful for our 2 missions there. I dropped by to visit Elaine Booth and get some advice from her about something to do with family history. I saw several people who were there when we served our missions. They are the best people and it was fun to see them. I'm very, very grateful for that opportunity that we had to serve.

Of course, I'm grateful for lots more, but those things were in my head today.

Gratitude Attitudes

Time to be grateful: I love Wordles; thanks for showing them to me Jenni. So, here's the same list just presented in a couple of different ways.

If you would like to create your own Wordle, just go to this sight and have FUN!
http://www.wordle.net/