Thanksgiving

As Thanksgiving approaches, I feel its only right to express my gratitude for things in my life.  I have a lot to be grateful for, but sometimes in the thick of things, I tend to forget.  So, here's my list of gratitude this year:

First and foremost, I am grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ.  Over the past year, I've been trying to become more like Him and I've been trying to get a more personal relationship with Him.  I have read the talk from the May 2012 General Conference that talks about being being converted to the Gospel versus the Church.  I have taken that to heart and am trying to be better.  I think by strengthening that relationship with my Savior, I can become that solid, converted member.  I hope to continue to improve myself.

Second, I am grateful for my family.  I probably don't show it a whole lot, but I am grateful for them and the fact that they still love me, after all of these years.  They are all great people!  I have had so many wonderful adventures and hope to have many more through the years.

Third, I am grateful for the possessions I have been blessed with.  I have a beautiful home and a vehicle to name a few.  There is so much work to all of it, but in the end, its all worth it.  For that, I am grateful.  I am grateful for the value of work and the fact that I am not afraid to work.  I have my parents to thank for that.  :)

Fourth, I am grateful for my job.  I have had some rough spots of late, but I feel that the lessons and principles I have learned over the last year in my job have given me a depth that I don't think would have been possible anywhere else.  Although I haven't liked every moment of it, I am grateful for my work and the people I have an opportunity to work with.  Its been a great blessing in my life.

Fifth, I am grateful for friends.  I have been blessed with some great ones, other have left my life.  I am grateful for all of the impacts they have had, negative or positive.  I believe that every person comes into my life for a reason, to teach me, to inspire me, and to support me through the thick and thin.  Friends have been hard to come by sometimes, but I have been blessed profusely with those people that have come into my life.

Sixth, I am grateful to live in the United States of America.  Yeah, its true, life hasn't been bliss here, but I have so many freedoms that many don't have.  I hope not to be one of those complacent Americans that take everything for granted.  I have the freedom to vote, to work, to own property, to speak my mind, to practice my religion.  What a blessing it is to be a citizen of this great land!!

Seventh, I am grateful for my life.  There have been extreme cases of health issues and much sorrow in my life.  I still have some of those health problems, where others have disappeared.  I am grateful to be alive, to be able to enjoy the sunshine.  I have so much to enjoy and many opportunities to enjoy it.

So, this is just a small list.  But I am grateful for everything my Heavenly Father has blessed me with and continues to bless me with.  Looking back, my life hasn't turned out how I planned it, but it has turned out how my Heavenly Father planned it.  I hope I am able to continue going in the direction I need to go.  Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!