Gratitude Really Is An Attitude!

Need I say more?! :)

Probably not, but I will.

In the December 29, 2007 issue of the "Church News," in an article entitled, "With New Eyes," by Sister Jenet J. Jacob, she shares the following thoughts:

"One of the words unique to scriptural language is the world behold. Found more than 3,500

times in the standard words, the word invites or commands us to pay attention, to look, or to see. This meaning is suggested in the call of the angel of the Lord heralding the glorious event of the Savior's birth, "For, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people."

She goes on to say: "The call to behold suggests the need for new eyes, a new view with greater attention and care. The promise that accompanies it suggest that when we hold with new eyes, we will see differently; we will see what we may not have seen before. President Henry B. Erying's recent invitation to see the hand of God reaching out to touch us, our children, and our family each day includes that promise. He suggests that such beholding cannot take the place "with our physical eyes or with reason alone,: but with aid or new vision through the Holy Ghost. With these new eyes we will find blessings to behold that we may not have recognized. "

I have really been thinking about my ability to have gratitude in my life. On Sunday, I was able to bear my testimony. I had spoken the week before and had not planned on doing so, but...the spirit moves...As I bore my testimony and as I have reflected on my testimony, I realize that I do have gratitude in my heart. I am thankful for the blessings of so many things. I have a great husband. PERFECT for me! I have great children! They never cease to amaze me in their honest desire to do good! Really! They push the limit to see if "the mother" really can keep her cool, but they are good. I have a great church calling and work with two very wonderful women as counselors. They are so different than me, but so great! I have some great friends. I wish for more deeper friendships to blossom here but I ....will continue to pray and serve and create situations for this to happen. I am so blessed to serve and give of myself in so many situations. I love that! I love being in a community where I am able to bear my testimony through my actions. It keeps me on my toes. I have a great job at the University here. I can't believe how this opportunity "fell" into my lap. I am certainly not on paper the best qualified for this job, but I do love what I do and I hope it shows.

President Eyring has also said that a journal doesn't have to be lengthy in sharing the way we have seen the hand of God reaching out to touch us. I am so grateful for that as well. Blogging has been a great blessing for me this year. I love reading and sharing through the great "WWW." I love blogging. It has been such a blessing! It makes the world seem so much smaller. I need that living in the middle of nowhere Nebraska. Believe me! I am a big city girl living in a town of 30,000. I love it, but there are just some things I miss!

In the scriptures, one of the sins that is mentioned is that of "ingratitude." I don't want to be guilty of that sin. President Thomas S. Monson said in April 1992 the following: " While there are some things wrong in the world today, there are many things right, such as teachers who teach, ministers who minister, marriages that make it, parents who sacrifice, and friends who help."

He goes on to say: "We can lift ourselves, and others as well, when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within ourselves an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues."

President Gordon B. Hinckley has said: "The habit of saying thank you is the mark of an educated man or woman. Walk with gratitude in your hearts, my dear friends. Be thankful for the wonderful blessings which are yours. Be grateful for the tremendous opportunities that you have. Be thankful to your parents...Say thank you to your friends. Say thank you to your teachers. Express appreciation to everyone who does you a favor or assists you in any way."

"Thank the Lord for His goodness to you. Thank the Almighty for His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, who has done for you what none other in all this world could do."

So, I say "thank you." I am truly blessed. I want to re-commit to having more gratitude in my heart for the things I have been blessed with. I will try to change those things that I can and let go of those things that I can't change.

THANK YOU!

So, have I seen the hand of God reaching out to touch us or our children or our family today? Yes I have. One small thing. I had the chance today to serve lunch to 45 LDS missionaries. I loved every minute of it. I was able to serve lunch with three other great women. All of them so different. One woman in her 50's and so talented. She and I think very much alike and we love to put the extra little touches on things. NICE! One woman who is a professor and has never married. And a younger mom, who had to bring her young three year old little boy with her to help. The missionaries will say that it was them who were able to have a wonderful meal, but I am truly blessed when I serve others and this was just a nice treat for me. Daren and I haven't started teaching yet and so Daren was able to watch Cameron for me while I went and prepared and served this yummy lunch.

RECIPE--"Brownie-mallows"

This recipe is the easiest but it was so nice for a great dessert for the lunch today.

2 Brownie mixes prepared according to the package and baked in a jelly roll pan.

Cool completely.
Take one jar of marshmallow creme and put in the microwave for 30 seconds.
Spread over completely cooled brownies.
Be careful not to get brownie in the marshmallow creme.
Then frost with a can of chocolate frosting.

How easy is that! Way rich and way easy.

I even liked them and I don't usually like boxed brownie mix or canned frosting.