Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Gratitude



As a family tradition we have a "Back to School Feast" the night before school starts. We eat some yummy food and unveil our "family theme" for the year. At the end of the night, Russ places his hands on our sweet babies heads and gives them a blessing for the school year.

Jayda selected the menu: Swedish Pancakes (delish crepe style pancakes that are a complete pain in the butt to make, but super yummy) with strawberries and whipped cream, cinnamon and sugar, or nutella spread.

The blessings were sweet and lovely...as always. He prayed that Jayda would have strength to make good decisions, be a positive influence on those around her, and enjoy learning. He blessed Lilly that she would continue to grow and develop with no negative side effects from being 2 months premature, and that she and her sister would continue to love and appreciate each other. There is something so tender about seeing his big hands on their tiny heads. I love watching them look up at him with their big blue eyes so lovingly. It's a very sweet, spiritual, and tender moment in our life as an eternal family.

Our family theme for this school year is GRATITUDE. Our goal is to say something we are thankful for each day and really put our blessings into perspective. We have been blessed beyond measure and are going to be more diligent about striving to "live in thanksgiving daily" as a family unit and as individual children of God. Our family theme is based on a scripture from the Book of Mormon found in Alma 34:38 "That ye contend no more against the Holy Ghost, but that ye receive it, and take upon you the name of Christ; that ye humble yourselves even to the dust, and worship God, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and in truth; and that ye live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you."

Today, as I write this, I am most grateful for my kids, my husband, our jobs, living in this amazing country, our heater in our house, my fridge full of food, good health insurance (every one's healthy...I'm just glad we have it), the movie "Up" that the kids are watching right now giving me 5 minutes to write this post, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

What are you most thankful for at this exact moment?

1 comment:

Merianne said...

I'm so grateful for blogs, so that I can could read your post and reflect on my blessings! :) Sometimes I whine and complain that I don't have "enough", when in reality I am so blessed beyond measure. Thanks for helping me remember this today! What a great tradition to start with your family. I love the family theme idea!