GRATITUDE

I'm grateful for a lot of things in my life. I've been very blessed and I'm incredibly aware of those blessings. Sometimes I wonder if I express my gratitude enough.....not just for things that I have, but for the people I'm surrounded by that make life a little easier to bear. I'm not very good at verbally expressing myself in this way.....I get a little emotional.....but writing I can do, so I just wanted to say a little bit about a what it is that I'm especially grateful for today. This may be long, so if you don't want to read it, you don't have to. I'm typing this mostly for me.

THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST:

How wonderful it is to have a life filled with peace, regardless of trials that come and go. We attended Grandma Huwe's funeral on Saturday. I ended up speaking. It was held in a Presbyterian Church and so my topic wasn't doctrinal, I just had to talk about her. Nothing was ever mentioned about the next life or anything that would bring hope to those who grieve. It was a sad day, but I was grateful for the peace I was able to experience. The Atonement of Jesus Christ is an amazing gift, one that I think I probably overlook far too often when I hit a snag. But it's real, He's real, and He lives. There aren't words to express my gratitude for that.

MY HUSBAND:

I'm grateful for Kyle. He works incredibly hard to provide for our family. He works and works and works and in his spare time he's always giving service to other people who need help. It's an admirable quality. We have two sons who adore their Daddy. I have faith in him. I have faith that he can be the man they need him to be. And I love that he can make me laugh.....he makes everyone laugh. He has a good heart that can and will take him far.

MY TWO LITTLE BOYS:

I'm grateful for Hunter and Tanner. As crazy as they're capable of making me, they're even more capable of bringing joy to my life. They have the sweetest, little spirits that remind me every single day why I always wanted to be a Mother. They're my dream come true.

MY LITTLE BROTHER:

I'm especially grateful today for my little brother, Dan. I know there are many who aren't even fortunate enough to get along with their siblings, let alone to have one that they would consider to be one of their best friends, but I'm that lucky. I love my brother and I always have.

The even greater miracle is that I have a little brother who is also one of my heroes. Dan is pretty quiet and modest and doesn't really like people talking about him at all (he finds it embarrassing), so I'm hoping he'll forgive me for this, but I need him to know how much I love him and appreciate his example. Dan's had cancer. He's been through a lot in the past few years and now he's going to be going through some more. He's looking at more surgery and more trials. But do you what he said once when someone referred to his cancer as a trial? "Oh, it wasn't really my trial at all, it was Amanda's." Amanda is his wonderful wife. That's the kind of attitude Dan's always had about life. He's a rock. He's my rock. When I think life is too hard and that I can no longer do what's required of me, I think about Dan and I hang on for dear life and keep going. He will forever be my strength. So Dan, I need you to know that I love you. I know I tell you, but I really need you to know. I can't say enough how grateful I am to have you for a brother and for a friend. I appreciate the example that you are to me and to my family. Keep hanging on, you're doing great. Please let us know if there's anything we can do to help you through this bend in the road. I would drop everything to do it for you. I need you to know that too.

MY BROTHER'S WIFE:

I'm grateful for Dan's wife, Amanda. I couldn't have done a better job picking a wife out for Dan and I'm pretty particular when it comes to my little brother. If Dan's a rock, then Amanda's probably more of a boulder. They were engaged when we first found out Dan was sick. Most girls would've run at the thought. But she stayed. She stayed through surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. She stayed through several postponed wedding dates and doctor's appointment after doctor's appointment. She takes care of Dan and gives him everything he needs and more. Amanda, thank you. I am forever grateful that my brother is sealed to such an amazing woman. I'm grateful that you stuck around. I love you and we love having you in this family. You can tell your Mom thank you for me. I'm grateful that she raised you with such strength. Again, please let me know if there's anything at all that I can do.

MY PARENTS:

I'm grateful for my Mom & Dad. I struck gold when I was born into my family. I know noboby's perfect, but I consider my Mom & Dad to be pretty darn close. I'm grateful for their love and support, their endless and unconditional giving, and their examples. I treasure my relationship with them and love them dearly. I realize we probably didn't get to choose who our parents would be when we came here, but if we had, they're the ones I would've chosen. They're flawless in their faith. I love you, Mom and Dad.

MY FAMILY:

And lastly, but not because they're least, I'm grateful for the rest of my family. I have six wonderful siblings besides Dan. How lucky is it to have seven of your dearest friends be related? They're all amazing people. I know I could count on any one of them for anything. I also have two grandmas that people could easily be jealous of. I love all of you.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, I have an abundance of blessings when I include only people in that list. I didn't even mention the wonderful friends that I'm surrounded with either. My heart is full of gratitude today. I was just thinking a lot about Dan and quickly realized that I have a lot to be grateful for.