Gratitude

I love President Monson's talk from General Conference, , The Divine Gift of Gratitude. I have thought about this talk over and over since General Conference. I have particularly thought about this quote, "A grateful heart, then, comes through expressing gratitude to our Heavenly Father for His blessings and to those around us for all that they bring into our lives. This requires conscious effort—at least until we have truly learned and cultivated an attitude of gratitude. Often we feel grateful and intend to express our thanks but forget to do so or just don’t get around to it. Someone has said that “feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it." When I heard that quote, I thought about the countless times, in the last seven years, I have thought about writing a letter of thanks to the Holmes family. I have expressed my gratitude, for this family, to my Heavenly Father many, many times, but never to the Holmes'.

This morning, I read Ashley's blog about her trip to Detroit to see her family. As I looked at the pictures, I was overwhelmed again with gratitude. Stone and Josef were both asleep, so I decided to write a letter to Doug and Erin. I have been teary all morning recalling the 13 months I spent with the Holmes', and the many lessons I learned from them (and so now of course I have a wonderful headache).

After lunch, I picked up the mail, and guess what was there??? ...a letter from Ashley...it was a thank you card from her wedding gift. Then of course the tears started again... In her letter she wrote, "I know Ken going to Iraq was not the greatest wedding present you got - but it was the best blessing I've had in my life." She went on to say some very complimentary things, some of which I am not sure I deserve:)

This morning in the letter to her parents I wrote, "It is amazing how, when we are faithful during adversity, we are blessed immensely, and those trials are somehow turned into blessings. Looking back almost eight years later, I can’t believe how Ken’s deployment completely changed our lives forever. I will be forever grateful you opened up your home to me. What a blessing that was, and it is a blessing that continues still today. I learned so much in those 13 months. "

I am truly so grateful for the tender mercies of the Lord. I know that He is aware of us in our individual circumstances. I am also so grateful for people that listen to the spirit, and help our Heavenly Father answer prayers.

This picture was taken when I lived with the Holmes', seven years ago this Christmas.

These pictures were taken in the Summer. The kids have all grown up so much, and of course there is the wonderful addition of Taylor. What can I say about Doug & Erin? Well, they still look great!