My Gratitude Journal

fabric pin

This fabric pin idea came from my niece. She made them and hot-glued them onto headbands she got at the dollar store. They look very cute either as a hair decorations or a brooch. Thanks, Laurie!

Fun Thanksgiving Ideas – Our Gratitude Tree

Fun Thanksgiving Ideas – Our Gratitude Tree

GRATITUDE

I have been thinking a lot lately about the things that I am grateful for. Even in my prayers, I try to focus more on the things I'm thankful for, specifically. I am so blessed and when I remember, focus on, and talk about those blessings, I realize just how much I am blessed. I love the autumn of the year. It's a beautiful time when the earth is touched with color...more than any other season. The feeling in the air is different...a melancholy feeling of memories and traditions. It's the end of a long, hot, drawn out summer and gives a sense of something about to happen. I even feel more like baking and making something yummy so the house smells good and 'homey'. The 'nip' in the air and the winds of change are upon us, blowing the leaves in swirls, with a hint of eeriness. I think of my childhood with fondness and the holidays with visions of celebrations and spending time with family. It also makes me think of the winding down of our time on earth when we can look forward to being with family again that have long been asleep. What a joyous reunion that will be!! As for holidays...Halloween was filled with candy, pillowcases full, homemade costumes, parties at church; Thanksgiving around the table, enjoying food, family, and having lots of leftovers, being thankful; Christmas with the sounds, sights, and smells of goodies, ornaments, presents, and the gift of love from God when he sent his only begotten Son to be our Savior and Redeemer of the world! Yes, Fall is my most favorite time of the year and I'm filled with gratitude! 

AUTUMN RAIN!

Today it rained...a lot! There was also a lot of lightning and thundering. I love it when it rains! We have not had much this year and things were looking very dry and sad outside. What a breath of fresh air after the rain. It makes everything new and clean and makes me feel like making something. It also evokes very good memories for me. I like listening to the rain hitting the roof and smelling the wet earth. I feel like singing 'Listen to the Rhythm of the Falling Rain' or 'Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head'. Reading a book and curling up with a blanket or doing some embroidery sounds awfully good. When I was little I used to sit on the porch and watch the drops hit the ground. It got a bit chilly because of the dampness. I loved riding up in the canyon of Zion after a rain to see the flood in the river. Watching the roiling waters, so angrily rushing past were a little frightning, but I remember the smell of the flood water. The roar was loud and there was lots of debris floating past. I'm sure the trees and plants are grateful for a long awaited drink, too. They seem to perk up with renewed resolve to hang on a bit longer. It is amazing to me how much water the ground absorbs when it rains, but if I watered by hand, it rolls right off, making rivers onto the sidewalk and driveway. The next day, the ground is dry again. God's way of giving the earth a soaking is so much better and way more efficient. I hope we get more rain tomorrow so that the drought will get some relief, even a little bit. I love the rain, no doubt about it! Thanks Heavenly Father for such a wonderful blessing!

King Darius hand puppet from the story of Daniel in the Lions' den. Besides using the 'hands-on' story for Sharing Time in Primary, it was a great FHE with all my grandkids. The story was a simplified version I found in one of my many resource books. It required participation (the lions roared when it was their turn).

Two of the mean priests who wanted King Darius to put Daniel in the Lion's den.