He is the Gift

  He is the Gift!

Prince of Peace

Prince of Peace 

 

I #GiveThanks for our Prince of Peace

LIGHT

I have used colored lights on my main tree this year.   

The colored lights are cheerful and fit my elf theme for the year,

 but I really miss the calm, peaceful, loving, 

even Christ-like feeling I get from all clear lights.

I love light!  

I love The Light!

I #GiveThanks for LIGHT that bring cheer to my heart and soul,  

and

I #GiveThanks for MUSIC that lights my heart and soul.

This year I have added a tree with sheet music ornaments that I have made.  

It's a work in progress and the grandchildren have rearranged it, so it needs "restored" but I love it.

It does have clear lights and this tree is a reminder of 

the angels singing of Christ's birth.

We too, should sing praises to our Savior.  

It's not very hard to do at this time of year because of all the 

wonderful Christmas music.  

You won't even have to leave your home today to sing along with this

 Social Sing and Serve 

I love Christmas music all year long ... 

because I love Christ all year long.

May the Light of Christ fill our heart and soul - always and forever!

#GiveThanks

 I am grateful for HOPE

"... you are you and you are His. 

If you feel that love more fully, 

you will find more hope in every circumstance

 and in all you do." 

(The Process and Power of Hope, 8 September 2020 Devotional by Kevin J Worthen, President of BYU)

What is hope?

... hope is a motivation to persevere toward a goal or end state, even if we’re skeptical that a positive outcome is likely. 

... hope involves activity, a can-do attitude and a belief that we have a pathway to our desired outcome. Hope is the willpower to change and the way-power to bring about that change."

I #GiveThanks for HOPE

and desire to have a better, more perfect understanding of it 

#GiveThanks

I'm hoping this time I can say a lot in only a few words -

I #GiveThanks for: 

PRAYER - being able to talk to our Heavenly Father. 

Our loving, kind, all knowing, all giving HEAVENLY FATHER, and HIS PLAN OF SALVATION.

The HOLY GHOST - constant COMFORT - always needed, always available.

JESUS CHRIST - His ATONEMENT on my behalf and for each of us, personally. 

The GOSPEL of JESUS CHRIST - TEACHINGS, ORDINANCES, COVENANTS, PRIESTHOOD, PROPHETS, SEALINGS ... ALL that the Gospel includes.

The BOOK of MORMON and other scripture.

FAMILY - ETERNITY

#GiveThanks

I was late getting started, so I add one more #GiveThanks - and that is for lights.  I do love lights!
Lamp light, tree lights, candle light, night light, ...  and mostly Christ's Light.

Giving thanks is "a key to hope and healing" so even if I don't post about it, I will continue to #GiveThanks daily.  It helps us feel Christ's Light, and His Love for us.  I am grateful for the comfort, hope, peace, and joy He freely gives us.

I posted about LIGHT last year in this post here.

#GiveThanks

 I #GiveThanks for opportunities to remember the things I am grateful for.  One can feel so much joy and peace as we count our blessings and name them one by one. 

image from Pinterest

I am grateful for our living prophet that guides us and directs us as the Lord would have us do and in ways that always bless our lives as we follow his counsel.  Asking us to #GiveThanks (here and here) was truly inspired.

image from here

#GiveThanks

This is everyday, but today I #GiveThanks for MY FAMILY.  Every family member past and present, and surely even future.  I love that we have eternity to continue to love our family.  For me, Thanksgiving is better because of family ... life is better with family ... 

Family  

where life 

begins and 

love 

never ends 

image found here

#GiveThanks

 Today we spent some time in the kitchen preparing for tomorrow's meal.  I am so grateful for my kitchen - grateful that I don't have to cook on an open fire or carry in all the water for drinking, cooking, and cleaning.  There is so much more that a kitchen makes easier, nicer, faster, and even delicious...  

Once again it has become one of my favorite rooms in my house.   I #GiveThanks for my kitchen - today, tomorrow, and every day!!!  

#GiveThanks

(:  I #GiveThanks for Chocolate Covered Cinnamon Bears  :)

#GiveThanks

Early this morning I received a picture of one of my grandchildren playing with a tractor that my father made.  It brought such happiness, joy, and gratitude to my heart.  

I have seen many of my children and grandchildren play with the toys he has made them and it is always a delightful vision.  

I #GiveThanks for my father and his talents that bless my life and the lives of my loved ones.  

I #GiveThanks for my mother and her talents that bless my life and the lives of my loved ones.  

I have seen those talents throughout my life and have appreciated them.   

My parents are wonderful examples to me and they have taught me (and my siblings) well.  I appreciate all they have done and continue to do for me.  I love them.

#GiveThanks

President Nelson spoke to us through a video message on Friday (link here) and encouraged us to have and share gratitude.  He invited us to post on social media for seven days using the hashtag #GiveThanks. 

I apologize that this is my first post (without sharing the reasons why - that's another story) - we'll just be happy that I finally figured it out :)  

This is how I social media!

I had such a beautiful experience today during the closing prayer of our sacrament meeting.  Actually, the whole meeting was wonderful, starting with the opening prayer, when my thoughts turned to my mother-n-law, Idris.  

I cannot share all of the thoughts and impressions I felt during the meeting - there were many - but I do want to share one that happened during the closing prayer, given by the spouse of the person who gave the opening prayer.  For privacy reasons I will not share their names, so I hope it's not too confusing.

Idris would visit with him on occasion when she was in the store where he worked.  I remember her talking about him with kindness and love, and I remember him (and his family) coming to visit her.  She loved this man and his family and wished for them to be taught and accept the gospel of Jesus Christ and be baptized.  

She passed away before she could see that happen, but it did eventually happen.  They were baptized at the beginning of this year when guests were limited due to Covid restrictions.  I was disappointed that I could not attend because I truly wished to be there, and I also wanted to somehow represent my mother-in-law.  

I was reminded of this because of the prayers given today.

At the end of the closing prayer I had a beautiful tender vision that brightened my heart and soul.  I suppose it was more of a thought but I could see it in my mind.  I could see Idris gathering all of her family and friends in heaven, gesturing with her arms inviting all to come watch this lovely family as they made covenants with the Lord and performed this sacred saving ordinance.  I could feel her excitement as she did this with such exuberance.  I could see the smile on her face and the light in her eyes.  I imagine she was giving and receiving loving hugs and kisses on the cheek to and from those loved ones she was gathering. And knowing her, everyone around her, even those she did not know, were her loved ones. It was a glorious thought and vision in my mind.  I was caught up in it so much that, I'm sorry to say, I missed the last several seconds of the prayer.  It was just over and things were quiet - the prayer and then my thoughts/vision.  I then felt sorry that I missed the closing of his prayer but grateful for the tender feelings that I was left with.

I don't know how things really happen in the Spirit World, but this was a precious moment and my heart was touched and filled with love and joy.  This little vision in my mind that took place all at once, within only a few seconds time was a tender mercy that brightened my whole day. I'm still smiling!  And I #GiveThanks for it!

I am so grateful for the Spirit that touches our hearts and minds - for the inspiration that comes, for guidance and direction, for warmth and comfort, for love and joy - from heaven.  

President Nelson also shares "The Story Behind My Global Prayer of Gratitude"  (link here)