The Fishpond: Feeling Grateful

Monday, November 28, 2011

Feeling Grateful

picture here

In preparation for a recent activity day I reviewed a talk given by President Monson entitled, The Divine Gift of Gratitude. In this he shares the story of when Jesus feeds 4,000 with seven loaves and a few fishes. President Monson points out that the Savior took the loaves and fishes and gave thanks. Then a miracle followed-he fed everyone until they were filled and had seven full baskets left over.

President Monson states, "Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our blessings, but it also unlocks the doors of heaven and helps us feel God's love."

I love this! I have definitely felt this in my life lately. The last few weeks I have stayed pretty busy with a variety of projects. Mostly things centered around this time of year with the holidays and birthdays. Amongst that have been projects that I haven't been able to do the last few months and things in preparation for having a new baby. My husband says I have five months of morning sickness and then five months of nesting. I don't know about that. I do know that I have been so grateful for the timing of things. I don't know how I would survive all that moms do during this holiday time of year if I was still dealing with morning sickness. This is one blessing I have recognized lately and so grateful to the Lord for the timing of things.

Another part of this talk that I loved was this statement:

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."

I know for one that I can do better at expressing my gratitude to others. I loved the gift analogy. Seems especially fitting for this time of year. I hope to do better at actually giving "presents" to those who bless my life.

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I should write that down

"Shut up and listen to what I meant", Minnie
I asked Princess if we should go watch Minnie unwrap her presents. After hearing presents,Princess said, "Ho, Ho, Ho"
While traveling home from Kindergarten Bud Boy told his dad, "School gives you something to do while you wait for lunch."
Tator commented, "I thought dad was weed hacking and you were going to mow." Mom replied, "He is probably just getting the lawn mower ready." Tator then replied, "or he's scaring a cat."
Important decisions need prayer!! Heavenly Father can answer our prayers with a Yes, No, or Maybe So. "When He answers yes, it is to give us confidence. When He answers no, it is to prevent error. When He withholds an answer, it is to have us grow through faith in Him, obedience to His commandments, and a willingness to act on truth. We are expected to assume accountability by acting on a decision that is consistent with His teachings without prior confirmation. We are not to sit passively waiting or to murmur because the Lord has not spoken. We are to act." Elder Richard G. Scott
Our home teachers shared a lesson on being thankful. After the lesson he said this is important, even for the wee ones. Bud Boy pipes up, "I love the Wii!"
Bud Boy is showing mom how Tator just hurt his arm. After showing her all the ways he can no longer move it he then says, "and this is the arm that does the remote."
We overheard Bud Boy trying to sing the lyrics to Check Yes or No by George Strait. "Do you Love me? Try guessing No"
Bud was asked to pick the song for FHE. He said I want to sing, "Follow the Prophet, Follow the Prophet, Don't go straight....."
"Mom, we're on the free way. That means you can go whatever speed you want. It doesn't matter. What matters is that you keep driving" Bud Boy
"I've seen Avengers 20 times. Wait a minute. Am I just making things up? I do that sometimes." Bud Boy
Bud Boy said to his sister, "You're a toilet". She said, "that is so rude". He then said, "Okay you're a couch"
When Bud Boy heard the song Call Me Maybe on the radio he yelled, "it's the song where she says Just give me a banana ; call me, maybe."
Bud Boy was listening to music on the ipod, "Mom it's the song where the guy plays the piano and the other one plays the Jell-O!"
After watching the Olympics, we overheard Tator saying( while playing with Barbies): "And she sticks the landing; no wobbly bobblies."
After going under his bed, in an attempt to retrive some toys, Bud Boy said, "I have a slight problem. I can't breathe under there."
Bud Boy said, "This is the bread I want, it's wheed bread."
While going through the clean laundry on the couch Jolly J exclaimed, "Quit sitting on the laundry! Now my clothes smell like butt."
Tator asked, "Dad what time does bedtime even start?" Dad replies 8 o'clock. Tator then says, "that's why we go to bed at 8."
Jolly J said to her sister, while counting up her game score, "You made me count to neven and I don't even know what letter that is."
I overheard Tator singing, "Adam was a prophet. First one that we know. He was called to Egypt."
Karebear was showing us that the outside lining of her lunchbox had a hole in it. Teasingly Dad said. "What, you expect us to buy you a new lunch box every year?" Bud Boy piped up, "You can just use a paper sack."
The song, Live Like You Were Dying, was on the radio. After hearing the line, "I loved deeper", Tator asks, "Why does he love big bird?"
Grandpa F often gives the girls money after attending a game they have played in. We went bowling as an extended family. After Bud Boy finished bowling he went up to Grandpa, held out his hand and said, "I had a game."
Karebear stated that "Dad was using his frustrated words" while working on the car.
Bud Boy asked mom to look in his eye because it was hurting. While inspecting he looked at mom's eyes and said, "Mom your eyes are starting to crack."
While driving Jolly J asks, "What does prindel mean?" We figured out she was looking at the gear shift (PRND3L).
Tator sits down with her plate of roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, and a roll at Sunday dinner. " Mom, this is like food from the olden days!"
Bud Boy is 22 your favorite number? "Yeah, it's a high number"
Hearing my son call out, "Amer-i-caw flag" every time he sees the flag.
Bud Boy claiming, "It is tomorrow" whenever we talk about doing something tomorrow.
After watching the news Tator asked, "Do we get tormadeos?"
While licking the beater Tator said, "Mom, Santa must really like you" Why? "Because you make good recipes!"
Bud Boy gets in the van and states, "Hot! I can't breed"
After hearing someone burb Bud Boy said, "Ha, Ha I do that too!"
Tator asked, "Mom, how long have you been married? " After answering she then asked, "How long has daddy been married?"
"I'm going to make my bed. That's a great idea and great ideas give you power!" Bud Boy
When we ask Bud Boy something and he doesn't know he says, as he shakes his head, "I can't know."
"We don't discover humility by thinking less of ourselves; we discover humility by thinking less about ourselves." Dieter F. Uchtdorf
After putting on his tie Bud Boy exclaimed, "I look like daddy's age!"
Bud Boy's current favorite song is Tinkle, Tinkle little star. Up b b b the world so high.
Tator comes into the room where Bud Boy is attempting to stand on his head. "Bud Boy I can see your butt crack. Mom, What's a butt crack?"
As we pull out of the garage to take the girls to school, Bud Boy states, "Good-bye house, we'll see you soon."
After watching her dad dance Minnie asks, "Is that a dance from the 80's?"