THANKSgiving

It's still Thanksgiving for another 40 minutes or so here, so while I'm still working on digesting dinner and pie, I'm going to write a post. And I'm not going to complain once. Nice change, right? ;)

I have so many things to be thankful for. Really. If I made a list, I don't think I would ever actually be done with it. But there are several that I want to share.

First of all, I'm grateful to be OFF BEDREST!! Woo hoo! No protein and my blood pressure is back to normal, so I am officially off the hook (barring any other scares this pregnancy). I'm so glad we have modern medicine that can detect some of these dangerous complications. But I am grateful to once again be able to cook and clean and grocery shop for my own family.

I'm grateful for the women I know who have been so willing to step forward and help us out by bringing meals, by keeping me company, by taking Amy for a little while, and for just generally making sure Brett, Amy, and I were okay. I am overwhelmed by the amount of help that was offered to us, and I'm grateful for the sacrifices others made in order to make our burden lighter.

I'm grateful for my family. That's such a simple thing to say, and I could write volumes just about my family! I have an amazing husband and such a sweet little girl. My mom is one of the best people I know in so many ways, and I'm so grateful that we chose each other. I have fantastic sisters who all influence my life in ways they may not even realize, but who make me strive to improve myself. I completely hit the jackpot with my in-laws. If I'd ever dreamt of having a second set of parents, Barry and Barbara would've been it! They are loving and supportive and just generally wonderful. Brett's siblings and their spouses, my sisters' husbands, you name it, I lucked out. Big time. I love my family, ALL of them. I don't know how I could be MORE blessed in regards to my family.

I'm grateful for the gospel. I haven't always been, and I'm glad that's changed! I'm grateful for the knowledge that my Heavenly Father loves me. I'm grateful for my Savior, who not only atoned for my sins but suffered in so many ways for me. I'm so thankful that even when my trials seem hardest, that I know I can turn to Jesus Christ, because He knows what I'm feeling and the pain that I'm in. I'm grateful for temples, because it means that I can be together with my family for eternity. What a blessing it is in my life to know that my marriage to Brett is NOT just "until death do us part", but that I will be with him and Amy and David and the rest of our children after this life. I'll be with my mom, and my sisters, and my dad. What a comfort that is to me!

I'm also grateful for the opportunity this holiday affords me to stop for a minute and reflect on the blessings in my life. We tend to get so caught up in the minutiae of everyday life, in the little complaints and slights that happen daily, that we forget how much we really have. I'm so thankful that I can take a few minutes to focus on all the good things in my life. There are just so many of them!

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!