Gratitude - Days 1 and 2

In the Terrill family favorite,  Holiday Inn,  der Bingle croons, "I've got plenty to be thankful for." And I do indeed have plenty to be thankful for.  In fact, as I was reflecting today, I realized that I am truly blessed - and if I complain, I am truly being ungrateful.  That doesn't mean that everything is hunky-dory.  But it does mean that I should probably pause a moment before I start grousing!

I was born of goodly parents, have a passel of great siblings, was able to attend the college of my choice, married a fine man, to whom I have been married for almost 50 years, have 6 great kids who each have a wonderful spouse, and they have given us 22 beautiful grandchilden.

We have a lovely home in a lovely town.  We belong to a church that gives purpose and meaning to our lives. We are healthy and strong.  We have many opportunities to serve.  We are both retired, but we have meaningful work to do each day.

John Wooden, famed UCLA basketball coach, said, "If we magnified blessings as much as we magnify disappointments, we would all be much happier." There is a lot of food for thought here - and I think I will start eating!

Day 4 of the Month of Gratitude

I am grateful for our son Harry!  We struggled to have Bonny and so weren't even thinking particularly about having another child.  Then lo and behold, one was on its way and we hadn't even been trying!!  What a blessing.

We were delighted to have a boy - so we had one of each! Harry was as mellow as Bonny had been fussy, but we didn't mind that - and after her colic, Bonny was as good as a baby could be.  I remember Harry asking me - Harry the Dad that is - "When will he start crying?"

He was kind of a Mama's boy - would not go to the Nursery, preferred to hang out with me.  Once Bonny went off to kindergarten, we were great little pals.  Lots of good memories.

Once we moved to SoCal, and Harry turned 8, we figured he could go to Cub Scouts.  The ward wasn't well organized in that respect, and they didn't have a den for him.  So I organized my own den and he and Damond were my Cubbies!  It was great fun - I've always been glad for the experience.

We worked on his Eagle project together too - a stray kitten was on our street - Harry wanted to keep it - I said no.  He said, "I will promise to get my Eagle if you let us keep him."  Thus Cosmos came into our lives!  (and Harry got his Eagle!)

It's great having Harry and his family nearby - Harry likes to tease me - he thinks I don't know that he's teasing - but I do.  Don't tell him though!

Harry is a great son - and we are so glad he's part of our family!!

Day 2 of the Month of Gratitude

I was indeed born of "goodly parents" who did their best for their children.  Much of that is seen in hindsight - I actually recall thinking that my parents didn't have a life!  I remember thinking when I got married that my mom - who was 47 years old at the time - had nothing left in life to look forward to!  Oh the folly of youth!

My parents were not perfect - far from it - but they did the best they could with what they had.  And they gave me so much more that "things" or fortune.  My mom graduated from college at age 68 - because her dad - and my dad too to some degree - didn't think women needed an education.  She was very traditional and always deferred to my dad -  but I learned to think for myself from her.  Not sure how that came about, but as she aged and I talked with her, I came to realize that she was mostly a product of her era - but she pushed the boundaries when she thought maybe she could get away with it!

My dad had been raised by a loving mother to whom he was greatly devoted.  I don't think I realized how much she had influenced his life until I was an adult and thought about how much she had shaped his words and thoughts and deeds - and tastes! His father was something of a scoundrel - but one everyone loved. My dad was just as devoted to him.  His parental devotion is really quite remarkable - I'm not sure I've seen it replicated.  He would brook no criticism of either of them!

I truly wish I'd appreciated and understood my parents much sooner than I did.  But I am still grateful for all they gave me in life.

Some thoughts on gratitude -

We are here in Virginia, enjoying our time with the Hamills and the Selanders - and it is a very enjoyable time.

I was thinking that it's been a very long time since we've had Thanksgiving at our house. And before that, it often was not much of a "big deal" holiday. For one thing, Dad liked to work during the day on Thanksgiving - because no one would interrupt him and he could get lots done. For another thing, it was a prime time to get projects done around our house - for the same reason! When we did have it, we often had roast chickens - usually two - since no one was really crazy about turkey - they were mostly crazy about the mashed potatoes and gravy - and the pies I guess.

There were several Thanksgiving years when I was YW President and we had pumpkin pie sales to raise money for Girls' Camp. These sales were a huge success - because all the pies and crusts were homemade. I had initially planned to buy them in bulk somewhere and mark them up. Connie Watson said, "Oh no, we can make them." When I said I didn't know how to make pie crust, she said, "Well, I will teach you."

And teach us she did - and I daresay most of the Young Women in our ward from that era are pretty good pie makers. There were some sad customers when the practice was discontinued after I was released!! (Hannah is especially proficient at making crusts that not only taste good, but look good too!)

As the years moved on, and family members moved hither and yon, we took up taking trips to visit them at Thanksgiving. For a couple of years we did dinner at Bonny and Bruce's. Then a few years saw us in Concord, Davis, and Portland. Now the tradition revolves around the DC area. Who knows where it will lead us!?

Even though the location may change however, there is one thing that never changes - and that is the profound gratitude I feel for the wonderful family of which I am a part. My own parents and siblings, their spouses and children, my wonderful husband, our children, their spouses, and our sweetl grandchildren, Harry's parents and siblings and their spouses and children - all these great people are always a part of my life - and thankfully - and hopefully - always will be!

I have countless other blessings, too numerous to start enumerating. I am aware each day of how blessed my life is. Even with trials and heartache that often weigh me down, I feel buoyed up and supported. Thinking about all that I have and enjoy seems like a good way to start the season that culminates with the celebration of the Savior's birth.