Starting off the Month of Gratitude - thankful for friends!

I had 4 friends die this year. 3 of them were contemporaries - and the other one was much too young to die. As I scrolled through my photos, I thought that I had far too many friends to post about on one post - so this is just representative of the great blessing that friendship has been in my life.  And also representative of the fact that I don't actually have photos of all my friends!

Connie died in August - and I grieve for that loss. She came into my life at just the right moment - we shared books and children and church and the workplace and walking and road-tripping and a beach house and lots of great conversations - I will always miss her.

After I had known Norma for many years, she commented, "You're the first Mormon I ever met that I liked!" So glad I managed to be that! I still enjoy her friendship. In spite of our many differences, we share a lot of ideas and positions in world - and we have some great conversations.  I truly value her presence in my life.

 

I do not miss working - but I do miss my colleagues. Teaching for over 20 years was a career - but more than that, it was a place to connect and grow and share - and I miss that element.

 

Friends that started out being friends with your spouse - and the friendship grew to include their spouse too - it's the best - and the Nebekers are the epitome of that genre! We miss Ry so much. But are grateful to still have a friendship with Sarah.

Tina is much younger than me - but we had kids the same age when we got to know each other - and I was pretty sad when she moved out of our ward. But the friendship continued - and we even survived traveling to Chile together - we passed the test with flying colors I would say! And Jim is included in the package!

 

I walked each morning with these two women for over 10 years. And I learned so much. They were there when we moved to Monrovia - and they were just what I needed! The Lord does provide. And Polly gets all the credit for the pianists in our family!

 

Kay and I went to France on the same study abroad program. And we taught Freshman English together at the Y. And we have stayed in touch over the years - and everytime I see her, I feel like the years apart never were. That's the best kind of friend.

 

Linda brought Andrew over each day for 7 years and we were his "daycare." But it was much more than that - I feel like we are "family" - and that's another blessing of friendship.

 

Ah - the BFF! Joy and I go way back - and we were college roommates too - I could write a book - but I won't until I get a look at her journals!

 

Friends since Kindergarten - we hardly see each other now - but Marguerite came to my mom's funeral! She once said, "We could not see each other for years and years. But if you call and need me, I will be there." 

A pretty good definition of friendship.

 

My college roommates are dear friends still. Some of them are not good at keeping in touch - but when we do get together - and fortunately we do - the years melt away.

Friendship - I could go on and on - no wonder it is number one on the gratitude list!

Treasure your friends - and be sure to take photos of them!!

Gratitude - Day 30

The month of gratitude ends - and today is also the 14th anniversary of the death of our dear friend Charlie Graham.  Seems fitting to end it on this note of gratitude for a life well-lived - and a life that still influences and impacts others for good.

Rest in peace, Charlie. We miss you still!

Gratitude - Day 29

When I was a teenager, my mother recruited my sister Alice and me to help with one of the boys in her Cub Scout Den.

Later I was a Den Leader for my son Harry.

Later still I was just a Den Leader - but Harry was old enough to serve as my Den Chief.

Then I was asked to be a Den Leader for Noah.

I think I thought I was done.

But for the last 5 or 6 years, I have been the Stake Cub Master, working with two of my grandsons.

You might say I'm a lifer!

But it has mostly been a blessing.

And I am grateful for that!

Gratitude - Day 28

I am certainly grateful for all of our grandchildren. They are all unique individuals and I have loved getting to know them.

Your first grandchild, like your first child, holds a special spot though. 

And today I am grateful for Ara - grateful for the wonderful mission she is serving.

And grateful that she returns next month - excited to see her and hear all about it!

Gratitude - Day 27

In 2011, we lost our little grandson Jonah Adam after a brief sojourn here on earth of only 11 days.  He had been born with a serious birth defect that just wouldn't allow him to live here on earth.  We knew it before he was born and were told he might only live a few minutes or hours.

So we were grateful indeed for those precious days.

I am grateful for the blessing of eternal families - and the peace and comfort it brings.

Gratitude - Day 26

I sort of went to college by accident. I had friends who talked about it, but most of them stayed home and went to the local college.  My brother was at BYU, and he sent me an application for BYU.  I not only got accepted, I got a scholarship too.

It was one of the best decisions I ever made.  Getting a degree impacted so many aspects of my life. If I had not gone to BYU, I would never have met my husband.  If I had not gone to college and gotten a degree, I would not have worked as a school teacher.  If I had not gone to college, I would not have made a group of life-long friends who are still a major part of my life.  

A great blessing - that continues to bless my life.

Gratitude - Day 25

Alice used to make lots of my clothes - and we collaborated often on our wardrobe choices. The above dress was a favorite of mine - she made it for me the summer I got engaged. I wish I had more photos of other fave dresses and outfits.  But I am grateful for memories of favorite things in my life!!

It's good to have favorites!!

Gratitude - Day 24

Years ago, Harry got serious about marathons - and after qualifying at Death Valley (in December!) he ran his first Boston Marathon.

He's run 10 or more Boston's - we have missed the last two - but the years we have gone have been great experiences.

Travel, seeing historic sights, facing tests and trials, having family join us, meeting new people, sharing important moments with each other - all blessings!

Gratitude - Day 23

Over the years, Harry and I have served in many callings in the church. And that has indeed been a blessing in our lives.  Not all callings are created equal - some seem to be more rewarding than others - but they have all added to our lives in good ways.

Harry usually served - and still does - in leadership callings - Elder's quorum presidencies, bishoprics and bishop, YM President, Stake YM President - but teaching callings and others - Gospel Doctrine, Scoutmaster.

Mine have been more diverse - Ward Librarian, Relief Society teacher, Primary teacher, Nursery leader, Cub Scout Den Leader - much later I began serving in presidencies and as a YW President, Relief Society President at the ward and stake level - and Stake YW Camp Director!!

But regardless of the calling, I have found purpose - with occasional frustration - and when released, I do miss the calling - and especially those I worked with!

Truly a blessing in my life.

Gratitude - Day 22

November 22, 1963, John F. Kennedy, President of the United States, was assassinated in Dallas, Texas.

I am not grateful for this event - but grateful for a government that was stable enough to move forward in spite of such a heinous act.

Good government is a blessing.

Gratitude - Day 21

I have 5 sisters - and 6 brothers - and I love them all - but I have a special spot in my heart for Leslie and Donna.  They went with me often to my playground job for LA Unified when I was home summers.  They often went in the car with me when I went to the market for my mom. When I came home from school to work for a semester to go to France, they hung out a lot with me.

I am grateful for those experiences being "pretend" mom with them - they were fun - and I think they taught me a thing or two!

And it created a basis for our ongoing friendship - which is a blessing too!

Gratitude - Day 20

This is the only photo I ever saw of my mom with her parents and 2 brothers - in the same photo.  Not sure why, but they didn't seem to gather as a group with photo-op moments!

I loved my aunts and uncles and my grandparents - I am grateful for their place in my life.  My past is a little richer for knowing them!

Gratitude - Day 19

I am grateful for colleagues - who made my 20 years of teaching a rewarding experience.  This does not begin to include everyone - not sure I even have photos of everyone - but what I miss in retirement is the daily association with some really great people.

Gratitude - Day 18

A couple of weeks ago, at the start of November, I started a somewhat ambitious task of  posting a daily gratitude message - on FB, IG, and my blog.  I was using the quotes in a gratitude journal I bought last February at the MOA at BYU.

It is a little tricky - I have to find the right quote, the right photo, and remember what I have already posted - even though I am certain no one is reading all three of those!

But alas, I am running out of quotes in my book - there are 25 quotes left - that means the math won't work.

So I am using up the quotes on FB and IG - and the blog will get just some generic out gratitude thoughts!

Today I am truly grateful for the opportunity I had to go to school in France for 6 months.  It was fun, enlightening, and I made some important life-long friends!

Vive la France!

Gratitude - Day 17

Anne Lamott, a delightful author I recently became acquainted with, said "Every time I see the bumper sticker that says 'We think we're humans having spiritual experiences, but we're really spirits having human experiences,' I (a) think it's true and (b) want to ram the car."

The above photo was taken when I was pregnant and ill with Hannah.  Every baby has been worth the weeks of feeling awful - but you still have weeks of feeling awful.  Is that a human having a spiritual experience or a spirit having a human experience?

I am grateful for all the experiences that have made up my life - spiritual and human - but I certainly hope there is not a spiritual equivalent of morning sickness!

Gratitude - Day 16

Unfortunately, I have no photos of any fools - even if I did, it might not be circumspect to post such a photo with that designation!!

But Mark Twain once said - and it sounds exactly like something he would say - "Let us be thankful for the fools.  But for them the rest of us could not succeed."

And I am grateful for contrast - and for the mistakes of others that make us look smart - but also teach us something important too!

Gratitude - Day 15

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wisely observed, "For after all, the best thing one can do when it is raining, is to let it rain."

Lots of ways to take this injunction.  To my way of thinking, it means to make the best of whatever it is that life is offering you.

I am thankful for that advice - and thankful for rain - whenever it comes!

Gratitude - Day 14

A.A. Milne said, "How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard."

I found this photo - says 1969 - and it looks like Joan, Lyn, myself, and Charles are not in the photo.  I'm pretty sure we did not come home for Christmas that year - maybe Charles was still in the mission field - and Lyn and Joan were married and living away.

At the time, saying goodbye didn't seem hard - but at times when I reflected on where everyone else in the family was and where I was, I would recall holiday times - and feel a bit of melancholy.

And it is indeed gratifying to be fortunate enough to have something you miss when you don't have it!

Gratitude - Day 13

John Baldessari, once again someone I have never heard of, said, "Luckily, I'm blessed with a well-developed sense of absurdity - it's what saved me."

These two photos are from our trip to Paris 25 years ago - to celebrate our 25th anniversary. It was not so much absurd as kind of odd - middle of March, cold and gray, our finances not really up for a "Grand Tour," but we found bargain tickets and said, "Hey, let's go."

And we had a fine time - one I remember in great detail.

Grateful indeed.

Gratitude - Day 12

Mark Frauenfelder said, "I think I'm the happiest I've ever been.  Part of it is just learning what makes me happier and doing more of it, and learning what makes me unhappier and doing less of it.."

So grateful for a great family - willing to gather often - this makes me happy!! 

Not sure what makes me unhappy - but I'm pretty good about avoiding what I don't like!!