101 Thankful Things

IAT = I am thankful

There are some things that have made this month ROUGH. But I'm a gratitude preacher and refuse to dwell on it too long. I'm not saying I didn't pitch a temporary fit. Or that I didn't have a pity party. But to keep from going bitter and to stay true to my desire to be grateful in all things... 101 things I am grateful for.

1. I am grateful when life gets rough.
2. I am grateful when people have little regard for my feelings.
3. I am grateful (IAG) when people do not see my obvious gifts and instead think they are weaknesses.
4. IAG when people are not loyal to me.
5. IAG when I'm expecting tremendous success and I have to expect it more because part of it being my control was yanked away from me.

You think I'm kidding? I'm not!

6. IAG for a husband who listens.
7. IAG for new choices.
8. IAG for new opportunities.
9. IAG for fear that motivates.
10. IAG for children who love me and cheer me.
11. IAG for friends.
12. IAG for health.
13. IAG for a Savior who has felt not just disappointments and failures but MY disappointments and failures.
14. IAG for my happy grand baby.
15. IAG to be home.
16. IAG for my bed.
17. hubby who takes care of all the stuff that breaks and needs to be done.
18. ZUMBA!!!
19. My realtor job that has been good to me a lot of the time.
20. My coach training with Og Mandino.
21. These are in no particular order, ok? MY FAMILY. Brother, dad, cousins.
22. That was my family. My boys...
23. Andrew.
24. Christopher.
25. Joseph.
26. Jefferson.
27. Noah.
28. My girls...
29. Emily.
30. Olivia.
31. My body. What a gift to do and experience!
32. My lovely mother-in-law.
33. Seesters! They came as in-laws, but I don't care.
34. I want to name FRIENDS, but I'm afraid I'll forget one and hurt someone's feelings, so...Friends.
35. But, I will name some particular friends who I owe my life to. Friends at a critical time. Beth Overcash and her whole family. Kim Humphrey, and her whole family. Amy Autrey. Camma Banana Farnsworth and her family.
36. Awesome YW leaders who taught me right.
37. My seminary teacher Steve Johnson and his lovely Collette.
38. My choir teacher, Mr Pittman.
39. My drama teacher, Dr Demmond. (Can't remember how to spell it, did I remember it right?)
40. Having a cold, so I appreciate it when I don't.
41. My new daughters, Elizabeth.
42. Anica.
43. Mallory.
44. My father-in-law and his lovely wife.
45. My bishop, Bishop Knight and his counselors, especially one in particular.
46. My Stake President, Mark Beus, and his counselors. To always have good counsel is an awesome thing.
47. My mentor/friend Leslie Householder.
48. My mentor/friend Shantel McBride.
49. My mentor/friend Rebecca Fine.
50. My mentor/friend Dave Blanchard.
51. NEW OPPORTUNITIES. TONS of them!
52. Making new weight goals. :-)
53. New clothes!
54. Brand new babies coming into the world.
55. HOPE is awesome!
56. My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Because of Him.....EVERYTHING!!!! Just everything. I love Him!
57. My religious belief and practice.
58. That I can think my life into being.
59. New friends I meet all the time in my adventures.
60. Watching movies with my family, and POPCORN.
61. Butter. Yes, it must have it's own line.
62. And chocolate.
63. Dark chocolate.
64. Modern appliances! How I can count them.
65. My pressure cooker.
66. My blender.
67. My food processor.
68. My egg cooker.
69. Juicer.
70. Crock pot!
71. Solar oven. I should get that out.
72. Dehydrator. We need more jerky.
73. I think I said cousins, but I'm saying it again. And brothers. Ron, Von. (I'm Dawn) haha
74. Air conditioning. Seriously.
75. Automobiles to travel in.
76. And airplanes.
77. My house on 8 acres. I love our acres.
78. The view from it.
79. Spring weather.
80. Rain!
81. Talk prep.
82. Inspiration, I hope!
83. This awesome speaking coach named Kristin Thompson.
84. Showers.
85. Reminders.
86. Copy machines.
87. Helpful business partners.
88. Fun co workers.
89. My scriptures! So many versions. Hard copies and digital.
90. Modern flippin technology.
91. Birds.
92. Bees. Have you heard what's happening to them. Oh my!
93. Rescuers. In all varieties. People who rescue others.
94. Having skills to serve others.
95. Healing.
96. Nutrition.
97. FOOD!!! Yum.
98. Laughing.
99. Great books containing the thoughts of great minds.
100. Incredible red-headed friends who are powerful beyond belief but just don't know it yet. :-) You know who you are.
101. My church family. HOORAY! I feel better. You can too. Make a list. :-)

Why I Don't/didn't Vaccinate-Kind of

IAT = I am thankful

for modern medicine when necessary.
for knowledge.
for natural remedies.
for a mind to study.
for a will to choose.

UPDATE: 2/1/2015, One more reason why no one can judge anyone else on their decisions. I may have discovered the reason I had the nagging feeling to not vaccinate. Recently I was diagnosed with a genetic "defect." A gift from BOTH of my parents. It is called a MTHFR defect. See www.mthfr.net. This defect makes it extremely difficult for the body to detox and it creates a very over responsive immune system, which may be why I suffered from systemic yeast for years and chronic fatigue. Here is a discussion question (answered by Dr Lynch who is THE expert on this topic) about why someone with this defect should consider NOT immunizing. You will find his comment about 4 down from the question. EVERY SINGLE ONE of my children has this mutation. We do not know if they are homozygous like me, having the defect from both parents or heterozygous only getting it from me. But that test should be done for the benefit of our grandchildren I believe. DR Lynch says 75% of his patients are heterozygous and 40% are homozygous. It could be possible that up to 40% of the population have this defect that I do. That might explain at least some of the severe vaccine reactions in the population. Just one more thing to consider.

Here's my short immunization story. I had doubts with my first born. But how do you argue with a Dr? And we DIDN'T have the internet. He was fully immunized up till school entrance. Second born, I still had my doubts, only they were stronger. Someone loaned me A Shot in the Dark. I worried. He went up through his first MMR. Third child was born. I waited until he was 9 months for his first set of shots. He came down with explosive diarrhea and broke out in a rash all over. I put my foot down and decided not to do it after that. The only thing I can say, is the Spirit seemed to be screaming at me DO NOT VACCINATE. Over the next few years I read a few more books. I continued feeling like I should not vaccinate. One of the contraindications to a shot is family history of neurological problems (among other things).  My children have an uncle with epilepsy. I have long felt that the reason I was not to immunize was because of boy #2. I'll never be able to prove that cutting short his shots, saved him from anything, but that is my motherly thought.

I met a friend whose daughter actually collapsed after her shots. We kind of studied and decided together and it helped to have someone who did not question or ridicule my decision. From the 4th child on we did not vaccinate, until he was 10 and stepped on a rusty nail. They all got one round of DT at that point. The oldest ones have chosen to get immunized against the major childhood illnesses as they have decided to serve missions. I have things that I do to help strengthen their immune system in hopes that there will not be a reaction.

In time, the internet started, and wow. Research everywhere. I started at The National Vaccine Information Center, because the founder wrote one of the books I read. I have to say it is one of the best sites. It is not as emotional as some and more grounded in science.

From memory, here are a list of reasons why we chose not to vaccinate.

First, it never sat right with me, that the approach was to scare me into vaccinating. I am a firm believer in 2 Tim 1: 7. I'm not into the spirit of fear thing.

I know that my own experience does not translate to world experience, but I had whooping cough and survived. My dad and brother had measles, no issue. I did not get the measles when they had it so I wonder if I had already had it, and was immune. We all had chicken pox, and my cousins had mumps, which I also did not catch being around them. (And my Granny was a Christian Scientist and I grew up with no mom, so I can count on one hand how many times I saw a Dr growing up.)

I've had an interest in natural health as long as I have been studying vaccinations. Most of that knowledge has influenced the vaccination decision. Including:

Nutrition is critical to wellness. The better nutrition, the better health, the less fear, the easier to recover, and so forth. So,

Sugar wipes out your immune system. If you drink tons of soda and eat tons of candy and packaged food, you might want to pray hard for your immune system. Actually don't. Stop sugar. Praying seems dumb now that you know you are intentionally hurting yourself. This may be why our children have never been sickly overall. They get a sore throat now and then, colds, stomach aches and headaches, but that's about it. They bounce back quick and I usually use home remedies for all of it.

We don't drink milk! I can hear the collective gasp. What about calcium? Um, hogwash! If you really want to read more than you ever thought possible about how harmful dairy products are (seriously don't go there if you don't want your dairy consumption ruined), then read the Not Milk site. Milk causes congestion and mucus in the body. Yuck! Yes we use cheese, sour cream, and other dairy on occasion, but no milk drinking here. Only on cold cereal about once a week. I'm not sure anyone in our house has EVER had a sinus infection. Probably because of this one thing.

Bring on the heat! I like fevers. Say what??? This chick is whack! I know, right? Early on I read this cool little book written by Dr. Mendehlson. How to Raise a Healthy Child In Spite of Your Dr. I learned that fevers are support for the immune system. It was rare for me to give my feverish children anything for their fever. I knew it was helping their little bodies get stronger. There were exceptions. If the fever went a very long time, say more than a day, I would give them Tylenol. Or if it was very high. Now see, very high to me is VERY HIGH. So when little Jefferson was extremely ill on Christmas one year and his fever was.....I don't think I should tell you.....ok, I'll tell you. When I saw it was 106 (no his brain did not fry, wait, haha) I was alarmed. Called the Dr, gave him Tylenol, and kept him in a tepid tub a good part of the day. He lived! As I knew he would.

Our family has been very healthy. We did experience whooping cough in our house when my youngest was two. The three youngest children had it, along with my fully immunized husband, mother-in-law, and best friend. You can't really blame outbreaks on un-immunized CHILDREN because there are so many adults whose vaccines have worn off! During the day, they were COMPLETELY normal and asymptomatic. But at night, Katie bar the door! The first few weeks I slept with baby in the bed and husband. There were also 2 children on the floor in our room, so I could make sure they did not choke on their coughing. I must admit I was nervous, but we treated with the natural remedies we knew and I was ever so thankful she was two and not two months. But, if you happen to get whooping cough, you might want to know this. Wish I did. After a few weeks, it was just a whole lot of coughing for nearly four months.


I won't be giving my opinion about the recent measles snafu, but let me say this, I REALLY don't appreciate the vitriolic, accusatory, assumptions about "non-vaccinators." People talk about them like they are ignorant, knuckle dragging, idiots living in the Appalachians, which are beautiful by the way. I could have a degree in public health for the amount of hours I have put in studying about this issue. I don't take lightly that I have chosen to possibly take on childhood diseases mano a mano. That is WHY I have spent thousands?, at least hundreds of hours studying it. From this point forward, we really don't have children for childhood diseases anymore. They are mostly grown up, but I know what to do and am confident with the choices we have made. I cannot and will not put my children's lives into the hands of those who have an agenda. You think drug companies have some kind of altruistic interest in your children? I can believe most doctors do, but I do not believe a drug company does. We are talking about BILLIONS of dollars of profit. I'm not against profit, but the bigger the profit, the bigger the incentive to protect it. I call it "conspiring men."

And the negatives.

There's the ingredients. Do you know what's in them? Stuff like mercury, aluminum, formaldehyde. And other stuff like aborted fetal tissue, chick embryo stuff, sheep, calf, and monkey stuff, guinea pig stuff. All stuff I know I want to inject into my children's blood stream. Just saying. I'll take my veggies and supplements thank you.

There's the sheer number of shots! I remember getting my "shots" in a gun in my arm at school before it started. That's it! Maybe I was supposed to have more. And my baby book says I did, but there were like what? FOUR?  Now there are THIRTY TWO vaccines to be given by the time a child is ready to enter school. Does this not seem excessive to even the average person? Thirty nine challenges to the immune system in a few years! And remember those ingredients in the previous paragraph? In any other circumstance, if a total stranger came up and said, "hey, I'm just going to inject this disease in your kid, and don't worry it'll help him because we also have aborted fetus cells, monkey cells, mercury, and formaldehyde"....would you seriously consider saying yes to that kind of crazy?

Most of them are not proven to do what they claim.

Protect my baby from WHAT??? Ok, I can concede that it might make sense to protect children from polio, measles, pertussis, diptheria, but hepatitis B, IN THE HOSPITAL? A baby? Who doesn't even have an immune system yet. Who we don't even know what they might react to yet. Seriously? Hep B is contracted from risky sex and drugs. Why does my baby need that? Yeah. And DON'T even get me started on Gardasil, one of the most dangerous vaccines there is! I'm not going to inject my daughters to protect them from being sexually permissive! I'm going to educate them/teach them what's right and encourage them to live it. But that's just me. And chicken pox. Really? I thought that was so ridiculous that when my bff's kids got chickenpox, I ran over and brought my kids to share suckers. The most benign of all childhood diseases and they are now trying to convince us that all children will die without it.

So, those are the main points. I'd have to go looking up stuff to give more reasons that don't matter anymore. Long ago a friend and I disagreed about immunizations. I was right she, was wrong. I know she thought she was right and I was wrong. Then we both kind of realized. She was right and I was right. We were both doing the best we knew for our families. She took her risks, I took mine. It didn't mean we loved our children any less because we had come to different conclusions. I decided then, it's hard to vaccinate, and it's hard not to. I think it's harder when you choose not to, because every Dr, every friend, every teacher questions you and looks at you like you are careless with the lives of your children. It's just not so. I love my children every bit as much as anyone who chooses to inject their children and protect them. I just choose to protect them in another way.

I am so very glad that when I began my research so many years ago, that there was no internet. There was just me and a book and a rare other parent here and there seeking the truth as well, to encourage me. There was not heated public debates and the turning of friends on each other and well funded publications stoking it all.

As a final note, it is very disconcerting to me how members of my own faith are treating each other. I know the articles that are being quoted from years gone by to justify attacking one another, but it's not justified. Perhaps you should listen to the news conference that was held this week. It applies to more than gender issues. Even though I would have proofed this article a bit more, I like this gal's response to those of our faith who are using old information as doctrinal as opposed to policy suggestion. http://wholejourneymama.com/a-case-for-mormons-who-dont-vaccinate/

I've spent a good part of my parenting years hiding in the no-vaccine shadows. I hid it from doctors, most friends, and filled out the proper exemption forms for school. I guess that's the end of that. :-) The four oldest were updated by their own choice preparing to serve missions. I always tried to load them up with greens and megadoses of Vitamin C to decrease their odds of any reactions. We've been lucky. I suppose we'll have to discuss rubella for our daughters as they graduate because they haven't had it. Other than that, no more vaccines in our house. That's my story.

Final thought. Logic anyone? Thank you Matt.

See my mad crazy blood shooting from my eyes posts on my rant page. 

Love in Her Eyes

IAT = I am thankful

For a blog. I really miss regular blogging.
For the event I attended last Saturday.
For new friends.
For the ability to learn and grow.
For being able to pray for others.

So, I went to a really cool networking event last Saturday. One of the speakers gave us the assignment to grab a partner, get 7 inches away from their face (awkward, choose someone who looks friendly) and stare into their eyes. It kind of looked like this. :-)

I'm just kidding! Because I DID in fact choose 3 friendly faces, it was a great experience. The purpose was to bring awareness to the fact that the people around us are angels with a divine nature. We were to express our love for the other person through our eyes only. It really looked more like this.

I had a very strange experience with the second person into whose eyes I was looking. (Yeah, that's a weird grammatically structured thought to attempt to express). I saw something in her eyes and I'm like, whaaaaaat?

So, I kind of in my head, do the double take, shake my head and look again. Wait. There it is again. Now I'm really confused. You really won't believe it.

I confirmed multiple times that I was actually seeing what I was seeing. What did I see? I kid you not. I saw this.

This beautiful, joyful woman whose eyes I was looking into, had HEART SHAPED pupils. Try to imagine what you would think or feel. Because I was thinking and feeling, "wait, am I seeing what I think I am seeing? Does she actually have heart shaped pupils? Maybe we are too close and I just need my glasses. No, there it is again. She really does have heart shaped pupils. Does SHE know she has heart shaped pupils? It HAS to be contacts. Yeah, that's it, it's contacts."

I had a part in the program later and she had a part in the program later. In her part, she mentioned something about her contacts and I thought "ok, I'm not going crazy, it's her contacts and how cool is that that she chose hearts for her pupils."

Only she didn't.

I couldn't resist talking to her after the meeting and asking her about her heart shaped pupil contacts. Of course, I also noticed at that moment that her pupils were just as ordinary as anyone else's. No, I was not on hallucination inducing drugs. Unless you call a protein shake a hallucinogen. I don't have an answer to why I thought I saw hearts in her eyes, but I know this. I SAW HEARTS IN HER EYES.

I don't know if it was love flowing from her heart, or from mine, or combined from both of us, or if it was a deeper spiritual message just to me, to see love in the eyes and hearts of others, but I'll be pondering it for some time I am sure. One of my NY goals is to see things clearly. Maybe seeing things through the lens of love is the best way to live your life. What do you think?

Merry Christmas 2014

IAT = I am thankful

click for larger view

Just a few more happy thoughts that didn't fit on the back of the post card. We hope you all have a Merry Christmas and are able to count your blessings. Know that the Nortons have challenges too. Maybe it seems like everything is rosy, but we just don't take any pleasure in broadcasting the negative. We'd rather just focus on our blessings. So, with that.

Bret continues teaching at the Gila Valley Institute. He enjoys his classes and students. It's been a wonderful job now for nearly 30 years. Hard to believe. Harder to believe that we are actually thinking and planning for retirement in just a few years. Bret serves as a member of the bishopric in our church. He is a hard working husband, and a great dad. He is ultra supportive of everything I do. Bret's mom sold the family home in Duncan this year, and moved on to our property. We love having her as a neighbor. Never have to worry about the kids knowing Grandma is right there. It was pretty hard and pretty sad to move all of her things out and wave goodbye to so much.

Andrew, Elizabeth, and.....CHARITY. This year we gained our first grandchild. She's a beautiful little girl and I've loved the opportunity that they have been close most of the year and we get to see all of them often and babysit Charity regularly. Both grandmas agree she is perfect. :-) Drew finished his degree this year in Interdisciplinary Studies through ASU, but taken locally in partnership with our local Jr College. (Think Liberal Arts but Business). He and Elizabeth moved to Mesa for the Summer where Drew sold pest control quite successfully and then they moved back to our little valley. Drew got his insurance license and is working for Allstate insurance. Elizabeth is finishing her degree in May. Recently changed from Elementary Education to Interdisciplinary Studies too. We love seeing them often and they are usually here on Sundays.

Chris and Anica. Anica graduated with the same degree as Andrew and at the same school. So we attended both of their graduations at the same time. Chris will graduate with the same degree in May. Chris and Anica spent the Summer in Denver also selling pest control successfully. They had a fun time in the area and we had fun visiting them. Anica has several jobs and Chris was just hired with Verizon and they are moving to Tempe, Az and will finish up classes there at ASU. Well, Chris will. They are talking about Masters Degrees next year. They are a fun loving couple and it has also been wonderful having them close. We'll miss that.

Joseph and......Joseph got home from his mission to Ogden, Utah in March of this year. If you've never sent a child away for two years without the ability to communicate any time you want to in an instant communication world, you might not appreciate what it means for our missionaries to come home. It's just plain awesome. A few weeks later, he met the girl of his dreams (Mallory) and they dated most of the year until they got engaged recently, and married just a few days ago.

Besides a wedding, Joseph has had several years of heart issues. He has never been diagnosed but his symptoms were very much like mine for those of you who know that history. Finally this Summer, when his heart was absolutely giving him fits, he was diagnosed with SVT. This Fall he had OUTPATIENT corrective surgery and there is a 95% chance he'll never have another issue. Grateful for that! Joseph is musically talented and majoring in music attending our local college with future hopes of BYU-I. He had a very busy semester in plays and musicals and choir concerts. We loved attending. He is working at Big 5 and tuning pianos until he is finished with schooling or changes locations.

Jefferson continues to work as a manager at our local Hawaiian restaurant. He is a valued employee and has been saving money for his mission. He turned 20 this year and in just a few weeks will be hitting the submit button on his mission papers and we will find out what the next few years hold for his future. He has really matured into a wonderful help and support. Kind and caring. We often say we have 31/2 children left at home because even though he lives here, he's not here much. I love hearing him play the piano and the ukelele.

Emily is a pretty joyful teen to have around. She just turned 17 and I'm so glad that on most days, she is wearing a smile and sporting a laugh. It's rare that I ever get any push back from her and we're really thankful for her easy going attitude. She is a junior and is in full swing in basketball right now and she is also working at the Hawaiian restaurant. We are glad she has a little money coming in and learning the value of that. She has great supportive friends and loves her new school and circumstances (2nd year at a new high school) She's a good older sister and I am often told how much she looks like me. Not sure she appreciates that, but there it is.

Noah is a freshman and we can hardly wrap our brains around that. He is 14 going on 20. A great kid with a funny sense of humor. He is helpful and growing so fast we aren't sure his weight will ever catch up with his height. His main goal in life is to pass up his mother, which will likely happen any time. He was taking piano this year and then somehow that slipped through the cracks, so while he is waiting to start at the beginning of next year again, he taught himself how to play the guitar. He is often strumming and singing and has a pretty nice voice for his age. We are hoping that he might start tennis next year.

Olivia is much like her sister in the smiling and laughing department. We seriously scored on these two girls. She continues taking art lessons and is getting better and better. She is a good student and is vibrant and happy like most 11 year olds. She will also continue piano at the new year. She tried basketball earlier this year. We are still trying to figure out what the interests of this 6th grader will be. She may be completely artistic as she likes art, music, dance, etc. She's mentioned she'd like to take violin. We'd like that too.

Then there's me. There's really too much to tell. It was a very difficult year for me at first. Our second move left me pretty lonely not knowing anyone. But, I threw myself into church and zumba (a new interest) and finding a walking partner, who I love, and just staying busy and that has all seemed to work itself out. I was teaching the 7 year old children in Sunday School but they downgraded me to the adult Sunday School teacher. ;-) I have really enjoyed studying the Old Testament this year and I am super excited to spend the whole year studying the New Testament. I am beginning to love teaching. In March I signed on with the Og Mandino company to begin training as a life coach. I've completed that training and am looking forward to some fresh opportunities in January. I've also partnered with a gal in a nutritional company and she is going to help me with a nutritional business (finally lost 10 pounds) while I help her with coaching and training. I am extremely joyful that in a moment of gratitude this year, 11 years of eczema was healed. That may sound strange, but gratitude healed my eczema. You'll just have to ask me about it. Finally, my real estate business continues its bipolar ways. Had a super successful first half of the year, but the second half slowed way down. Ironically, I now have more listings (and potential) than I've ever had. I'm going to stop saying this is the year I quit real estate, because that just doesn't seem to be true. :-)

I think that's quite a few more thoughts and if you are still reading, wow, you must love us. We love you too. So many friends and family that we miss, but cherish memories and relationships. We are thankful each and every year for the Christmas season and how it brings out the best in people. We hope you will find the peace of the season that comes from THE Peacegiver. May your faith and blessings carry you through another year.

Warm wishes from the Norton family!

Gratitude in ALL things

IAT = I am thankful

I've had an ongoing challenge for some time. It's my challenge even though it's common to a lot of people. I don't think it matters what it is, just that I continue to be stressed by it. It's been particularly difficult the last four months. Think of YOUR challenges. What is really hard for you? A few weeks ago, it seemed to really reach an emotional crisis for me. Enough that I was brought to tears over it and wondered what to do. I had the opportunity to take a long drive (show a property in another county) and so I had time to ponder. A couple of years ago, I considered the scriptural counsel to be grateful in ALL things. I wondered if I could possibly do that.

I've been teaching for years that being grateful is like having a perfect view out a big picture window. You can see clearly and it all makes sense. But when you aren't grateful or refuse to acknowledge God's hand in all things, it's as if someone has pulled the curtains shut. The view is still there. Everything is just as clear as day, but you can't see it very well.

So, I'm crying like a ninny and fretting, and I start praying, and I say, "God, thank you for this trial. I am sure there is a lesson in it, and I want to be your student." Whoa Nelly, the curtains were thrown open. Because it has become quite the sacred experience for me, I won't share the conversation that happened, or at least that I perceived happened between me and the Spirit. But I was seriously not expecting what came and I think it's one of the most moving experiences I've had in my life. As I continued to ponder the experience and direction I had been given, I TRULY was grateful for this challenge I have had. One of the answers is to just keep going. But since then, I have been able to just let it go.

A few months ago, I actually experienced a healing because of gratitude. THAT is for another day. I was blown away by that new knowledge; that gratitude can heal physical ailments. Still scratching my head. What a gift!

I've thought a lot since my prayer in the car, these past few weeks, and come to the simple conclusion that I am more blessed than I could ever deserve. It's all perspective. A long time ago I was raised in circumstances that were pretty difficult at the time. But since I was about 21, my life has been almost a fairy tale when I look back on it. Not to say there has not been a major crisis here and there or there have not been times when I was brought to my knees in pleading and anguish. I think most people have a few of those. But when I ponder this Christmas and what could be my lot...

On the same day, a few days ago, on facebook I saw two statuses that confirm my above thoughts. In one family, fund raising was happening for their 3 year old boy. He had choked on something and now lay in a hospital with no brain activity and his family considering who they could save through organ donation. In another family, the mother was facing death after a pregnancy with cancer. (http://kathysmiracle.com/) She did not have treatment to save the life of her baby, but her baby died a few days after birth! THESE trials are difficult on any day of the year, but at the Christmas season? Doubly hard.

Then today, I was greatly moved by a client I worked with earlier this year. During THE MOST difficult real estate transaction in my career, this sweet family lost their darling 18 month old to drowning. I wanted desperately to be sure that the sale of their home was completed. It took four months.

You know all those end of the year facebook summaries? Hey look at my year? Thanks for being a friend, etc. Well, this sweet client of mine, posted hers. The caption? "It was a great year." Now THAT my friends is being grateful in all things. She doesn't know she is my hero. She is walking the walk. A few weeks after she lost her dear little guy, I gave her a compliment that led to a long conversation. I was so impressed that this young mom who had lost her only child...instead of finding ways to turn her grief into bitterness, anger, and why me's, chose instead to focus on all the many blessings that people were offering her. She was broken hearted to be sure. But she did not use it as an excuse to stop life in it's tracks. And because of that (and a darling new baby boy) she is moving on with her life. I know she will always have a tremendous hole in her heart saved for loving her little angel, but I hope, when times are really tough for me, that I can act as graciously and gratefully as she has taught me.

My experience of a few weeks ago, the true trials of other families, and my real estate friend, give me a greater desire to be grateful in all things. I want to close with some moving words from the husband of the mother of five (six) who will be leaving her family soon.

"Intuitively the only length of life long enough to satisfy our desire is eternal life making the veracity of the resurrection self evident and still the freedom is ours to receive a sharper comprehension of this gift than is afforded by intuition alone. But why bother? In truth some of us are far removed from concerns as pertaining to eternal life, the hereafter being so far away. And so here is my message: If you have loved here then your hour of desperation will surely come and the significance of the resurrection; for you personally, will transcend your most choice experiences, because you will know by and through the resurrection, do (that?) those experiences and associations; your greatest treasures, continue to matter."

I feel blessed with my life and continue to desire to give it to Him by giving to others. My little Merry Miss phrase from days of long ago, continues to come to mind regularly. "I will radiate the light of the gospel by bringing joy to others." Gratefully.

It's November and I am THANKFUL

IAT = I am thankful

I have a hard time with November. I love it. But do I love it more than December? Well, I've decided I love November more than anything when I am in it. And I love December more than anything when I am in it. I love focusing on gratitude during November. Thanksgiving seems to be the ONLY holiday that corporate America hasn't figured out how to monetize. So, we can truly focus on what is important; Family, Abundance, Thanks.

Did you know the word grateful isn't in the Bible? But thanks in some form or another appears 35 times in the Old Testament, and 48 times in the New Testament. In fact, thank offerings were a part of temple worship. It was a requirement.

Even though I have heard all of my life to be grateful/thankful, I can't say I really incorporated it until about 6 years ago, when it kept coming to me over and over and over again. Gratitude was one of the first steps I took to change my life from overwhelm, discouragement, and depression, to joy, happiness, and success.  (YOU define success by the way) What does it mean to you?

Every day this month, I am finding something to be grateful for. If you really want to test your mettle, be thankful for things that are difficult. (In my faith, I believe that God's greatest offense comes from our lack of gratitude and refusal to confess his hand in ALL things, see scripture.)

I am posting most of my gratitude on FB, but today I wanted to explain if anyone cares to know.

Today was our Stake Conference. I am so grateful for those who serve in leadership capacity in our church. It is an unpaid ministry. Most of the "ministers" of our faith, have full time jobs and also minister. It's quite a feat. Then one day, they are "released" from their ministerial duties, quietly and without a whole lot of fanfare. One day they may be the leader of a large or very large flock, and the next day, they may literally be playing with the toddlers in the nursery. Or a boyscout leader, or a sunday school teacher, and so forth.

Today our "Stake Presidency," something akin to a diocese in the Catholic Church, was released from their duties because our Stake President moved. And a new presidency, which consists of three men, were called to replace them. There is no jockeying, no voting, no recommending. 2 members of the general leadership of our church came to reorganize. They are tasked with using prophecy and revelation to call the new leaders of our area. They did that last night and today they were sustained by the body of members.

Being a new member of this stake, I am grateful that I know all three and have complete faith in their goodness to fulfill these new roles in leadership over us.

President Mark Beus, works with my husband. He is the Institute of Religion director and a wonderful husband, father, and teacher. We love their family.

President Vaughn Grant. I know Vaughn in a service and business relationship. He helped me with a flood issue in the sale of our home. He was a critical piece in our home closing. Fortunately or unfortunately we had a similar issue on the purchase of our new home. Once again he came through with his expertise, counseled me how to get what we needed and wanted, and is finishing up the process as we finally are no longer required to have flood insurance after 19 years of paying it unnecessarily. What a great guy!

President Channen Day. He was a bishop in Clifton while Bret was a bishop in Duncan. Sarah and I went to camp together. I watched the Days navigate a pretty unfair circumstance with grace and goodness, rare with some people.

I am grateful they have agreed to take on a difficult position requiring much time, for likely close to ten years. I know we will be praying for them, and I know they will be blessed for their service as much as we probably are.

I am so thanful!

Annual Group Order