I know that this is a weird title for a post that will start with discussing Clark and I's Thanksgiving but unfortunately my brain takes mysterious turns and thinks deeply and I want to share some of my deep thoughts.
This Thanksgiving was absolutely wonderful. Clark and I woke up on Wednesday morning (the day before) packed our bags and headed to Clifton. We then road up to Ashton with a very loaded van plus seven bodies in it and we sang Christmas music the whole way. I love when my family sings together in the car. We all have decent voices, not American Idol voices but close, and it was very fun.We arrived at my Grandma's in the afternoon and continued to catch up with aunts, uncles, cousins and gran. My family is very close and my cousins are like my siblings and my aunts like my mothers. We stayed up late and then got up early to walk in the church. I got to walk with my parents and my aunt and have a fun little chat then we got back to Gran's and the preparation began. We made tons of yummy food and cute place settings then we sat down at around 2 to eat our meal. (I'll post pictures later... my mom stole my camera AGAIN surprise surprise)
When we have Thanksgiving dinner it is a tradition to say the prayer holding hands or at least I want it to be a tradition. I forgot to tell everyone we were going to hold hands before the prayer started so during the prayer all of the cousins began holding hands and then the chain stopped at Addie because my grandparents friend Wally, an elderly Russian man, was on her right side. She wasn't brave enough to grab the Russian's hand. It was really funny and probably very disruptive but we all enjoyed it.
Another tradition we REALLY have is after we get dished up we go around the table and say something we are grateful for. It is very tender every time we do it. We all have numerous things we are grateful for... some funny, some very simple and some very precious to us. This year we had a great variety of all three. My cousin Heather was thankful for trees because they help us breathe. My honey Clark said he was grateful for me, it was very sweet. I said I was grateful for all the safe houses I have of my aunts and that I know I can always be welcome at. Read this to learn more Click Here! Wally was thankful for the birds of the air and the fish of the sea... very simple and lovely. The most tender was JD.
He said he was thankful he knew that if we were doing what was right we would be happy and okay. He was struggling that day because his knee had been hurting him and he just didn't want to have to get surgery on it because there has always been some surgery he needed and he just wants to play ball. He began to cry and said that even if he had to get surgery and not play for a while it would be okay because he knew if he was doing what was right and good he would be happy. Because JD started crying so did McKayla, Addie, all of the Aunts at the table and probably Gran too.
From that moment my heart has been very tender toward the subject of pain and why people have to go through it. I know that pain and trials are given to us to make us stronger but it hurts me deeply to watch others go through their own trials and I just wish we didn't have to have pain at all.
My brother is a perfect example of someone who overcomes pain and moves on having faith and trying to be happy. I look up to him in so many ways.
My grandma is another example I look up to everyday. As I watched her Thanksgiving weekend, I saw the loneliness in her eyes and heard it in her voice and I know that she misses my grandpa daily but she persists on. She keeps herself busy by serving others. She has a mission on this Earth left to complete and although she has to do it without her husband by her she will still accomplish this mission faithfully and happily. I love her so much for the example she is to me.
Recently, I was on a blog and read a story about a little girl who had died tragically. Her mother wrote the story and continues to write her feelings about her daughter and this terrible loss. She is faithful though. Although I don't know her my heart aches for her. I can't imagine losing someone so precious at such a young age. You can read the story here.
As I reflect on pain, I think of mothers. I think of all the pain they go through to get a child to this Earth. After the pain though, is the reward. They then have a beautiful spirit in a perfect little body with them, something so tangible yet so eternal. They get to experience the worst of all pain and then the greatest of all joy within minutes of each other. I know that Heavenly Father gives us trial and pain for a reason, He wants us to be able to know the difference from real joy and real sorrow. He wants us to grow and become like Him. He wants us to feel what He has felt and rejoice in the things He wants us to rejoice in. He wants us to become Gods and Goddesses. Although our trials and pain may seem like they will last forever, they are only a minute in the eternal plan and if we can overcome that minute and still remain faithful we will experience eternities of JOY.
I'm grateful for this time of year and how it makes me reflect on all the wonderful things I have been given. I'm grateful to know the truthfulness of the gospel. Enjoy this special time of the year and reflect on the things you are grateful for. Celebrate Jesus Christ. Only through Him will we receive that eternal JOY we so greatly desire.
