Wow.

Wow. I'm just feeling so blessed right now. Not for any particular reason, more like for a lot of little reasons. I've been counting my blessings a lot lately and it has hit me how amazing life is. I have as many struggles and trials as most (believe me!), but when I sit and really think about it, I am humbled and deeply grateful for all of the goodness and tender mercies that surround me. My attitude has been changing and I hope, my heart.
My little sister got engaged on Christmas Day. We are having her and her fiance over for dinner tonight. Gotta check everything out and make sure that he is deserving of her! ;) My hubby and I went to the temple on Friday night. While there I reflected a lot on that exciting time of my life and thought about how my sister will be going through the temple soon and getting married and sealed there. What an amazing blessing that is!! I am so very grateful for the temple and for everything that it offers and represents, and for the priesthood power that makes it all possible.
I look into the faces of my husband and children and feel such deep gratitude for each one of them. They are all miracles to me. I'm sure that to some, in this limited-vision, materialistic world, we seem quaint, strange or even irresponsible to have five children. I feel so sad and sorry for such. They have bought into a very short term and I think selfish attitude of this life. They forget the value and joy of each soul. While I don't know why so many suffer in this life, I do know that it is all very temporary, and justice and compensation will follow in the next. Meanwhile, I marvel at the wisdom, love and mercy of a glorious and just God who loves all of His children and desires to bless them. My hands stand ready to help. I just pray for the inspiration and ability to reach out and do so according to His desires.
I am ever grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ. He is the light of the world. It is only through Him that we can be saved...saved from grief, pain, sin, suffering and death. Saved from our own mistakes and stupidity. Without Him all is lost and vain. I love Him. I testify of His divinity and sacred mission. I am so especially grateful for the resurrection which He made possible. This past year has been a difficult one for our family. We have lost many loved ones to death. But the promise of resurrection and reunion has made our grief bearable, and turned our tears to joy. I am so grateful for my faith. It carries me.
OK, that was quite a speech. If you have read this far, I salute you! Now you have a window into my feelings of late. I am so grateful. Wow.