Grateful

It's nearly Thanksgiving, (how did that happen? Time is flying by at amazing speed!) and I have had gratitude on my mind and in my heart ever since General Conference. Pres. Monson's talk about gratitude spoke clearly to me and while gratitude is something I always try to cultivate, I know I"m far from perfect in expressing it. But I have so much and I truly am so grateful.

I'm grateful for all the 'usual' things - -friends, family, a wonderful husband, grandma-hood, a home that I love, and so many things. But I have been recently introduced to a new favorite song (appropriately entitled "Grateful") and there as a verse that spoke to me so clearly that I'm pretty sure I've already committed it to memory.

"I feel a hand holding my hand,

It's not a hand you can see.

But on the road to the promised land

That hand will shepherd me.

Through delight and despair,

Holding tight and always there.

Grateful, grateful,

Truly grateful I am.

Grateful, grateful.

Truly blessed and duly grateful."

(John Bucchino)

I am so grateful for that hand, which I feel often in my life. I have (finally) learned that giving thanks for the things I have makes me so much happier than keeping score and missing the things I don't have.

Happy Thanksgiving! I'm grateful for all of you.

True!

As I've said before -- the hope is that we love and honor much more than we annoy. I just know that my 'annoy' factor is pretty high and Mark's tolerance level is also pretty high and that's a good thing.

For both of us.

Ben's Posse

This is our grandson Ben. He is 5 years old now - -and has been diagnosed with autism. Ben is funny, smart, creative and sweet, and he and his family have been working together to find him the most help he can get so that he can have the best life possible. He, his mom and dad and his big brother Daniel are amazing. The things they have done and gone through to help Ben have made me so proud of them and have also humbled me tremendously. They love each other deeply and are truly a team. Not every child with autism has a family like Ben does and they are a big advantage for him.

We love them all and over time, I have learned to despise autism and all that it represents. And that is why we are joining them to walk in support of Autism Speaks. I have tried to figure out what I can do to help and there isn't much - -but I can do this. And you can help.

Please click here to go to my walking page and donate: anything helps and it all adds up. Help us support Ben and his posse. Yes, Ben has a posse and I'm a member. Please help us.

(Thanks to all of you who even made it through this post -- emotional grandma's pleas probably aren't all that fun to read.)