Dear Diary, I am so grateful!!!!!

Dear Diary, 
This past November month I've been thinking and pondering all the things that I am grateful for. Here's just a few of the things that have been on my mind.

1. I am grateful for trials.
"God will feel after you, and he will take hold of you and wrench your very heart strings, and if you cannot stand it you will not be fit for an inheritance in the Celestial Kingdom of God." Joseph Smith
Shoooot. I'm grateful for my trials. Without trials I couldn't become spiritually fit. I think the more I practice being grateful during our trials the easier it will be to endure them. Working on it!



2. I am grateful for my children. 
I told Sefa to take Viiga and clean up the living room.
Saw this and couldn't help but
appreciate his efforts.
Leila's Thanksgiving breakfast creations-
Pink chocolate chip pancakes
Coconut syrup
Whipped cream
They are my best teachers. They teach me patience. They demonstrate unconditional love. They are honest and meek. They forgive easily. They humble me. They have a desire to learn. They make me smile. They make our home happy. They inspire me and motivate me to be my best self. They give me strength. I am beyond grateful for the blessing of having children. 



3. I am grateful for my husband.
<<< Our fridge broke so we had to buy a new one. Fa blackfriday money lol. I'm grateful that this guy is strong and can lug around the heavy stuff when I need him to. And that's why I love him. Kidding. He can be irritz some times but...
He makes me happy. Loves me and all my flaws. He hugs his kids, disciplines them, plays with them, tells them bedtime stories, makes "sweet milk" (milk and sugar) whenever they ask, protects them, and provides them with the necessities. He loves his family. He's one heck of a optimistic guy who dreams big and goes after his dreams. He is a provider in so many aspects. He makes my life exciting and easier. Don't know what I would do without him. 




4. I am grateful for commandments.
It feels like only now that I have kids of my own do I truly understand how commandments are a testament of Heavenly Father's love. Maybe it's because I have kids of my own and I can catch a glimpse of how much our Father in Heaven loves us, His children, and wants us to be happy. Commandments truly are evidence of God's love for us and when we keep the commandments, we can feel His love. 


5. I am grateful for temples.
There is a family in our ward that just got sealed in the temple, a college friend of mine that got married in the temple recently, and a young couple in the ward that is preparing to get married in the temple. With all this temple action happening I couldn't help but reflect back on my own experience of going through the temple for the first time. 

I received my endowments the same day as our sealing. I still clearly remember the feeling I had when Aljay and I first walked hand in hand through the hallway in the Temple. I had this overwhelming feeling of warmth, love, and joy. It was as if God was hugging me and saying "Welcome home!!!". I felt like I was at my own homecoming. As we walked to the office to sign our wedding papers tears trickled down my cheeks. Aljay looked over at me and said "you okay? You still wanna marry me?" hahaah The smile on my face reassured him that my tears were happy tears. I will never forget that feeling. The Temple is truly the House of the Lord. Heaven on Earth.  





6. I am grateful for missionary work.
Displaying unnamed (3).jpg

 Without missionary work, my parents would not have been baptized. We would have gone through life with a limited perspective and a focus on only temporal things. We'd basically be lost . My brother would have never served a mission and that would have been sad because he is an awesome missionary who's testimony burns bright. He is such a great example to me and makes me want to be a better missionary. I am grateful for missionary work and all the faithful missionaries serving diligently!


7. I'm grateful for service. 
I didn't serve a mission and a part of me used to have regrets for not doing so. I tried my best not to let it bug me but a part of me always felt a little like I wasn't 'good enough'. I demanded that my future eternal companion have that coveted RM stamp so not having that title made me feel under par. Not just in comparison to him, but in comparison to everyone around me. That feeling of inadequacy has only subsided after much prayer, soul searching, and most importantly SERVICE. Realizing that my reasons for having such feelings stemmed from selfishness and wanting recognition from others took time and some humbling. Once I stopped focusing on myself and started focusing on serving others, then I truly found joy. It's still an on going process but I have a much better mindset now than I did back then. There is no better way to kick any type of self-loathing, insecurity, just bleeehh feelings, than to get up and do something nice for someone else. It is one of the best ways to be humbled, be  uplifted, and be Christlike. 

 Speaking of service. A few weeks ago some super sweet thoughtful person left a bag of goodies on our doorstep. Nice goodies. A bag of brand new clothes with a very sweet card. No name, no clue who it could be (well I have a clue but no one will fess up...I tried). I didn't know how to react. I was stuck in a stage of shock and overwhelmed with gratitude. What a sweet surprise.


8. I'm grateful for talents....baking to be specific.
I don't like to bake. Pies in particular. I don't know why sticking to measurements, being patient, and following rules is so difficult for me.  I'm okay with cookies and bread stuff but for some reason I was bit by the baking bug and decided to challenge myself this year. And for the first time I made a pie all from scratch for Thanksgiving! By myself! I made a haupia chocolate pie (minus the haupia- couldn't be bothered after having to babysit the chocolate filling). I also made a banana creme pie but I cheated and used box pudding and coolwhip. A for effort!!!

Eh I didn't even have a pie pan but this heart shaped tin worked nicely and really captures the amount of love and dedication I put into making it lol.

All in all it has been a fantastic year and another wonderful Thanksgiving with our family. Grateful to be alive. 

 Sincerely,
Sandra

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