Lessons in Gratitude

We recently kicked off what has become our Thanksgiving family tradition. Each night in November, we write down one thing that we're thankful for and put it in a blessings jar. Come turkey day, we read our "blessings" aloud and try to guess who wrote what.

When I pulled the jar out this year, it still had the papers inside from last year. I read them all. It was wonderful. My husband had actually said he was thankful for his "beautiful wife" and all she does for our boys and me. Silly as it sounds, I was very surprised that he had called me beautiful. He doesn't usually say that. It made my night.

I also loved reading Collin's responses. I've learned my biggest lessons in gratitude from him. He always remembers to thank Heavenly Father for the simple things, the things I usually take for granted. For example, before dinner tonight he thanked Heavenly Father for his hands that could feel things and his mouth that can taste. And this was a prayer over a bowl of macaroni and cheese with hot dogs...and assorted frozen vegetables.

Don't worry. This is not a typical family meal. I had a Relief Society meeting at the church tonight and they were feeding me dinner. So I figured I had the night off. But anyway, I sat there reading Collin's responses and I couldn't resist the urge to record them all before I throw them out. They're just too sweet, and I want to remember them.

So here is Collin's list. It can be a reminder to me (and to all who read this) to cherish the simple things in life. Collin said he was thankful for...peanut butter sandwiches, the moon and stars, that we got Luke from Heavenly Father, that Daddy plays football with me every night, that Mom does experiments with me, pillows and my ya-ya (his blanket), markers, rainbows, lights in our house, my toys, preschool and my teacher Ms. Kristi, plants that grow, not sending any more rain (we had played at the park that day), my friends (and all the people in the world that God made), turkey, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie and my strong body!

I tell Collin, "All good things come from God, because He loves us." And Collin knows that...because I know it. What a blessing it is being a mother. I get to feel God's love every day. Something that I wrote down and want to remember is this...I am thankful for Collin, who is my joy, and Luke, who is my light.

These pictures were taken during family night last week. We read the New Testament story about the ten lepers healed by Jesus. Only one returned to give thanks to the Savior. We then played a game that I call "The Grateful Leper Wrap". Each player wraps themselves in toilet tissue "bandages" until he discovers a hidden candy. He then must say something he is grateful for and passes the tissue to the next player. You end up with a family of grateful lepers, and you get rid of those last few pieces of Halloween candy.

Next, we introduced the gratitude glasses and challenged our family to not complain or whine for one week. Whoever does, has to put on the glasses and say something they're thankful for. I'll let you know if it works!