On the 5th day of Christmas -

I could not get a better gift than the 5 wonderful sisters I have - wouldn't trade them for any number of golden rings!!  (The Mom is an extra bonus!!)

Thankful for

 our home.  Most of the world does not have the luxury of owning their own home - or even sharing their ownership with the bank for a few years.  It is a blessing I often take for granted too.  

On Halloween, as a group of somewhat older trick-or-treaters came to the door, I heard a familiar voice say, "This is Mrs. Terrill's house!  I didn't know that."  I smiled - it was a boy who is dear enough, but he doesn't always try or work very hard - he does not seem to value learning or education.  I was struck by his comment, though, when he saw me.  He said, "Well, you get to live in a really safe neighborhood, don't you?"

I do indeed live in a lovely, safe neighborhood.  And it is a blessing.

(This photo is from 1984 by the way!!  In case you wondered about the aluminum awnings - which Bruce always thought we should have kept!!)

Another blessing in my life

has been the opportunity to serve as a ward Relief Society president two times!  I wasn't sure it was a blessing when I was called - I was trembling in my boots wondering how I would do it.  But great counselors and a very supportive ward made the job a joy!

 

One of the blessings I was not particularly expecting was the opportunity to meet so many lovely women I did not know.  I didn't find them pining to come back to church, but they were all more than willing to be friendly and welcoming!  I think that's a pretty good trade-off!

The above photo is of 10 different Monrovia Ward Relief Society Presidents - and I'm delighted to be able to call each one a friend!

A month of Thanksgiving!!

So I was thinking that with a new month,  I would try each day to think of something I am especially thankful for - and maybe find a photo to go along with it.

I certainly have more than 30 blessings, but I'm thinking it will be good to reflect on them all - and maybe ferret out 30 of them to mention specifically.

Blessing number 1 - the gift of motherhood.  I am pregnant with Eliza in this photo.  And I'm pretty sure that is Jamie in the photo with me.  Pregnancy has its ups and downs.  It's mostly a positive state - but nausea and swelling and other discomforts can get tiresome.  Except in retrospect. And then you wonder why you complained because the result was always so worth it.

Being a mother is a wonderful blessing in my life.  The older I get, the more I value my own mother.  The more I see in her the great love and sacrifice she endured for each of her children.  And the older I get, the more I love and value my own children.  What a joy when they call and express their love and appreciation.  What fun it is to see them and play rounds of Golf with them - or Scrabble - or just laugh and joke - especially the esoteric family jokes that no one else understands.  What deep and abiding satisfaction comes as you see your children becoming wonderful parents and adults themselves.

Children - truly an heritage of the Lord!