Thanks Be To God

First Monday counting... 
                                    when I share entries from my Gratitude Journal

"Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

1 Corinthians 15:57

"And this is the gospel, the glad tidings... that He came into the world, even 

Jesus, to be crucified for the world, and to bear the sins of the world, and

to cleanse it of all unrighteousness; that through him all might be saved..."

Doctrine and Covenants 76:40-42

Victory.  This is what I want to focus on this year.  Growing closer and closer to Jesus, my Savior, Redeemer and Friend.  Victory.   I want to remind myself at the beginning of each new day- that no matter what happened yesterday or what may happen today - there is always good news!  The gospel of Jesus Christ is "good news".   That is victory!  I will focus on the good news and the gifts that He bestows.  There will always be gifts, a multitude every day.  I just have to keep looking for them...

481-good health

482-manger on the mantle

483- menus on paper

484- trees tied to tops of cars

485- molasses cookies

486-unpacking favorite Christmas books

487- filling the house with festive music

488- morning back rubs

489- a cupcake surprise

490- a lost item, found

491- an hour on the yoga mat

492-Christmas shopping for loved ones

493- listening to The Messiah

494- a sweet compliment from my husband

495- planting bulbs to enjoy in the spring

496- visiting teaching

497-completing my annual reading of 

The Book of Mormon

498- gas for $2.38

499- feeling peace in the House of the Lord

500- online shopping

501-bedside visit with a sweet lady

502- learning about Saint Nicholas

503- a waking Amaryllis bulb

504- surprising someone with an unexpected gift

505- hearing the generator come on, when the power goes off

506- lighting the second candle in the Advent wreath

507- news that I'm going to be a grandma!

508- bread pans, ready and waiting

509- Christmas granola

510- Parker and Winston's second birthday

511-lunch and a movie with Kenzie

512- watching a train go by

513- girls night out

514- twirling ballerinas

515- a brownie sundae with four spoons

516- garland and wreaths

517- Santa mugs

518- picking out the perfect tree

519- nativity sets from around the world

520- new Christmas music from Sherri and Ken

521- angelic voices and live symphony

522-help with the decorating

523- trimming the tree as a family

524-generational baking

525- holding hands with  Mark in church

526-a great Sacrament talk

527- walking with the dogs to the mailbox

528- gathering eggs from the hens

529- Christmas cards in the mailbox

530- gifts under the tree

531- snuggled under blankets, listening to the rain

532- hot chocolate

533- being still

534- enjoying a visit with Trudy and sampling her 

family fruitcake recipe

535- watching the kids unpack their "special ornaments"

536-mistletoe and red ribbon

537- Christmas shaped cookies

538- seeing your kids "rise to the occasion"

539- finishing my knitted hat

540 - listening to BBC broadcast of Festival of Nine

Lessons and Carols on Christmas Eve

541- seeing my kids walk in the door, one by one

542- listening to Dillon read The Polar Express

543- playing games around the table- and 

laughing so hard!

544- "cold" tissues

545- clementines

546- bulging Christmas stockings

547- Sturdivant Christmas party

548- silly family photos

549- after weeks of being sick, being able to finally 

smell the Christmas tree

550- looking back and looking forward