82. Today I am grateful for a flight home for Christmas

I recently booked a flight to Salt Lake to spend some time with my twin sister and her family during the Christmas holidays. I got a pretty good deal flying from Seattle. I am really excited about seeing my sister and nieces and hopefully meet my nephew who is due to be born on Dec. 29. I will be spending New Years with them so I am planning on banging on some pots and pans with my nieces. I am also excited to be spending Christmas with the rest of my family in BC. I was hesitant to book a flight right now because it was crazy expensive, over $300 for a one-way flight to Vancouver on Dec. 23! It’s a one hour flight!  I was definitely going home for Christmas, it was just a matter of deciding whether to book a flight or hope the prices go down. However, I got a message from my Dad saying that he and my mom decided to use some avion points to fly me home for Christmas. I am really grateful that they wanted to help me out and also that they want me to come home. J

Thanks Mom & Dad!

81. Today I am grateful for a snow brush

There were a few things left behind at our house by the people who lived here before and one of them was a snow brush so I decided to use it. The scarper part worked great but the brush didn’t work at all. My roommate came home last night and told me she bought me something. It was a snow brush and not just any snow brush but a pink one! She said she though of me when saw it and insisted that it was a gift, which I thought was really nice of her. Especially after the evening she had where a normal 5 minute drive turned into 3 hours of trying to get home in the snow storm.

This same roommate also took my car into a tire place today to see about getting winter tires for it; however nothing is in-stock and will take at least a week. Apparently there are only a few different types of winter tires that my car can use and they are also quite expensive. I have a few people looking into tires and prices for me. I just feel like I will feel more confident driving with winter tires so hopefully everything will be ok until then.

I am very grateful for the gift and her willingness to help me!

80. Today I am grateful for making it home safely

Today was the first major snowfall which came this afternoon. I am from the Vancouver area and so winter driving is foreign to me. Sure, we would get big snowfalls every now and then and icy roads, but like many Vancouverites, I didn’t drive then. Up to now I had always taken the bus or rode with experienced winter drivers. Now I have to experience winter driving and I will say that driving home today was pretty scary. I learned that snow and mud tires are not good on ice and so I will be looking at getting real snow tires. Although, I am assuming there will be a mad dash for winter tires this week.  I also learned that my breaks work great, so that’s good! Driving home today I prayed the whole way that I would get home safely without hitting anything (I was sliding a lot) and I did. I know that Heavenly Father was watching over me but I also believe that he expects me to help keep myself and others safe which includes getting tires made for icy conditions.

79. Today I am grateful for the baptismal covenant

Melissa, Dad, Sara-Jayne
November 11, 1990

On November 11, I wrote about remembering the sacrifices the soldiers made for their country during times of war. November 11 is also an important date to me personally as it was the day I was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when I was eight years old. When I was baptized I took upon myself the name of Christ and promised to always remember him. This act of remembrance is even more important than remembering the sacrifices of the soldiers. Christ sacrificed himself for the world.

Last night I was sorting through a couple of boxes I still had to unpack and I found a printout of this quote by President George Q. Cannon:

“When we went forth into the waters of baptism and covenanted with our Father in Heaven to serve Him and keep His commandments, He bound Himself also by covenant to us that He would never desert us, never leave us to ourselves, never forget us, that in the midst of trials and hardships, when everything was arrayed against us, He would be near unto us and would sustain us. That was His covenant.”

I am grateful for the baptismal covenant and to know that I have a Heavenly Father who loves me. I know that I am never alone. I am also grateful for the example of Jesus Christ who showed us the way and provided a way for us to return to live with our Father in Heaven.

78. Today I am grateful for the first snowfall

I woke up this morning to a dusting of snow on the rooftops. Although, summer is my favourite season, I really like the transitions between the seasons and I love the first snowfall. There is something romantic and magical about snow. I feel like the Christmas season should start today!

Ask me again, how I feel about the snow in January ... hahaha.  

77. Today I am grateful for those who fought for our freedom

Harry Johnson, WWI

Today at 11:00 many people paused for two minutes of silence to remember those who have fought to keep our country free. I went to a Remembrance Day ceremony today at the University of Alberta and behind me sat two young children with their grandparents who they talked to them a bit about Remembrance Day and what it meant. The little boy started talking about soldiers and said “Soldiers are people who go to war because they care about their country. Some of them come back and some of them don’t”. I thought that was pretty profound coming from a child who was probably about 5 or 6. I also appreciated that these grandparents where teaching their grandchildren the importance of remembering.   

On Remembrance Day there are two soldiers that I like to take the time to remember: My Grandpa Harry George Arthur Johnson and Great Grandfather Harry Johnson.

Harry G.A. Johnson, WWII

Great Grandpa Harry was born June 25, 1873 in Binfield, Berkshire, England and later moved to Fulham in London. He   served in the First World War with the 1^st battalion of the Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). During his service he became terminally ill and was sent home where he died on April 7, 1917. He is buried in the Fulham old cemetery among the other casualties of the First World War. He left behind a wife and six children, ranging in ages from 7 months old to 14 years old.

Grandpa Harry was born April 16, 1906 in Fulham, London, England. I recently found the ship record that shows that he immigrated to Canada when he was 18 years old. He landed in Halifax and lived in several parts of Canada before settling in Vancouver. When the Second World War broke out, like his father, Harry Jr. also answered the call to serve his country. Grandpa Harry served with the 10th Field Squadron Royal Canadian Engineers. I have his war medals that were given to me by one of my uncles which is a pretty cool heirloom to be in possession of.  I was 6 years old when my Grandpa Harry died but I do have fond memories of him which I am grateful for.

Grave site of Harry Johnson
Fulham, London, England

My Grandpa wanted to be cremated and have his ashes spread across his father’s grave site. My uncle fulfilled his request and took his remains to England. In 2001, I went to London, England with my dad and we visited Great Grandpa Harry’s grave site. In memory of My Grandpa and his service with the Canadian army we placed a small Canadian flag at the grave site.

 I am grateful for the service given by my grandpa and Great Grandpa and hope to pass on their stories to future generations.

Is there anyone in particular that you remember on Remembrance Day? What is their story?

“At the going down of the sun and in the morning
  We will remember them.”

(For The Fallen, Laurence Binyon)

76. Today I am grateful for little surprises

I got into work this morning to find a pretty mug and package of apple cider on my desk. Little things like that do help you to feel appreciated, especially when it is not expected.