84. Today I am grateful for Children

November 20 is National Child Day in Canada but I was able to participate in celebrations for this day at work today. It was really fun doing a play for the children and singing songs. I am grateful for the joy that children bring into my life. I am grateful for their meekness, humility and innocence. I am grateful for the cute things that they say and do and the fact that they are cute. It is important that adults nurture the children in their lives and let them be children but at the same time guide them in growing into future leaders and caregivers.

Children have rights but are not able to ensure that those rights are followed through. It is therefore important that adults ensure that children’s rights are protected and that their needs are met. National child day also recognizes the rights of children. Click on the link to read about what those rights are. You can also download a colouring book for your children that helps them to know what their rights are (in terms they can understand).

Here are my favourite children:

I don’t see them nearly as often as I would like but I love every opportunity I have to spend time with them and to talk to them over the phone or through the computer. We actually have a lot in common. J

Who are the special children in your life?   

83. Today I am grateful for "All Christmas music" radio stations

I love Christmas music and I love radio stations that play continuous Christmas music during the Christmas season. Edmonton’s Lite 95.7 started playing continuous Christmas music this past weekend. Some people may think it’s too early but I think it’s great for bringing out the Christmas spirit.

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.