89. Today I am grateful for eye-glasses

I’m pretty blind and so I rely on my glasses or contacts to see. I mostly wear contacts during the day but sometimes it’s nice to get a break from contacts and wear my glasses. I worked for an optical store for 3 years while I was at the University and have experience with various types of lenses and watching them be edged. However, I still think it’s really cool how glass and plastic can be used to help people see.

88. Today I am grateful for being wrapped up in a blanket fresh from the dryer

Right now I am wrapped up in a blanket that I just took out of the dryer and it feels so good! A great feeling of comfort and warmth.

87. Today I am grateful for people who know stuff about cars

I don’t really know much about cars so I am grateful for people who do. Yesterday my roommate noticed that my tires were low so she checked the tire pressure and they were really dangerously low. I learned that cold air compresses tires; therefore, changing the tire pressure. Today we went to the gas station to fill the tires up. My roommate was showing me how to fill the tires up with air and check the tire pressure. During our “lesson” we had two guys ask us if we needed help. I also learned that if you look like you don’t know what you’re doing some guy will help you. I can give people the opportunity to serve me. J Although, my roommate also pointed out that sometimes they are guys you might not want helping you.  

The fact that the tire pressure was so low likely contributed to my issues with driving home on Monday. However, I do have winter tires ordered. My Dad (who is a general manger for a major trucking company) was able to work out a good deal for me from a tire company. I am grateful for that too.  

86. Today I am grateful for “Today”

I was thinking today about what I might write about and a few things came to mind but then I went on the LDS.org website and read an article about talks given by Elder Hales on gratitude. This article included parts of his talks given during a general conference address in 1992 as well as this past General conference in October. It was a really powerful talk about the importance of expressing gratitude to our Heavenly Father and to others.

I think part of writing in this blog and challenging myself to recognize daily specific blessings in my life is to also recognize the importance of gratitude. During my Thanksgiving entry I took some time to reflect on my experience with expressing gratitude daily and I think that is something that is important to do on an ongoing basis.

One of the things Elder Hales said is “Gratitude brings a peace that helps us overcome the pain of adversity and failure. Gratitude on a daily basis means we express appreciation for what we have now without qualification for what we had in the past or desire in the future.”  I like what he said about having gratitude for what we have now. I don’t often dwell on negative past experiences but I do often think about and worry that some of my desires for the future may not be fulfilled, as I wrote about in my first entry. While I will not give up on those goals and will strive to do what I can to achieve what I desire most in this life, I do also recognize the many blessings that I do have. I am grateful for where I am today, for what I have and I am happy with who I am.

As I reflect on my blog entries I realized that I have started each entry with “Today I am grateful ...” That phrase now has more meaning for me as I continue to write in this blog.

 

85. Today I am grateful for my duvet

I woke up early yesterday morning freezing and thinking to myself that I needed to get some more blankets. Then I remembered that I had a duvet so I got up and dug it out and then I was warm! I am grateful for my duvet to keep me warm on cold nights. J

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.