332. Today I am grateful for the calm after the storm

Part of Edmonton and are was under a tornado warning today while most of Edmonton (including where I live) was under a tornado watch but we just ended up with a crazy storm instead. It was kind of scary, especially because of the emergency warnings on the radio. Before today, the only warnings I heard where tests. However, almost as soon as the storm ended, the sun came out and the sky was clear. I likened it to trials in our life, sometimes it can be hard to see that things will work out but eventually we will experience the calm after the storm. 

331. Today I am grateful for an opportunity to analyze my faith

This past weekend I had a conversation with someone about the gospel and what we believe as Latter-day Saints. This person had some negative things to say, not in a demeaning way but in a questioning way, which is ok. Everyone is to choose for themselves what they believe and the sources to which they want to receive that information. I am happy to be friends with people who don’t share my beliefs as long as they are respectful of it. However, I am grateful for the conversation I had and the opportunity to analyze my faith ... why do I believe the things that I believe?

We are not expected to be ‘blind’ followers, our Heavenly Father has given us resources, both tangible and divine to guide us to receive answers to questions we have. In the Book of Mormon, there is a well known scripture (to those familiar with the book) that invites all who read it to decide for themselves if what they have read is true.

Moroni 10:3-5:

Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.

And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.

This scripture can also be applied to other scriptures read and anything that is said by church leaders or others we look up to.

330. Today I am grateful for quiet time

I really am a people person and enjoy being around people and having conversations and doing this and feeling like people care about me. Lately I have felt like I have had a lot of alone time and although it’s easy for me to feel disconnected in that situation, it may be what I need right now. This time has allowed me to spend more time reflecting on where my life is going, what is going well, what changes I would like and what’s important to me. It has also given me an opportunity to spend more time studying the scriptures and in sincere prayer and relying on divine strength and comfort.

329. Today I am grateful for free tickets for the fair and to give people free tickets

This evening was my first time going to Capital Ex which is Edmonton’s summer Fair and it was pretty good, I enjoyed the shows I saw: Street Corner symphony and Side Swipe, I think they both won talent competitions. Both groups were pretty entertaining. I am grateful for free tickets I got to get into the fair. I was also given some more left over tickets that I handed out to families waiting in line. It was nice to see the look of surprise that I was giving them the tickets for free and the gratitude that they showed.  

328. Today I am grateful for sweet little Rebekah

Today is my little niece’s 5^th birthday. She is such a sweet little girl who even suggested celebrating her birthday in August when my family comes to visit. Bekah also has a sense of humour and it’s so funny when she tells jokes and when she gets jokes that adults share with each other. She loves her siblings and always wants to be a little mommy to the babies. I am looking forward to seeing her this summer and celebrating her birthday with her.

327. Today I am grateful to be short

I feel that often people seem to want to help me feel good about being short. The truth is I like being short. I can fit in small spaces, I can lie across a couch, usually without my feet touching the end, I don’t really require a lot of leg room which helps on plane trips or if a tall person is sitting in front or behind me in a car and needs to adjust their seat, I don’t have to duck when walking through doors, and I think it makes me look younger. If I wanted to avoid someone or “get lost” in a crowd, I can and I can help tall people feel good about their height by asking them to reach things for me. I am also grateful that more and more stores are selling petite sizes, particularly pants.

326. Today I am grateful to “run and not be weary”

I am actually not much of a runner; I prefer exercising with an elliptical. I love walking though and can walk a long time without tiring.  However, I mean the quote in the sense that I am grateful to be able to get through the day and accomplish many things and having the energy needed to do what I need to do.