Happy Thanksgiving!

Today we are relaxing at home, just the four of us, until this evening when we go to our neighbors', Chris and Sherrie's house, for the big Thanksgiving feast. Sherrie and her mom are cooking the turkey, potatoes, stuffing, corn, yams, Jell-O Surprise, her mom's specialty, and I'm taking homemade pumpkin pies, a pecan pie, streusel berry tart, dinner rolls that I bought at Great Harvest, and a veggie tray and a fruit tray.

Lovely Crudités a la Kelly

Counting my blessings, I am thankful to a very loving Heavenly Father, who blesses me each day with joy and peace, and I'm thankful for His son, my Savior, without whom I would be lost. I'm thankful for my sweet husband, who keeps me feeling safe and loved, and I'm thankful for my two precious kids, Lindsey and Christopher. As they get older, I continually try to make sure I teach them and instill good principles within their souls, doing all that I can to keep them pure and innocent in this most challenging world we live in.

My life is blessed with all the comforts and conveniences that anyone could hope for, I live in a gorgeous town in a pleasant climate, surrounded by friendly neighbors, excellent schools, and more friends than I could ever wish for, each of whom is unique and special. I'm blessed with a large, extended family who keep me entertained and feeling loved as well.

On a much lighter note, I'm thankful for the simple pleasures I've been abundantly blessed with, like food, which is a big part of what Thanksgiving is about. I just adore food and love cooking and entertaining, and dining out at restaurants. About the only thing regarding food that I don't like is shopping for it. I'm grateful for my cooking talents and am happy to share them with others.

In addition, I'm thankful for my fun hobby du jour, card making, which tickles me pink. Actually, I have been into it for years, but for the past year, I have been able to consistently be involved with it since I now have friends who come over in my home each month to create cards with me.

I'm thankful for my casa bonita, and Lupe--plus a rotating, miscellaneous relative she brings with her to clean our house.

I'm thankful for Mrs. Jordan who teaches my son, and appreciate all of Lindsey's high school teachers, and all their teachers at church, especially her early morning seminary teacher who drives a half hour each way every day of the school week to teach the gospel to a dozen teenagers. Another person whom I appreciate is my kids' piano teacher.

I'm thankful for manicures and pedicures. I can never duplicate what Haley does. To go along with helping my feet feel more beautiful, I'm thankful for Tricia, my hairstylist.

I'm thankful for when I can go out to lunch with girlfriends.

I'm thankful for my health and pray that it will be good enough to share my time and talents with those around me.

I'm thankful for my sisters. My brother is a blessing too, but it's not the same as having a sister!

I'm thankful for my job. It's been a great company to be associated with over the years and it's been an ideal match for me.

I'm even more thankful for my husband's job. Ü He works hard and is so smart. I love that.

I'm thankful to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and am grateful that many years ago, in Oklahoma, my mom invited Elder Larry Fugate and Elder Philip Brown into our home, to teach us what Mormons believe, and we converted. I cannot fathom life without the knowledge that I have and it gets me through all the tough times.

Truly, I have been blessed, and I hope that I can somehow be there for others in times of need to help them through their trials, and lift them up, as so many have done for me when I faced the depths of despair.