T H A N K F U L !

Be Thankful

Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire,

If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don’t know something

For it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.

Our Thankful Tree.

When i first got on pinterest and found pins on thankful trees  I knew that I had to get on the wagon, and start one the following year. Thing is I didn't. Time rushes by so quickly and before you know it you are in the middle of November, and decide not to do it because it's too late. Well, it's never too late. I found an artificial tree branch at Michael's craft store, grabbed one of my vases where beautiful flowers once dwelled in, poured in a bunch of pinto beans, wrapped a fallish looking ribbon around it, grabbed a few leaves from the dollar store, and voila...we have a thankful tree. 

The kids have been going to town writing down the things they are thankful for, and to see Noah wanting to be the first one to do it, he write what he's thankful for, and put it on the tree on his own brings a huge smile on my face. He's so giddy, and wants to put another one on. I explained to him the purpose of having a thankful tree, and what it's all about. I told him how there are people in the world who don't have the things we have such as toys, running water, food to eat, a ball to play with, or even a blanket to warm our bodies. Even though he's still young, and doesn't fully understand, but I think he gets the gist of it. 

Having a thankful tree does help our children realize how much they have to be grateful for. I know for me, writing it down whether it's on a sticky note, or a leaf helps me to ponder on that things that I wrote. It's a great way to also leave the house being more kind, and humble filling ourselves with gratitude instead of selfishness, and sadness. 

Thankful trees are a great idea, and I'm so glad I started this tradition. So whether you already started one in the beginning of November, or now, it's never too late to begin. You can also go well into December because there is even so much more to be grateful for.  

A Thanksgiving prayer

"To express gratitude is gracious & honorable. To enact your attitude is generous and noble, but to live with gratitude in our hearts is to touch Heaven."

~President Thomas S. Monson

 It is amazing what mother nature does to the colors of the leaves on trees when she brings quite a bit of moisture. We had rain these past two days, and now the glorious sunlight is shining bright outside on this beautiful Thanksgiving day. 

I took these before and after pictures of one of my favorite trees in our area. It's amazing to see how it was once just plain green, and how you can slowly see the little red leaves poking out and trying to find its way on how to form on the tree. 

This is my thankful tree.

I look at the changes of leaves on this tree as our ability to change also. Little by little, we find things we know we need to improve on in our lives, and even though they'll never be perfected like these perfectly colored leaves...we can certainly continue to try. To reflect on those things that we seem to take for granted, and to always remember to be thankful. Not just on days like today, but everyday. Like this tree...we can change for the better. Not just every season, but to strive to make it a permanent change. To live a life of gratitude no matter what.

The colors on this tree are absolutely beautiful! We also have the chance to be beautiful also, and to have others see the inner & outer beauty in ourselves, as well as our true colors. May we all recognize the smallest blessings that come to us, and that we have faith to know of the things that are good for us. May we always, always be thankful, and know that it's never too late for change. Whether it's for yourself, for your family, or for the Lord. May we always be surrounded by those who love us, and in return love them back...unconditionally. May we always be an example to our children on how a life of gratitude should be lived. This is my prayer. Amen.

Happy Thanksgiving.