by Kari Diane Pike
I sat down to write something for this blog about a gazillion times over the past week and a half. I wanted it to be extra special because this is such a special day. While I could think of numerous topics (like how I promised Faith I would add to her blog about leadership...sorry Faith...), nothing seemed "just right." So I will add my list of things I for which I am grateful to those posted earlier.
It has been a very unusual Thanksgiving for me this year. It is the first Thanksgiving in 30 years I have been apart from my darling husband. I am thankful for those sacred covenants that bind us together for time and all eternity. I am grateful to be one with a worthy priesthood holder and to be going down the same road together hand in hand. He very lovingly encouraged me to come to Tucson to be with our daughter while she awaited the birth of her third child. He took five of our children, a son-in-law, and two cousins to California to spend what will probably be the last Thanksgiving he will spend with his father in this life.
My daughter's mother-in-law has been here with me in Tucson. I am very grateful for the extended family members we gain as our children grow and marry. I adore these women with whom I share (or will share) grandchildren. They have so many gifts and things to teach me. Since I didn't have sisters growing up, I am adopting these women as my sisters.
Of course, I am also thankful for all of you, my sister writers in ANWA. I love the sharing of ideas and the encouragment that I find every time I read your works in progress. I am grateful to live in such a time as this; where we can communicate so easily.
I am very grateful for the blessing of motherhood. I am especially grateful for the blessing of grandmotherhood. My heart melts the instant I see a grandchild's face light up as they run at me with open arms, yelling "Gam-ma!" Our tenth grandchild was born yesterday. I was blessed to be able to attend the birth. No matter how many times I witness this miracle, it remains exactly that, a glorious miracle. He is my grandmother's one- hundreth direct descendent. She was counting and recounting the other day...just to be sure. She is thrilled by it all. I am grateful for the great heritage I have been given.
So as I sit here trying to digest the turkey dinner we ate in the hospital cafeteria (it was actually quite good), the list goes on: a healthy mother and baby; my testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ; hot, running water; air conditioning; sunrises; rain; and good friends who will actually read this list and ignore the mistakes because I am old enough that caring for two toddlers all day and night takes a toll and so I had to write this off the cuff and well, you get it.
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you. God be with you.
Amen to all you said, Kari. Thanks for putting my own feelings into words while describing amazingly similar experiences. For instance all the forethought that goes into each blog, often to be replaced by off-the-cuff ramblings. It's like not preparing a talk, but concentrating on preparing yourself to give that talk. For you, at least, it turns out beautifully. I adore your comments, and read with awe.
ReplyDeleteSunday I will be teaching the RS lesson in my ward on Pres. Eyring's talk "Remember, Remember" from this past conference. I think writing down what we are truly grateful for is an important part of helping us remember the many ways the Lord has blessed us.
ReplyDeleteSo this post was meaningful to me from that aspect.
Also - I was in Tucson this past October visiting a dear friend and had a fabulous time there. My FAVORITE resturaunt of all time is Cafe Poca Cosa and we spent a fabulous afternoon at Tohono Chul.
Enjoy your visit, and many blessings to your daughter as she gives birth!
Kari,
ReplyDeleteYou said it all! I'm supposed to blog on Sunday, and I feel like saying, "Refer to Kari's posting." Hard to follow that.
Congratulations on the advent of your newest grandchild. I have one coming in about three weeks. This will be number 16. It never gets old.
Liz Adair
Kari, I woke up at 4 AM Thanksgiving day to the gentle sound of rain. It rained for 20 minutes then stopped and the sky cleared. It couldn't have been a more wonderful gift and went right to my heart. I am grateful for rain, too, and air conditioning, and family - and so many things, like going into a grocery story and finding so much bounty.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Liz! I hope everything goes as smoothly as it did here!
ReplyDeleteRene, it was so nice to meet you...you got rain??? We didn't see it in Marana! go figure.
Thanks to all of you for all of your kind comments.