How I'm doing

Here I am at about 18 weeks.  Feeling good these days.  I've felt the baby kick off and on already, much sooner than last time around and it's such a fun feeling, like a little goldfish wiggling around. I've been really great about working out this time around and we find out in a week if it's a boy or girl and get to see our next babe.  I can't wait!!!!!!!   And on top of it all, Thanksgiving is tomorrow and that'll be nice.

I was telling Paul that the day that I cook a turkey for Thanksgiving will be when I have crossed the last frontier in my life since I grew up in a vegetarian home with parents from different countries (meaning, Thanksgiving wasn't a huge deal in our home and we had fish).  So far, I've been skirting around the issue and making fun/nice stuff like pumpkin pie and sweet potato casserole with marshmallows (yum) and I will continue to do so as long as I humanely can (I still have never made mashed potatoes from scratch before, just with those dehydrated potato pearls, lol).

But I digress. My real reason for posting was to reflect on this special day and something that my yoga teacher (I suddenly love yoga these days whereas I never had patience before for it, funny, huh?) asked us to do.  She asked us to think on 5 things we were grateful for each day and that we would be lifted out of any sort of depression or sadness.  Not saying I have these things although I will admit I am sometimes anxious but not depressed.  Anyway, I decided to share my five with you:

This Thanksgiving 2012 am grateful for:

1.  Paul - my husband who constantly strives to do better and who ALWAYS wants to do the right thing.  I feel like I need to live up to his image of me and what I am and this in turn makes me into a better person so it really is true in our marriage - he makes me want to be a better person.
2.  Our sweet Elisabeth - I have been reflecting lately on her loving and tender personality and how I am really starting to get to know her as a person.  I love the kisses and hugs she gives me and the way she loves to be held and her happiness.  She is a genuinely good person with no meanness in her.  I LOVE that.  Being without guile is something that always attracts me to others and it's a rare quality which I need to develop more.
3.  Our baby on the way - Paul and I can't believe the blessing we have of having another child and I am sure that each one will astound us and fill us with joy.  Every day I pray for our baby to be of sound mind, strong body, and sweet soul (it worked with little Lizzie).
4.  My parents - I am really grateful that they are not divorced and that I didn't come from a broken home.  They have done their best.
5.  Jesus - I am more mindful of Him than I ever have been in my life and yet there is so much more I could do to think of Him and be there for Him.  I try to ponder this question which I know He will ask me when I pass on to the next life "What have you done for me?"  Am I ready to answer that?  What have I done?  I am working on serving Him better.

I remember about seven years ago my life was not nearly as wonderful and happy as today and I remember hearing president Monson quote the D&C verse "Let your home be a house of prayer, of fasting, of..." well, I can't remember the rest but it wasn't any of those wonderful things but guess what??  Yup, it sure is now!!

Thank you dear Lord and Savior!