Sunday, January 04, 2009

Sunday Gratitudes

This past week we were in Utah for the funeral of Mr. Wonderful's grandpa. Grandpa-Great was an amazing man. He built and flew his own airplane (he also built his own boat and his own home.) He ran incredibly successful businesses. He help his grandsons on their missions. Grandpa-Great had suffered many years with Parkinson's disease. At one point, he decided that he would rather have a clear head than be on all the medication, including pain med, that muddled his thinking. He quit all meds a few years ago. When it looked like he was ready to leave us, Mr. Wonderful drove down to be with him in his last hours. I'm grateful that he made it in time. Mr. Wonderful called to tell me that Grandpa-Great passed peacefully and was finally free from pain. When I told my children, Thirdborn said "Mom, I'll bet he is having THE BEST family reunion right now!" I'm sure Grandpa did. His wife died 28 years ago. He also had a daughter wwho died when she was 5 or 6. I would have loved to see that family reunion.

This year instead of making resolutions, I decided to make specific study goals. My study goals for school are set so I am making personal scripture study goals. This month I want to focus on Prayer. Along with scripture references in the Bible, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine & Covenants, I have been pulling conference talks and Ensign articles: Prayer by Ezra Taft Benson (when he was an apostle), Improving Our Prayers by Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, and Learning to Recognize Answers to Prayer by Elder Richard G. Scott. Every night that I study I record thoughts and inspiration in a new journal. I am grateful for this goal. I have faith that it will improve my scripture study and answers some questions that are really puzzling me. If you have any suggestions on articles or insights, I would greatly appreciate them. I've yet to decide the upcoming subjects in subsequent months.

I'm grateful for all the prayers said in behalf of my family today as we traveled home. We were safe. The roads were clear and the weather fine.

I'm grateful that school starts up again tomorrow - at least for the kids. The Love Magnet especially does better on a set schedule. she has been begging for the past two weeks to go back to school. I still have two weeks to get things together for my school, thank heavens.

I'm grateful for my house, my bed, my kitchen, my tub, my own computer with my own bookmarks in it......as much as I love being with my family, its nice to come home.

2 comments:

Melissa said...

great post, Carrie. Very inspiring! I appreciate your goals and enthusiasm. I'm hoping it will rub off onto me. Thanks.

The Mom said...

Wonderful post Carrie - love your book ideas. I'm reading the new Personal Revelation book from Gerald Lund - it might fall in with your prayer study too. I'll let you know how it is :)

I'm grateful you had a safe journey home.

Thanks for the valentine's ideas :) You are sooo creative :)