So much to be thankful for...

As I look around me in line at the local Walmart, I am reminded of how blessed I am. I live in the top 5 percent of the worlds people in standard of living and I am middle class, maybe even lower middle class! Sure those Hollywood stars have lots of money, and power and fame but at what cost? How would you like to have every mistake you made plastered all over the check out stands? And even some that aren't true?

Anyway, I was pondering on my family and how I might help them focus on what they have instead of what they don't have. I am not going to deny it, money is tight and Christmas is going to small but by many standards outside the US still big! I am a super duper frugal shopper--my kids always ask why do you only buy things when they are on sale? So as I was pondering on this idea I read the recent talk by Thomas S. Monson on The Divine Gift of Gratitude. I decided to create a gratitude journal for our family that we would write in every night. It's only been one night but I have seen improvements in the prayers our kids have given--much more thankful. I introduced the idea in a family devotional last night--I used an old sharing time from 2005 and President Monson's talk. We did something similar before but we didn't write it down. I feel like we need to write this down so we don't forget. So many little things happen in our lives that are small blessings but important nonetheless. They remind us that God loves us and is aware of our needs. I know when we express gratitude to God for our blessings we feel closer to him. Pres. Monson says that "to live with gratitude ever in our hearts is to touch heaven." I believe that so why not? This may be the best gift I ever gave my kids!