Wow, it has been a year since I posted on my blog. Time really
does fly! As I was praying this morning, I felt that I should start posting on
my blog again from time to time. So, even though most of my friends have
probably given up on looking at my blog, I thought I would write a post today.
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| The beautiful sunrise from my balcony |
I looked out the window this morning and saw the most beautiful sunrise! I walked out to my balcony to see it better and stood there for a few minutes enjoying the view and thinking. First, I was thinking about how interesting it was that I could stand on my balcony on November 1st with only a jacket. We really have had the most beautiful fall weather.
But then I started thinking about many of my blessings and
thanking Heavenly Father for them. I was thinking of President Monson’s talk
from October conference, “Consider the Blessings” and how much that has helped
me the past month.
The past few months have been very difficult for me in many ways and I have had to work a lot harder at being happy day by day than I have in a long time. And yet, I feel bad even saying that…I really am so blessed, my family is doing well and we have not had any major problems, but some of my family members have had some unique trials in the past few months.
I have also
had some difficult trials that have seemed almost “laser guided,”
as Elder Johnson said in his April 2011 General Conference talk, to my weaknesses. (It is a really
great talk. Here is a link: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/04/more-than-conquerors-through-him-that-loved-us?lang=eng.) These trials have really tested my
patience and faith. I have prayed and fasted more in the past 6 months than I
ever have, seeking guidance and help from Heavenly Father as I have tried to
navigate my way through the things I have been dealing with.
October General Conference was so wonderful! It seemed to
reset my thinking and helped me to remember how blessed I really am, despite
the temporary trails I am facing. There were
so many wonderful talks about faith and choosing to be happy; so many talks
about how God is intimately involved in our lives and will never forsake us!
One of my favorite talks was President Monson’s talk in the Sunday Morning
Session; the talk I was thinking about this morning. Here is a quote from that
talk:
I
have found that, rather than dwelling on the negative, if we will take a step
back and consider the blessings in our lives, including seemingly small,
sometimes overlooked blessings, we can find greater happiness. … My brothers
and sisters, the Lord is in all of our
lives. He loves us. He wants to bless us. He wants us to seek His help. As
He guides us and directs us and as He hears and answers our prayers, we will
find the happiness here and now that He desires for us. May we be aware of His
blessings in our lives. (President Thomas S Monson, “Consider the Blessings”, October
2012.)
Isn’t that so wonderful! How lucky we are to have a living Prophet
on the earth to help us through difficult times.
I have thought a lot about that this past month and it has
really helped me to consider the blessings of each day. My trials have not
really changed, but my perspective has. So, I want to review just a few of
the many blessings in my life:
My family: My family is my greatest blessing! I am so lucky to have a close, supportive family and so many nieces and nephews that love me. Here are some recent pictures of my family:
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| Some of my nephews at our boy's sleepover |
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| Many of my nieces at our girl's sleepover |
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| With my niece Liza |
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| My five brothers at a family baby blessing--such great brothers! |
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| Jena and I with my nieces Annika and Mieka at a BYU football game |
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| With my niece Lizzie and nephew Truman at October Conference |
I recently got this comment on a patient discharge survey: “I
was a wreck when we first arrived and Janice helped me by understanding what
was wrong, what to expect, and everything in between. I seriously love her!” I
am so blessed to be able to make a difference for other people in my job!
The beautiful world
we live in: Like I said, it has been such a beautiful fall! I have been
up to the canyon a few times and have loved the fall colors. Fall also seems to
have the most beautiful sunsets. Here are a few of my favorite pictures:
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| The beautfiul river in AF canyon. I spent a lot of time there this fall pondering and enjoying the beauty of this world! |
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| The fall leaves up AF canyon |
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| Beautiful sunset! |
The greatest blessing of my life is my testimony of Jesus Christ—my
knowledge that He loves me beyond my comprehension, that He will never forsake
me and will lead me to wonderful things in my life!
Those are just a few of my many blessings. I could go on
about my wonderful friends, my many material blessings etc., but this post is
already long enough. I want to end with a quote from Elder Johnson's talk that I referenced earlier:
So, in this month of Thanksgiving, I invite all of you to consider the blessings in your own lives!
Time
after time we see marvelous blessings on the heels of great trials…Many times a
particular challenge helps prepare us for something vitally important. In the
midst of problems, it is nearly impossible to see that the coming blessings far outweigh the pain, humiliation, or heartbreak
we may be experiencing at the time.
That is the biggest blessing of all! I know that these trials will work out and that Heavenly Father has great things in store for me, in this life and in the next.
So, in this month of Thanksgiving, I invite all of you to consider the blessings in your own lives!
