T13 5/17

Thirteen Things that matter the most. I've been feeling rather blue lately. I know it has to do with the fact that my husband has been out of work for so long. We ran out of savings a long time ago, and we are having some trouble. I've been trying to stay positive, but there are days where I feel like crying (and often do). I know that I have a lot of blessings, and a lot to be thankful for. I am rich in ways other than money. When I'm feeling lowest, I think of the things that matter most to me, and I always know that I have what truly matters. 1.... My family My husband is a gift beyond belief. He is honest, loyal, and honorable. He loves me totally and completely, and is always looking out for me. I love him more than I ever felt possible. I've never been happier than I am with him. My children are my joy. I have been blessed with five wonderful children. They each have their strengths and differences, yet they each bring with them an incredible spirit, and they fill my sould with joy. This makes me rich beyond measure. 2.... My church I know who I am, why I am on this earth, and where I am going when this earth life is through. I am truly blessed to know that God, my Heavenly Father, loves and knows me personally, as does his son Jesus Christ. Through the atonement of Jesus Christ I have the means to be forgiven for my mistakes and to one day return to live with my Heavenly Father and my family for eternity. This makes me rich beyond measure. 3.... My home I have a modest three bedroom apartment that I wouldn't have chosen by itself, but I am really glad that I have it. I overlook a courtyard with a playground, and every day all the moms sit in lawn chairs under the shade of the trees there and watch our children playing together. We talk and laugh and share problems with each other. We talk about everything from current events to what's for dinner. How rich and fulfilling that is. 4.... My friends A person is truly rich who has friends. I know that when in need, I have certain people I can call on. I have true friends who love me in spite of our differences, and they know that the feeling is mutual. I would do just about anything for my friends. I am a loyal friend for life. I have friends I've known for 27 years now. We don't need to talk every day to know our friendship is secure. True frienships are worth their weight in gold. 5.... We don't go hungry I may not be able to serve lobster for dinner, but my kids wouldn't eat that anyway. We have food to eat and I'm thankful for it. My cupboards are full and my freezer is too. I don't have to worry about whether there is enough food for dinner. Many families do. Many families don't have enough to feed everyone. Some children go to bed hungry at night and wake up hungry in the morning. I can go right now to the fridge and have a snack if I want. I can sit here and plan tomorrows dinner, and have multiple options. I don't have that worry on my mind. To me, this is something to be truly thankful for. 6.... We are warm, safe and dry I go to bed each night in a soft bed with my pillow and blankets, after tucking my children in to their beds. We are dressed in pjs. The air conditioner/heater is on, (depending on the season) the house is cool when it is hot outside, and warm when it is cold outside. I don't worry about the rain coming down and dripping inside my home. I don't worry about predators coming in and harming us. I sleep peacefully knowing all is well. Tomorrow there are many options for what to wear. I don't have to wash our only outfit at night to wear again the next day. We don't have to sleep on the floor. We have clean running water for hot showers and cold drinks. What a blessing that is! 7.... My country I live in a country where I feel safe. I don't worry about what I am writing and if it is being read by the government. (If it is, it is just one more hit on my blog, yeah!) I can say what I want and it is okay. If I want to move to another state, I can. I can go to work as I please, and do as I please. I don't hear gunfire from my home. I don't see men in army uniforms patroling our streets with machine guns. I don't see homes and business destroyed by artillary. To me, this is worth a lot. What a blessing. 8.... My health I may not be 100% healthy, I take medicine for my blood pressure, but I enjoy good health. My family is healthy, too. We all can walk down the stairs on two feet, take a deep breath of the fresh mountain air, run, jump, bend over to smell the flowers, see the sunset, hear the birds singing in the trees and enjoy life. How thankful I am that we are not battling cancer, or some other dreadful illness. How thankful I am that we are not weekly, or daily patients at the doctor's office. Common colds and allergies aside, we are a healthy lot. I am so thankful for this blessing. 9.... Sunshine I love the sunshine. I love to watch it coming up in the morning and setting at night. It is so beautiful. I love to play outside with my kids and feel it upon my face. I don't like being incredibly hot, but where I live it is usually mild. It gets hot in late July and then is fine again by late August. Even in the winter, when the snow covers everything, I'm thankful for the sunshine. There are days when the sky is overcast and the rain is coming down, and I sit in my home and watch it rain. I love the smell of the earth after a good rainfall. Then when the sun comes out, I smile. It is like welcoming home an old friend. A simple pleasure I think, but one I am thankful for. 10.. Animals I love animals; I am the Cat Lady afterall. There is something to be said for the stress relief of petting an animal. I love to go into the mountains and look at the wildlife. I have seen deer, elk, wolves, fox, moose, and a variety of small critters. It is wonderful. How empty life would be without them. I look forward in the morning to hearing the birds sing. Animals add beauty and richness to my life. 11.. My talents I may not be able to do everything I want, but I do have my talents. I enjoy reading a good book; I know some who have difficulty learning to read. I can draw, I'm not a renowned artist , but I enjoy it. I love music, and with practice, I could play the piano better. I like to sew, I'm good with kids, I am fairly creative, I can write stories, I can cook; all these are talents. My talents enrich my life, and I'm thankful for them. 12.. Opportunities to serve others The chance to serve others makes a person feel very rich indeed. It may be something as small as bringing dinner to a neighbor who just had a baby, or baking cookies for a family that just moved in next door, but serving others makes me feel good inside. When we are out driving, my husband will often stop to help someone who has broken down on the side of the road. I remember being broken down in Missouri (nothing against people who live in Missouri, lol). I was obviously pregnant, and it was late November. We needed a jump and didn't have cables. Everyone who stopped wanted $10 to give us a jump. We didn't have $10. With disbelief I watched people drive away, leaving us. We ended up spending the night in a broken down van under an overpass in freezing weather. I don't want to live like that. I will gladly help anyone who needs help. I know that no matter what my circumstances, there are people worse off than myself. Sometimes just a smile will brighten someone's day. If you look everyday for some way to give service to others, you will find it, and your life will be all the more richer for it. 13.. My life I am supremely thankful for my life. Through all the troubles and trials I've had, and there have been many, they have shaped me into the person I am today. I am thankful for each new day that I have. Every day brings new opportunities, new surprises, new reasons to smile. At the end of each day, as I kneel in prayer beside my bed, I am thankul for the day, whatever the day brought. Each day is a chance to be with my family and friends. Each day is a chance to tell someone I love them. My life is good. I am rich! When I'm having blue days, it helps to remember it. I may not have money at the moment, but that is temporary. Where it counts, I'm rich. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!