52 Blessing Project - Week Seventeen

This week I'm most thankful for:

GRADUATIONS!!!

What a wonderful opportunity we have had to watch our five older children pursue degrees in higher education.
David graduated this past week with a Masters degree in Informational Services. We have children who have majored in Interior Design, Early Childhood Education, Math Education, Liberal Studies for elementary teaching credential, and Political Science.

We have enjoyed celebrating with David and his family this week!! Graduations are such happy occasions. It's the start of a new beginning!! David has worked hard and it has been a sacrifice for the whole family, but one that I'm sure will reap many benefits in the near future!!

52 BLESSING PROJECT Week Three - Week Sixteen

I'm very grateful for our Toyota Sienna Rampvan!! In fact I feel a little spoiled. But, we really truly love this van! It is so nice to have Evan just roll his wheelchair in the van. We fasten his wheelchair down with heavy duty straps and away we go. No lifting. No folding wheelchair. It is very very nice!! A very wonderful blessing that my back totally loves!!

52 BLESSING PROJECT Week Three - Week Fifteen

FOOD

I am so blessed to live in a country where food is plentiful. I don't know what is is like not to have enough food in my house. Twice a week I volunteer at a local Christian Women's Food Ministry. This wonderful group of women gives food out to needy people five days a week for free. People can come twice a month to get food. All they need is a photo identification, no questions are asked.I help in the morning before the patrons come. Some of the food is purchased at a very reduced rate from the local food bank. Grocery stores donate their almost outdated food. We go through boxes and boxes of produce and throw out the yucky, moldy stuff and put the good stuff on the shelf. Actually we waste very little the, limpy lettuce and moldy tomatoes etc, go to feed pigs and goats.I'm so grateful never to have known true hunger.I'm also grateful for the opportunity I have to help those who are hungry. It's a wonderful blessing!!

Fifty-Two Blessing Project - Week Fourteen

This week I'm grateful for Living Prophets!!

I love General Conference and this week was especially wonderful with the Solemn Assembly to sustain President Thomas S. Monson as Prophet.

In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints we believe that our President along with his two Counselors and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, to be living prophets. They are special witnesses of Jesus Christ. Twice a year Latter-Day Saints have the privilege of watching General Conference. Some travel to Salt Lake City to attend in person. Others watch a satellite broadcast in a church building. And still others can watch on cable or satellite television at home or on the Internet.

Last October one of the many talks that touched me was Elder Dallin H Oaks, "Good, Better, Best". It made we seriously look at how I spend my time. Was I spending my time doing the best things?? Not really. But, I make a commitment to change that and it feels great now to be in service to the Lord as a missionary helping others with family history.

My heart again has been touched as I listen to words of the Lords special servants this weekend. I loved Elder Uchtdorf's talk this morning about "Faith of Our Fathers". And as always it is wonderful to hear President Monson speak. I know these great men are indeed Prophets sent here to lead and guide us and I will strive to follow their counsel. What a wonderful blessing!

52 BLESSING PROJECT - Week Twelve

HE LIVES!!

I am so grateful to know that my Savior, Jesus Christ lives! This is the most remarkable and important blessing of all. Because my Savior lives it means that I can live again after my life on this earth has ended. It means that my family members can also. We can live with our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and our families forever! It is difficult to comprehend the sacrifice and suffering that Jesus Christ endured for all of us. What wonderful love!!

I wish everyone a most joyous Easter!!

Christ the Lord Is Risen Today

Christ the Lord is ris’n today,
Alleluia!
Sons of men and angels say,
Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high,
Alleluia!
Sing, ye heav’ns, and earth reply,
Alleluia!

Love’s redeeming work is done,
Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the vict’ry won,
Alleluia!
Jesus’ agony is o’er,
Alleluia!
Darkness veils the earth no more,
Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King,
Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting?
Alleluia!
Once he died our souls to save,
Alleluia!
Where thy victory, O grave?
Alleluia!

Text: Charles Wesley, 1707–1788

52 BLESSING PROJECT - Week Ten

MY FELLOW BLOGGERS

I'm so grateful for all you out in blogland. You get on your keyboard and write words and post pictures and video. You share things about your selves, sometimes personal things. Things that make me laugh and cry. Things that inspire me. Things of beauty. Even miracles. You help me to ponder and be a better person. You reach out to me with your comments. You come from all the globe. What a wonderful thing!! Thank you for all being there, you have been a blessing to me!!

FIFTY TWO BLESSING PROJECT, Week Eight

I'm grateful for my peasant ancestors!

This week Lynne got me to pondering with this great post. She was wondering what her grandchildren would grow up to become. She asked the question, "What defines success?" And, whether we are a celebrity or a broom sweeper we are all children of Heavenly Father and He love us.

I like the simple things of life. Please don't give me anything that is gaudy or frilly. I don't want to be rich or win the lottery (my husband, however would like to give it a try, being rich that is, NOT playing the lottery). Just bring my family around me and I'm happy!! I don't want to be well known. I just want to do well the things I have been asked or required to do. I am who I am because of my wonderful ancestors. I believe they are a part of me. Many of my ancestors were poor peasant farmers. It's called "contadino" in Italian. How I love them!! They were humble, they knew that they had to rely on the Lord. Funny, but today in Stake Conference (twice a year meeting of many congregations together) they mentioned a study that shows that people that have many material things of the world are NOT as happy as those we don't!! That would be my ancestors! I'm sure they did not have much and it was hard to find even the necessities of life. I'm grateful for their faithfulness in living their Catholic religion to the best of their ability. I love my peasant heritage!!

FIFTY TWO BLESSING PROJECT, Week Seven

Family Dinner Time

We have always been able to sit down and have dinner as a family. I'm grateful for that time together. Elder Dallin H. Oaks said in the October 2007 General Conference "The number of those who report that their "whole family usually eats dinner together" has declined 33 percent. This is most concerning because the time a family spends together "eating meals at home [is] the strongest predictor of children's academic achievement and psychological adjustment." Family mealtimes have also been shown to be a strong bulwark against children's smoking, drinking, or using drugs. There is inspired wisdom in this advice to parents: What your children really want for dinner is you."
Right now our family has a little bit of a challenge with my husband working a graveyard shift and leaving at 5 pm for the drive to work. But we still manage to have dinner together at least 6 days a week, it's a little early, but we do it nonetheless. This has definitely been a strength for our family.

FIFTY TWO BLESSING PROJECT, Week Six

This week is all about I grew up in a home where I knew I was loved. I fell in love with a wonderful man. And amazingly, he loved me back!! We had children, whom I love dearly. I remember one day when my first born, David was about four months old. I sat back and watched my husband whom I loved dearly, play on the floor with this little baby, whom I loved dearly. It was so incredible that these people whom I loved the most loved each other. The love was almost tangible. Such a great feeling. The other thing I love to watch is how my children love each other. Admit it, I know you do!!! And then, there are the grandchildren! They are so fun and so easy to love!!

There is also a most special love. The love of my Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. Their love is totally unconditional. I can feel their love when I look around at the world. I can feel their love when I find peace in my heart that I didn't think was there. I'm trying to show my love back to them, by loving their other children here on earth. Can you imagine not having anyone to love or not feeling anyone's love. I'm can't. I'm so grateful for all the love in my life.

52 BLESSING PROJECT, Week Five

As I pondered what blessing to share today I had two that were strongly on my mind. When I woke this morning, I realized that they actually go together. So, this week I'm most grateful for modern technology and an inspired Prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley, who knew how to best use that technology.

My son, David, blogged a little about this the other day. My gratitude is a little more specific. In October 2005 General Conference President Hinckley spoke of the challenges of temple work and family history.

"One of the most troublesome aspects of our temple activity is that as we get more and more temples scattered across the earth there is duplication of effort in proxy work. People in various nations simultaneously work on the same family lines and come up with the same names. They do not know that those in other areas are doing the same thing. We, therefore, have been engaged for some time in a very difficult undertaking. To avoid such duplication, the solution lies in complex computer technology. Preliminary indications are that it will work, and if this is so, it will be a truly remarkable thing with worldwide implications."

This week I recieved my call to service as a part time, at home, Church service missionary. I will be serving in "Worldwide Support" under the Family and Church History Mission. Worldwide Support!! Isn't that incredible!! When I talked to my Missionary Leader Elder Martinez this week that is one of the things he stressed to me. We are serving people worldwide. That can only be done with modern technology.

On Friday I had the privilege to attend a "new missionary orientation phone conference meeting". I have never done anything like that before. I went to a specific web page, called a phone number and you see and hear everything along with other new missionaries. People from all over the country. We learned how to access the Church's online training. I was so impressed with everything on there. The Church has an amazing intranet system. I will be in training for two months, then I will use the technology to help people with Family Search, the New Family Search, and with PAF (Personal Ancestral File) programs. I'm extremely excited. I'm so grateful to be a very small part of this program inspired by a Prophet using modern technology!!!

FIFTY TWO BLESSING PROJECT, Week Four

After a week of cold, rainy, windy, gloomy, stormy weather, we woke up to sunshine Saturday morning. I found this beautiful daffodil in bloom in my front planter!! So this week, I'm thankful for:

Flowers

Flowers gladden my heart! I love all the colors, but yellow flowers are my absolute favorite! Flowers attract the birds and butterflies that I love!! A bouquet of flowers is sure to bring a smile to anyone!! Flowers make me marvel at the intricacies of Heavenly Father's creations! I can't imagine earth without them!!

52 BLESSING PROJECT, Week Three

WHEELS

When Evan was not even two years old, his physical therapist suggested getting him a wheelchair! We were afraid that if he started using a wheelchair he would never walk. We didn't want to give up on walking. But, then again, this child was unable to explore his environment very well except by commando crawling. That was a concern for us. So, we borrow a wheelchair for a few days. I remember bringing it into the backyard and placing Evan in the chair. Off, he went across the yard. It was like the wheelchair was meant for him. He knew immediately how to use it!! Tears fell down my face as I watched with joy this little boy I loved with all my heart zip around with the wheelchair. Evan did walk a little starting at four years until twelve years old. Then it was just to much energy. Cruising in his wheelchair has always been his favorite mode of transportation!!
So, this week, I'm grateful for wheels. Wheels to roll instead of walk. Wheels
to explore the great big world out there!! Wheels to play sports!! Wheels that are NOT confining, but give freedom!!
It's a great way to get around!!

52 Blessings Project, Week Two

The Beautiful California weather drew us to the seashore yesterday. Thus the impetus for today's 52 BP....water!!


I love the sound of the ocean waves. It is calming yet energizing. It's power is extraordinary. The ocean is ever changing as, is our lives.

Water...what would we do without water??
There is nothing like a cool refreshing glass of water of a warm summer day. Water is essential to our bodies health!



After a hard day of work there is nothing like a refreshing shower to cleanse our body. We use water to wash to our clothes and our dishes. We are so fortunate to live where we have clean water to wash things and to drink.

We are immersed in water when we are baptized, in the same manner as the Savior Jesus Christ. It is one of the first principles of the Gospel. Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." John 3:5

Every Sunday when we attend church we partake of the Sacrament water. It reminds us of the sacrifice of the Savior Jesus Christ in our behalf. It is an opportunity to remember the promises we made when we were baptised.

Water is life giving in many different ways and an incredible blessing!!

FIFTY TWO BLESSING PROJECT

I found this great idea on Cara's blog.
And I decided I'm going to be a part of the 52 Blessing's Project.
Here is how Cara described the project:

"Once a week post a photo of something you are most grateful for. This gives us a chance to reflect on the good things we have learned from or that have made us better in our everyday lives or things we just enjoy! I think everyone needs to be more grateful for what they have now days instead of always thinking about what we want! This is one of the things we can do to be more gracious people. It will be like a photo gratitude journal."

I'm already a week behind so I will start today and add another one later this week.

52 Blessing Project
(Week One)
I'm grateful for the light of each new day. I'm up before sunrise, and I'm always grateful to catch a glimpse of the beautiful colors in the morning sky! It always brings back a special memory of walking on the beach one morning all by myself. When I turned around there was the most beautiful colors in the sky...reds, oranges and pinks. Since I was alone I felt like that sunset was there just for me. I felt a most overwhelming feeling of love, almost like Heavenly Father put his arms around me!! The creations do testify of Him!!