Gratitude #36

 I woke up feeling like I needed to express some Gratitude today.

Once again.. this is not in any particular order of importance.. just what thoughts randomly come to my mind first.

(1)- I am Grateful for Answered Prayers.

My Mom has been very ill.  On top of all of the other worries I have had for her... she was very sick the last 3 days.  She missed out on a Tenney family Gathering on Sunday, and then couldn't even make it to Grandpa's viewing Monday night because she was still so miserable.
She was supposed to be speaking at the Funeral  on Tuesday-- and I was worried.

Chad and I did the Display's for both of Grandpa's viewings.  While I enjoy doing this type of thing so much.. it is also very tiring.. as we have to stay to the end to clean up.. and get there extra early to set up.

Monday night after the viewing.. I was emotionally and physically tired.

I felt like I was apologizing the whole night to family members and friends from my Mothers ward and neighborhood.. who drove 30 minutes to pay their respects and condolances.. and I was the only one there.  -- So Disappointing -- I am sure.

I so wished my Dad was there.

I missed him so much the past few days.

Chad and I got home at 10 pm Monday night and I knew the only way I was going to get up early the next day.. would be with the Strength of the Lord.  Everything in me was tired.

I got up.. and went out into the Kitchen -- alone and in the dark.. and said a desperate prayer -- begging the Lord to give me strength to get up early in the AM.. and to PLEASE let my Mom be well enough to come and speak.

The Lord heard my prayers.. and Answered them.

My Mother showed up Tuesday morning--as early as I was there... and although she still sounded a little sick.. she felt better -- and good enough to be there.

 She gave a beautiful talk.. and had strength to enjoy the day.

I am soo grateful to a loving Heavenly Father for hearing and answering my ( and many others )prayers.

(2)- I am Grateful to belong to the Tenney Family.

Sunday night was good therapy for me.

I was surrounded by family.. and we expressed memories and stories about Grandpa. 

At the end of the night....some of my Tenney cousins and I sat and talked, laughed and shared "remember when" stories with each other.  As I left that night... I felt very grateful that my cousins are great friends of mine.  It's one thing to HAVE to be around people because we are related.. but I seriously love my family.. and would choose to be friends with them if we were not related.

(3)  I am Grateful for Blogging, E-mails, Pinterest and Facebook.

In the past week.. I have been inspired and had answers to prayers from all of these places.
On Facebook.. the Singer Mindy Gledhill was an answer to a prayer one day -- as she simply shared a song for her status update that day.-- " Be still my Soul. "
 
The moment I played the song.. and heard the lyrics.. " The Lord is on thy Side."  A warmth came over me... and I felt comforted.  The song she shared was an answer to my prayer that day.

Comments on my blog.. and many e-mails.. ( that I still have to answer ) have been so touching to me this past week.  I am truly grateful for my friends.

Every single day I have been on Pinterest.. there has been a fabulous quote shared.. that has touched me -- quite profoundly.  Sometimes I wonder if my "Quote board" will be bigger than the other boards.
It's been intersting to see my prayers being answered through others.  -- even through technology.

(4)  I am Grateful for Chad.

I feel a greater love for him -- each day than I knew existed.  He is truly amazing.
I am always busy-- signing up to do projects ( like displays for the viewing ) and he never complains.  He happily serves right a long with me --and will do anything.
 ( Even when I am the one volunteering him. )

Chad and I look forward to our TV time each night.. and it's what I look forward to all day.
The chance to talk about our day.. snuggle.. and enjoy a good movie.. or favorite TV series together.

Yesterday after the Funeral.. we came home about 5pm and both of us fell asleep from pure exhastion.

I woke up.. and saw him by me.. and felt an incredible amount of love for him.

I thought of all of the ways Chad is like my Father.

And I realized.. he is probably the greatest gift God gave me.

I  Thanked the Lord last night for him until I fell asleep.


Today I am Grateful for:

My friend Morgan... for all of her help with my Children for the Weekend
Peppermint Hot Cocoa
Being born into the Wright and Tenney Families
Memories
My dirty house that needs some serious cleaning.....