Observation

On my walk today I was thinking about my week and what I have planned and I remembered that we are going to a wedding reception this weekend.  Luckily, I didn't have to worry about what I was going to give the happy couple as I have been giving the same thing to everyone for several years.  Having 6 married children and listening to them talk about their weddings I found that they all wanted just one thing for their weddings, money.  They had gotten all kinds of useful stuff at the bridal showers and they discovered that registering was basically a joke as all the husbands just shot the gun at everything in site.  They all got multiple things that they had to take back because either they got more than one of them or they didn't really want them in the first place, they just had to put something on their registry.  They all said that they wanted more cash for their honeymoons and that they enjoyed picking out stuff together after they had settled into their places.  So, I give money to every newly wed couple and know that they will use it however they want and be grateful for it.

I Love You

There has been quite a bit written about people's individual love languages or how they show and receive love.  There are those who like to do things for people and have things done for them.  Some like to give gifts and be given gifts in return.  Others like to give and receive praise for their actions.  Then there are those who like to say and hear "I love you".  It is my opinion that even though you might be dominant in one or the other categories there is no more direct way to express love than to just say it.  I think that everyone appreciates a heartfelt "I love you" once in awhile.  The very best, in my opinion, are the times when a very young child says it to you.  You know that there is no ulterior motive and that they really feel it in their hearts because they are too young to have any deceit involved.  It melts my heart when my grandchildren tell me that they love me.  It's pretty cool when my kids say it too because we aren't around each other very much anymore so when they say it, it feels really real, especially the "out of nowhere", spontaneous ones.  I told myself a long time ago that if I was ever feeling an abundance of love for someone at a certain time, enough for it to be a conscious thought, then I would come right out and say it to them.  I love my family so much that they hear it, spontaneously, from me a lot and even if it's not their primary love language they are pretty good at convincing me that they love me too when they say it back.  You can never go wrong or give the wrong message when you just come out and say those wonderful words so I highly recommend that they become a large part of your vocabulary.  The End.

More Randomness

I am very thankful for creative people who put into words things that are in my heart. I love words that flow and sayings that speak to my heart.  A recent one that really said exactly what I think all the time in a way that I didn't think of but can very much appreciate is:

"Sometimes memories sneak out of my eyes and roll down my cheeks."

I absolutely LOVE this saying.  It is perfectly true while being sweet and creative.  It is exactly what I go through every single day of my life.  I have so many great memories that they tend to overflow down my cheeks every single day.  That doesn't mean I'm sad every day.  It just means that I remember, every single day, the incredible life I've been privileged to live.  So, at this time of Thanksgiving and gratefulness, I am thankful for talented people who are willing to share their words with the rest of us and express, oh so eloquently, the feelings in our hearts.

Traditional works for me

I love reading about celebrities.  I'll admit that I am very starstruck by people who have done anything to make millions of other people know who they are.  I've had a secret desire (as I'm betting most of the world has) to be famous  for something.  I'm way too shy and private to actually want this to be a reality and I would be miserable being in the public eye but I still find it fascinating to read about people who are.  Lately there has been a pile of marriages that have ended because the husband strayed with the nanny.  Not being rich, famous and in a demanding career I can't really relate to a need for a nanny so I hesitate to judge these people for hiring someone else to raise their children but when I read about them I feel very thankful for the good old traditional way of life that I have chosen for myself.  I wouldn't trade places with them for all the fame and fortune in the world.  I honestly feel that I am the richer of the two.  I have a faithful, loving husband and seven children that we adore along with their wives and children.  I was home with them every step of the way.  I was present for everything that happened to them and every phase they went through.  Some may find that tedious and boring but I relished nearly every minute and I have the terrific memories to prove it. I'm perfectly fine with being the stereotypical fifties wife and mother.  I'm perfectly fine with having one faithful husband for my whole life and for the life to come and for having no drama worth writing about with my children.  We love our "boring" lives.  I'll take joy, security and sweet peaceful love over fame and fortune any day but I have to be thankful for these people and their crazy lives because if they all became like me then who would I read about in my magazines? ;)

The Santa Clause

My husband and I just got done watching "The Santa Clause" for the millionth time and I can't believe how much I love that movie.  It is truly magical for me.  The North Pole and the sleigh and all the wonderful Christmasy things in it just make my heart sing.  The feelings that I get while watching that movie are indescribable.  I feel like an innocent child bursting with joy and excitement in anticipation of Christmas.  All the fuzzy warm feelings that come with the Christmas season just wash over me and make me smile and cry at the same time.  I always feel an overwhelming amount of love for my fellow man during this special time.  I feel light hearted and super happy.  I love everything about Christmas, the traditions, the music, the decorations, the movies and especially Santa Claus and all he represents.  I love my Savior so much and during the celebration of His birth I am filled with charity and love and unselfishness and the symbols of those things are all things Christmas to me.  I will always believe.

Nicknames

Coming back to my random things to be thankful for I was thinking of nicknames.  My family is one of the best for coming up with nicknames for each other and I love how they make me feel.  If you give someone a nickname then it means you know them fairly well and are comfortable enough around them to call them something other than their given name.  I love when each of my kids and even my husband call me by their pet name.  I love being MIL (mother in law) to my DIL's and all sorts of fun names to my 9 grandchildren.  It gives me a feeling of belonging to a loving group of people.  Totally random, I know but that's what popped into my head:)

America

I was raised by very good parents to love, honor, respect and revere my country.  Today is Veteran's Day.  I just finished the latest installment of Rush Limbaugh's children's book series about early America.  Even though it is geared towards children it is a wonderfully simple way to learn about the birth of our great country.  Reading about the writing of the Star Spangled Banner had me in tears.  Tonight my young women's group is going over to a retirement community to talk to real life veterans and hear their stories and give them thank you notes, flags and treats.  I can't wait!  I get weepy every time I hear the Star Spangled Banner.  I have no idea what I did in the pre-existence to deserve being born into this incredible country but I will be thankful every day of my life for such a blessing.  God bless America!