Thankful for many things

I wasn't able to write what I am thankful for on Saturday and Sunday, so today I have to do a little catching up. Bear with me as I have a lot to be grateful for.

This weekend we have had Scott's parents here. They braved the snowstorm and arrived here on Saturday morning. I am grateful that they arrived here safely. I am also grateful for them and for the wonderful people that they are.

(Scott's parents at Kim and Kay's baptism)

They raised a wonderful son who is a wonderful husband and father. Scott really is an amazing person and I know a lot of that comes from his upbringing.

I am thankful for the things my children learn in church. Yesterday was our ward's Primary Program in Sacrament Meeting. For those of you that are not familiar with this, the Primary (children's Sunday school program) in our church has a specific theme each year and related topics and songs each month that they learn. Throughout the year they learn different principles associated with the theme and songs that go with them. The theme this year was, "I am a Child of God". This year they learned that they are a child of God and that He has a plan for them. They learned that we lived with Heavenly Father before we came to this earth and that they can live with Him again after this life. They learned that the scriptures teach us about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and that both the Bible and The Book of Mormon testify of Jesus Christ and teach us how to live the gospel. They learned that Jesus Christ is their Savior and that He loves each of us very much. They learned that we have a living prophet today to help us learn and do those things that Heavenly Father wants us to do so that we can return to live with him again. They learned that Heavenly Father planned for us to be a part of a family and how we can strengthen our families.

They learned songs about when Jesus Christ was baptized and how we can follow His example and be baptized. They learned songs about our families and how "Home is where the heart is". They sang songs about how we love to learn the stories of Jesus because they teach us how to be more like Him. They also sang about how they might live differently "If the Savior Stood Beside Me". They sang about being a child of God and how Heavenly Father gave us "parents kind and dear".

At the end of the year the children (ranging from ages 3 to 12) have the opportunity to share with us in Sacrament Meeting what they have learned over the year. Inevitably there are moments of tears (from both the parents and the children) and moments of joy as the children each have the opportunity to sing and share what they have learned. Yesterday several of the children (including Jordan, Kim and Kay) and some teachers sang a special song about praying to Heavenly Father. I managed to hold it together until they started singing this song, then the tears started flowing:

Heavenly Father, are you really there? And do you hear and answer every child's prayer? Some say that heaven is far away, but I feel it close around me as I pray. Heavenly Father I remember now something that Jesus told disciples long ago, "Suffer the children to come me", Father, in prayer I'm coming now to thee.

Pray, he is there; speak, He is listening. You are His child; His love now surrounds you. He hears your prayer; He loves the children. Of such is the kingdom, the kingdom of heaven.

Then by the end when they sang, "If the Savior Stood Beside Me" I was a goner. I was especially touched by the last verse of this song:

If the Savior stood beside me, would I do the things I do? Would I think of His commandments and try harder to be true? Would I follow His example? Would I live more righteously if I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?

If the Savior stood beside me, would I say the things I say? Would my words be true and kind if He were never far away? Would I try to share the gospel? Would I speak more reverently if I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?

He is always near me though I do not see Him there, And because He loves me dearly, I am in His watchful care. So I'll be the kind of person that I know I'd like to be if I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me.

I am grateful for my children and for the example they are to me and for the good choices that they make each day. I am grateful for a church that helps us as parents to teach our children good principles that help them to know of our Heavenly Father's love for them. I am grateful for a loving Heavenly Father that sent us all here to earth to learn and grow and who watches over us with love and blesses us in so many ways. I am grateful to know that I am a child of God and that He loves me. I am grateful for our Savior Jesus Christ and that He died for me and suffered for my sins so that I can repent and be forgiven of my sins and return to live with Him again. I am thankful for many things!