Family Home Evening: HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Dear Family and Friends,

Happy Thanksgiving, may you live thankfully every day.

For the beauty of the earth, For the beauty of the skies,
For the love which from our birth over and around us lies,
Lord of all, to thee we raise, this our hymn of grateful praise.
(Folliott S. Pierpoint, 1835-1917, LDS Hymn # 92)

As we grow up, we start to obsess that our families, partners, homes, cars, country, and jobs need fixing. Some tweaking here and there may be in order; but this kind of focus may make us dwell on regrets: "If only I had . . . " This internal dialogue makes-peace-of mind elusive.

When we feel gratitute on the other hand, we become more fulfilled and peaceful. Accept what we have and where we are WITH GRATITUDE.

For the beauty of each hour, Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale, and tree and flow'r, Sun and moon, and stars of light,
Lord of all, to thee we raise, this our hymn of grateful praise.
(Folliott S. Pierpoint, 1835-1917, LDS Hymn # 92)

Taking time in a busy world to remember God's blessings is one way to invite the influence of the Holy Ghost.

We cannot remember what it was like to be with our Heavenly Father and his beloved son in the premortal world; nor can we with physical eyes or reason alone, see the hand of God in our lives. Seeing and feeling such things require the Holy Ghost.

Forgetting God is the persistent problem for humanity. Too often those who are abundantly blessed forget the source of all blessings.

"It is easy to begin to feel the blessings were granted not by a loving God on whom we depend but by our own power. It can also be hard to remember him when our lives go badly. In trials, some question that there is a loving Father, making it difficult for the Holy Ghost to minister. All men have the Spirit of Christ, if not the Holy Ghost, to help them remember the goodness of God." (President Henry B. Eyring)

For the joy of human love, Brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth, and friends above, For all gentle thoughts and mild,
Lord of all, to thee we raise, This our hymn of grateful praise.
(Folliott S. Pierpoint, 1835-1917, LDS Hymn # 92)

May this be a season of gratitude and thanksgiving!

We are especially thankful for each one of you.

Love, Mom and Dad, Shauna and Robert Valentine