Every year, I write about being thankful for clean, fresh water, and every year, I mean it. I will not take for granted this amazing life-giving necessity that comes to me without delay, on tap, every single day of my life so far. I have water to use for cooking, cleaning, bathing, and drinking, and it has rarely ever been in limited supply. Access to clean water keeps me and my family healthy and very happy. I am so grateful to have clean water to use every day.
Going to the movies was a big part of my childhood and beyond. My parents would take us on opening weekends and even try to get first showings for some movies. I grew up and my children grew up going to the drive-in and movie theater as well as enjoying an extensive home movie collection. The great thing about collecting movies still is that even if I do not have a certain streaming service or no streaming services carry the movie I want to watch, if I have it in my collection, I am good to go. I have made sure to get some of my obscure favorites while I still could, and it has definitely paid off. I am developing a top 50 or maybe a top 100 best movies of all time list for my 50 Things by 50 challenge, and I am feeling excited to work on that some more after contemplating how thankful I am for movies. Movies bring smiles and tears, but most of all, they bring back some of my happiest everyday memories that I can think of.
I am one of those on November 1 I decorate for Christmas people. I am also one of those if I can help it I leave up my Christmas stuff through Epiphany people. The extreme nostalgia and joyful focus on Jesus Christ just calls for some extra special decor if you ask me. I also love kicking off the season with Christmas songs right away. But one of the aspects of Christmastime I am most thankful for is the increase focus on striving to be Christlike and thinking of others. My imperfections help me keep it real, but I always am watching for what I might to do lift where I stand, what would God want me to do to help others like His Son. Christmastime is a time of giving and receiving, loving and striving, remembering and worshiping, and I am thankful for a Heavenly Father who sent His Son to redeem my soul. So very thankful for Jesus and His birth and life given for me and for you.
Since the summertime, I have been focusing on getting better and more sleep. It has been a much more difficult task than I had anticipated. For some reason, my body does not want to let me get more than six and half hours on average each month. It used to be only six hours and fifteen minutes, and I am not sure if this small adjustment has made a difference. I think it has, so I am thankful for this small progress. Sleep helps so many things for our bodies, and I am grateful to be making even little steps in helping my health.
Not a day goes by that I do not reach to my Heavenly Father for guidance, inspiration, discernment, and hope. I am thankful for my parents who shared the gospel of Jesus Christ with me as a child and set me on a path to know Him and our God who loves us all. I am thankful for the ability to pray each day to God and for the ability to hear Him and feel His love in my life.
