Thanksgiving is approaching!

I love Thanksgiving and everything it represents; family, love, security, safety and the prosperity represented by the bounty we enjoy. Daily I am thankful. I am thankful for Doug who loves me though I am not all that love able. I am thankful for our children: Quinn, Megan, Shane, Erin, Shannon, Caitilin, Sean and Conn. I am thankful for Kurt, Sharon and Ryan, our precious in-law children. I am thankful for Darlene and her Kiwi heritage. I am thankful for grandchildren: Kalin, Kai, Gavin, Ryan, Owen and Aidan. I am thankful for siblings: Jack, Tom, Kathleen and Eileen. I am thankful for in-laws: Dave, Catherine, Dick, Carol, Jerry and Peggy, Mike and Osa. I am thankful for my dearest friend, Susan who is just 10 months older than I am. I am thankful for frequent phone calls to and from each of my family. I am thankful for the "nosey, nosey, kiss" I receive in person or on the phone from my grandsons.

Each day as I leave our home to drive the 27 miles to Riverton to teach at Riverton High School, I close the front door, and as I do it, I say a prayer of thanks for the comfort of our home and the blessing of even having a home. As I drive the freeway to school in the very early dawn, I give thanks for each of my students, for my job, my health, the opportunity to teach and be influenced by the humble qualities of of my students, each of whom has a severe intellectual disability. I am blessed because I associate with these students. I am blessed to enjoy a life of freedom where I can pray and attend church and the temple.

The incredible pumpkin pie that Sharon makes (and no she won't share the recipe ), the sweet potato casserole that Shannon makes, the side dishes that Megan creates, the Kiwi dessert Darlene makes, the pecan pie Erin makes and the gathering with family to share in a feast of love...this is Thanksgiving. Caitilin, Kurt, Gavin and Ryan create and share Thanksgiving with friends and missionaries in Charlotte, N.C. We are thankful for the goodness of the Summerhays family.

Fall

Halloween has come and gone and along with it, all of our leaves have dropped to cover not only our yard, but the side yard of our neighbor's as well. We are certain our leaves cause stress to our neighbor. As soon as the leaves begin to drop into his yard, he starts up his leaf blower and send those unwanted, crispy, colorful beautiful leaves back to our property. As the days of falling leaves pass, the pile of leaves blown from his side yard becomes increasingly deep.

Our grandchildren love falling into the leaves just as I did when I was a child. I clearly remember raking the leaves into a floor plan of a home. The outer walls of the rooms would be about a foot wide and about five inches deep. My friends and I would take blankets and pillows to our newly created bedrooms. We would neatly place the blankets and pillows into a position to resemble a freshly made bed. In the "kitchen" we would arrange a little table and chairs. Imagination was fun; leaves are fun...so why are we in such a rush to clear them from our yards?