Attitudes and Gratitudes

Mar made this for me yesterday during some free time at school:

That girl is awesome.  She knows how to help a momma keep on keeping on.
How to lift spirits.  How to share a smile.  Thanks, Mar!

I attended a Relief Society meeting on Wednesday.  The evening was focused on others as we participated in several service activities for our community.  There was also the opportunity for a "service exchange" - you could write a service you would do for another sister in the ward on a paper ornament, then hang it on a small tree set on a table in the room.  You could then read through the services other sisters had offered and select one you could use.  (A simple but brilliant idea.)  In conversation at the table where I was sitting, I mentioned how one of my sisters I visit teach had told me of a book she was reading about positive affirmations, and how I would like to read it to rid myself of Satan's negativity that regularly encroaches on my thoughts (maybe I didn't quite state it as bluntly in that group setting, but you know what I mean).  Another sister at the table had another {simple} but {brilliant} idea for a great service exchange:  a positive affirmation every day until the end of the year via text or email message.  I jumped on it and decided I would give that as my service (along with an eyebrow wax... for good measure), and another sister did the same (along with brownies... for good measure), and we exchanged with each other.  Two days down and I'm thinking everybody needs to do this.  It has given me the opportunity to think about the talents and gifts of someone else, but it has also helped to encourage me about my own positive attributes.

This month our family is focusing on gratitude.  (Of course.)
We really should do this exercise on a regular basis, as it elevates our attitudes.
Counting your blessings can do nothing less.

I got this idea from you-know-where (who got it from here), but of course it is much simplified.

(I was going to tie some twine around my tall vases to dress them up a bit, but have yet to git 'er done.  At this point, I think I'll let it ride.  Can you see how my candle burned a hole in it's side and leaked wax all over my amber glass marbles?  That's going to be fun to chisel out!)

Something we are grateful for EVERY DAY.  No personal repeats.  We plan to read them together on Thanksgiving.  {Simple}.  {Brilliant}.

My gratitude for the day:
25 years ago today Bill asked me to marry him.
I am so thankful he did.

Happy Friday!