Giving My Thanks

Here I am, only an hour before Thanksgiving is over, finally taking the time to vocalize (or type) the things that I'm thankful for. The Townsends have a tradition out here. They all go around - youngest to oldest- and say three things that they are thankful for, one by one. In the past, I have found it a little corny, and a little embarrassing to have the spotlight on me, even if for 5 seconds. I know, everyone in my family is probably laughing at that last sentence, but it's true! So, this year, I decided that I would prepare in advance and really ponder on three things that I'm extremely thankful for. As I was thinking about my list, I started thinking about why - even though I wasn't going to have a whole speech prepared to give out at Thanksgiving din din. Well, as my luck would have it, this year we did not do the tradition due to the fact that everyone thought it was cheesy. Not wanting my awesome - yet pretty self explanatory list - to go to waste, I decided to post these three things.

I am thankful for Matthew.

He is my eternal companion and my best friend. Even though there are hard times, even though there are times that I don't understand what he's thinking. He is my husband. I look to him. I stand by him. I love him. He balances me out. When I get too stressed, he puts things into perspective for me to be happier. He makes me laugh everyday and I make him laugh. Matthew is my partner in life. He has given me so many things and I'm so blessed to have him.

I am thankful for my children.

William and Lily. Oh, those two are a pair. And I can't imagine life without them. They have given my life the most meaning I have ever known. Because of them, I have purpose. The greatest purpose. What a blessing to have them. To be entrusted to care for them. To share the gospel with them. And to learn from them. What faithful beings they are! Heavenly Father sure knew what He was doing when He gave them to me. I think I've needed them more than they need me.

I am thankful for the Gospel - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

I'm grateful that my mom had such a strong testimony of the church and was an example to my
dad. I'm grateful that my dad had an open heart and accepted the gospel with open arms. I'm grateful that they taught me according to what they knew to be right. So that I can have all the blessings that they can and do have. I'm so happy this Gospel is full. It is complete. And that through this church and through Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, I can also be complete. Forever. I can have my family forever. All of them.

A little predictable, but true, nonetheless.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We had a great one - kind of crazy and full (in more areas than one), but great. We were excited to see Jeremy and Monica and their awesome chicas! Everyone in Tennessee know that all four of the Townsends missed you. See you in a few weeks!