September 10, 2014 Gratitude sharing, last day I kinda dont want to stop writing these gratitude events each day. For several years I wrote my journal somewhat in the style of 5 things each day that I was grateful for, especially telling how I saw the Hand of the Lord in my life that day. It was a teaching of Henry B. Eyring one year at conference. He said he writes how he has seen the hand of the Lord in his life every night before he goes to bed no matter how tired he is. That has inspired me, so I try to do that also. This has been good to share with all my family and friends on the public site to share how I have been blessed in my life and what I am grateful for. 1-I would like to pay tribute to my sweet husband on this last day. We have shared 54 years together in November. We sure didnt know what a ride we were in for when Blaine gave me my engagement ring on Temple Square in Salt Lake City on May 7, 1960. But even though its been sort of a roller coaster ride a times, it sure has been a wonderful ride, full of excitement, lots of thrills, 5 special children, 19, almost, grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren. And we have taken the spiritual road always teaching our family to keep the commandments, live a life of service and love, and to stay on the path back to Heavenly Father. We hope we have set a good example for them. Blaine has been a great father; no one loves his children and grandchildren, and greats as much as he does. He loves sharing their lives and watching them succeed and to choose the right. Blaine does all the important things for me; he tries very hard to please me, and he does a lot of the little thoughtful, almost unnoticed things that make life good. Hes been pretty wonderful at the big things as the years go by. He has sent some beautiful, spectacular roses and flowers in the past few years, I must say. One of my favorite gifts he ever gave me was my own burgundy triple combination scriptues with my name engraved in gold. I was so surprised, and I have loved them for years. He gave me a $100 gift certificate to Shevells one year—Wow! He knows what I like! I admire Blaine for his love of the gospel and the Savior. He as always been faithful in church service and led our family in prayer morning and night for years, and home evening, and scripture study. He is a good man who has tried to lead our family righteously, and I love him for that. Besides that he is an awesome Western dancer! Thats when I fell in love with him at BYUs Arizona Club when he was president. Now we can barely stand on the dance floor, but we still love to hold hands, but we do our moves on the golf cart these days! We make a good team, and we hope to make it to eternity together. Theres no one else I want by my side as we make this journey. I love you, Blaine. 2-From the sublime to the everyday pleasures. I love the spiritual side of life. It is my foundation. But I sure am thankful for the good things our Heavenly Father allowed us to enjoy on this earth. I love good food! I wonder if thats a Southern thing! I love all things Southern: pecan pies, pound cake, collard greens, corn bread, pinto beans, potato salad, Mamas chicken casserole, turnips, sweet potatoes, green beans with fat back, watermelon, tomato sandwiches with garden tomatoes, and more; I love our Western foods, too: Mexican food of any variety, especially tacos and my chicken enchiladas; pasta salad, pizza, White Bean Chili; Gardner sweet corn, cantaloupes, blueberries, homemade yeast bread, and more. I love all things chocolate: Chocolate Lush, Texas Sheet Cake, Milky Ways, Almond Joys, Reeses, Earthquake Cake, Brownies, chocolate pie, especially from Trappers, and Rocky Road ice cream, and on and on. No wonder Im diabetic! I just admitted to the world that Im a food-a-holic! I used to love to cook and bake, but now I am so thankful for good cooks in the family, and for good restaurants to choose from. I love the beauties of the earth, too, the scenic beauty all over the world, and beautiful flowers, a gorgeous rainbow, and all of natures wonders as well. Didnt Heavenly Father give us of the bounties of his kingdom! 3-I am thankful for my life; Im thankful that I made it to 74, well next month! I am thankful to enjoy life and to cherish every day of life. I am thankful for the great people who have influenced my life in so many ways. Chad Lewis, the BYU and NFL football stay wrote a book called “Surround Yourself With Greatness,” and I feel like that is what happened to me. I have been surrounded by greatness all of life. My parents were the sweetest example of love you could find. They sacrificed their whole lives for us kids. They showed us love. I love my Hiatt and Sechrest families back in North Carolina; they are the finest people I know. I love every one of them. I love my high school friends back in Mount Airy. And I feel I got the best education I could have received anywhere at Mt. Airy High. We had our 55th High School Reunion last summer, and we were privileged to attend and rub shoulders with those good friends. Blaine and I loved seeing those great friends. At BYU what great teachers and friends we made—lifelong friendships. It was an unforgettable time of our lives. And when Blaine brought me to Snowflake, I thought he had brought me to the end of the earth! There was no place to shop or eat out. But I thank my lucky stars to be living here today, as the song says. There are spiritual giants here, both men and women, and I have learned so many of the basic building stones of life from these wonderful people. They have no equal in my book. I love all of you so much and thank you for what you have not only taught me in classrooms, but in showing by example how to live and love everyone. Thank you, small town, magnificent people! My heart is full tonight as I write these things, and I wish it werent 12 in the morning, and I had the stamina to share more, but that is enough for now to let you know of my gratitude for my life as Heavenly Father has given it to me. If I told of all the great things our children and grandchildren have done for us over the years, you would be overwhelmed, so I will spare you. Just know we have been greatly blessed by our posterity, as you have, and we are so thankful for their love and patience with us. They are loving, caring people. We couldnt make it without them! We hope each of you is also filled with gratitude and live in happiness. Good night. On this last day I would like to invite Mary Matthews-Hoyt, Jennifer Williams Nicoletti, and Margaret Hein to write 3 things a day that they are grateful for, and do it for 5 days. Dont be intimidated by my prolific long lists; they can be short and sweet. I love each of you and think youd share some good things.
Posted on: Thu, 11 Sep 2014 07:36:34 +0000
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