Turkey Day Top Ten # 1

# 1

I am thankful for the opportunity I had to serve a mission.

This post is dedicated to Jenn because she knows EXACTLY what I mean...

Pretty sure I was going to Africa...nope!

Tegucigalpa, Honduras

I'm glad I get to make the own rules on my blog or I'd feel guilty for not having this done on time...but I don't have to punch a time clock and I can take time off whenever I feel like it so here is # 1.  I actually was kind of stumped with what to write about.  I mean it's not like there aren't more than 9 things that I'm grateful for, I just wanted it to be a really good one.  I know I said I was trying to do some "fun" things I'm grateful for but these non tangible things kept coming to my mind and it all fits together nicely!

Serving a mission pretty much encompasses all the things I learned to be more thankful for that are non tangible blessings in my life.  I learned so many things on my mission.  Here is a very short list of things:

1.  God knows me and what I can/can't handle.

2.  My family loves for me, prays for me and is looking out for my wellbeing.

3.  Living with someone 24/7 requires patience and humility and charity.

4.  You are nothing without the Spirit.

5.  Mission Presidents are inspired.

6.  I can do hard things.

7.  Prayer is real.

8.  Missionaries are protected.

9.  We take the temples for granted.

10.  Warm showers are amazing.

11.  Carpet feels good on my bare feet.

12.  Purified water is hard to come by in 3rd world countries.

13.  Honduran children are beautiful.

14.  Trusting the Lord is a part of "believing" in Him.

15.  Honduras is a beautiful country.

16.  There are so many people who may not ever have the chance to receive a real education.

I can't think of about a billion more--but this will do for now.  Because of the things I learned, I subsequently became (more) grateful for something.

1.  I am grateful for God's love and His plan.

2.  I am grateful for a good, loving family who supports me.

3.  I am grateful for Danny who is patient with me and loves me unconditionally :)

4.  I am grateful for have the gift of the Holy Ghost.

5.  I am grateful for inspired leaders that are in tune with God's will for His children.

6.  I am grateful for a power beyond my own.  For my knowledge that there truly is a Higher Being and that through Him and our Savior Jesus Christ, I really can accomplish all things I am required to doing in this life.

7.  I am grateful that I can talk to Heavenly Father whenever I want--and that He listens.

8.  I am grateful for the missionaries around the world and the protection they receive for being God's servants.  I have been the recipient of such blessings and there are no words to describe the humility that you feel when you are being protected by God and His angels in the very moment you need it most.

9.  I am grateful that temples really do dot the earth...I'm grateful that from my balcony I can see 2 of them.  And a 3rd is just around the corner.  I'm grateful for the work that can be done there so that families have the chance and the choice to be together for eternity.

10.  I am grateful for running water.  That's warm.  That runs from a tap and not a pvc pipe.

11.  I am grateful for carpet and that I can walk around barefoot inside my house.  

12.  I am grateful that (for the most part) food in the United States is healthy.  I am grateful that I don't have to worry if when something says "purified"--it really is.

13.  I'm grateful that I have a beautiful, healthy little boy.  I'm also grateful that adoption is something that can help two parties.  The children who are need of parents and the parents who are ready and willing to care for these little ones.  I hope I can be the Mother of a cute little Honduran child someday.  

14.  I'm grateful that the Faith I have will someday grant me the desires of my heart.  It has already given me so much.  My faith in God is something that must be nourished and used.  It is one thing to believe in God and another to BELIEVE him.  To trust that He will complete His end of the bargain.  To rest at ease knowing that if we do our part--He will take over the rest and things will work out according to His plan.  

15.  We live in a world that is so lovely and beautiful, words don't do it justice. All around us we are surrounded with evidence of God's love for us and His power to create.

16.  I am grateful for the opportunities that surround me to gain a better education.  Even if it means going to the public library and learning more about a certain subject there are endless resources available to us if we have the desire to learn.  I'm so glad I can say that because so many people can't.

I know that most of these things don't require a mission to learn but for me, it was the catalyst to a stronger Faith in Jesus Christ. To realize that I need my family. It allowed me to be thankful for every day things.  To think that when I'm using a washing machine--someone in Honduras is washing their clothes on a rock in the river.  When I'm cooking Thanksgiving dinner on a stovetop, someone in Honduras is cooking over an open fire.  But they won't be eating turkey and mashed potatoes.  They'll be eating beans and corn tortillas.

Someday, I'd love to share some experiences from my Mission.   Yes, 8 years later I still loving talking about it :)