What I Am Thankful For......in the middle of January when life, weather, and the yard are so......well, you know.

**Photographs
January is my time to try and catch up our photo books. I recently came across some pictures of my grandmother, who just turned 91 years old, when she was about 6 or so. In it, she is evidently stealing the neighbors bunnies because she LOVES to play with them and feel the softness of their fur. Ahhhhh, so that's where I get that. :o)

**Company
Anyone who knows me knows I am fairly, um, well, let's see, kinda......tidy. Yes, tidy is the word. However, I love it, when on the rare occasion we have company. Schedules are different, not everything in it's place, more towels in the bathroom then I have room.....and the sweet sound of voices of those I love in my home. I really just love that.

**Elderly Women in my ward
Obviously where we live isn't by anyone who knows us, let alone any family. I love these little elderly women in my ward who I know miss their 30 something granddaughters, as I miss my grandmothers. They might not have the best sight, so they think you are beautiful. They might not have the best hearing, so they think you sing well in church. They may not walk as well as they used to, so they think you are Marion Jones if they see you out for a run. Or maybe, just maybe..........they have become what we all spend our lives trying to do better......see the best in those around them.

**Safe Places
I had a chance to work out some very tender and difficult things with someone very dear to me. It's so hard for me.....I either say it all wrong or choose not to say anything because I will say it all wrong. What a gift to be heard, not judged or cut off, just heard and listened to and loved regardless. What a beautiful way to drive a relationship I didn't think could be better, even deeper.

**The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
So many reasons this week. First and foremost for the blessings and gifts to be part of such a great organization. For the job we have....not only in this economy, but everyday. We love being part of the Church's Educational System. For the opportunities it provides......

• We have had our papers into LDS Family Services for the past 3 1/2 years, hoping and praying that a baby was out there for us. It's been the roller coaster ride and most emotional thing I have done in a long time. Last week we decided to remove our papers as we haven't had the best luck. However, the blessing has been to realize children come to us many, many ways. To realize other options we have instead of fretting all the time. To realize how important it is to educate and inform ourselves and other people of the choice and gift of adoption.

With our new President signing a bill to use Federal funds for abortion clinics, I wonder why not give some of that to adoption promotion and education. Why not look for a reason to take a difficult situation and make it into a miraculous gift?