Thanksgiving 2020

 The day has not been a typical Thanksgiving, but it has nevertheless been full of Thanksgiving.  Today marks the end of the week that President Nelson asked us to us this week to post a gratitude journal.  I have been very thoughtful as I have composed my feelings about each day's blessings.  In fact it has taken a fair amount of time just to think about and write.

What is interesting though is the promise he gave.

“To be sure, there may be times when you feel as though the heavens are closed. But I promise that as you continue to be obedient, expressing gratitude for every blessing the Lord gives you, and as you patiently honor the Lord’s timetable, you will be given the knowledge and understanding you seek. Every blessing the Lord has for you—even miracles—will follow. That is what personal revelation will do for you.”

I have felt so much more grateful this week as I have pondered the many sweet blessings the Lord has given us, mostly in the form of other people.  They are the supreme blessings.  I am certain though that we will yet see miracles.  

I've been tired throughout the day, because at 2:00  a.m. David called to talk.  David Taylor, Melissa's son.  I answered and couldn't resist speaking with him for 10 minutes.  He is so cute.  He stares directly into the screen and earnestly engages in the most interesting conversations!  After awhile I said, "David I need to go back to sleep now."  His answer, "Ok that's fine, maybe I'll call earlier tomorrow and we will chat."  It makes me feel like I am 11 again with a best friend.

We had a 4 1/2 hour training zoom conference for the mission today.  You know how those meetings go though.  It was probably more of a 6-hour commitment since we got showered and dressed up and then afterwards sat discussing what we were taught.  By the time the meeting was over, we were tired and hungry and so just had a cheese quesadilla with tomatoes. 

But the meeting was a spiritual feast. Elder Kopishka - an area Seventy, is so well-versed in the scriptures and he opened them to us...expanded our understanding and deepened our love for the gospel.  As I heard the young missionaries bear testimony and answer his questions it took my breath away.  

Dave spoke at the beginning and at the end of the conference.  I sound like a broken record, but I don't know where he gets his physical and spiritual energy from.  It is draining to do what he does.  He spoke with passion about the power of prayer, sharing an experience he had while he was on his mission.  

At the very end of the 4 1/2 hours he spoke again and was masterful with his message.  He spoke with such conviction and power and love for those young missionaries.  He and Deb both talked about how these young people will always be a part of Dave and Deb.  Dave closed by saying that it was their fondest wish that someday when these young missionaries are great grandparents and their descendants asked what they consider to be their greatest accomplishment, they will say, "I have always had a temple recommend."  Dave said that it would indicate that they stayed on the covenant path and were often in that holy place where they could best "hear the Savior."

We delivered some of the small cakes I had baked to some YSAs.  It might have taken less time to walk, but as it was driving, we spent a couple hours in the car.  The only thing we can do is call them and they come out of their dorms and accept the cake through the car window, and if no one is behind us, we visit for a little while, hungry just to catch up.  The last one came by for his cake.  We love him, and stood on the steps with him in masks talking.  I want so much to just usher them inside the apartment and sit them down and give them a home-cooked meal and to let them know we love them.

We got home around 5:30 and I was frankly too tired to fix a Thanksgiving meal, so we did takeout!  It is a little sad in that since this was going to be the first Thanksgiving in our 52 years together that we ate Thanksgiving dinner alone, I meant to make it very special.  Candlelight, and SKs favorite things about that meal and just the two of us.  But "discretion is the better part of valor."...and we were both happy with a chicken wrap.

It wasn't quite 6:00 when we walked to pick up our dinner.  This street was a hotbed of activity every night of the week last year at this time.  



But we are not too tired to remember how good the Lord has been to us with the individuals He has sent into our lives...parents, brothers and sisters and children, their spouses and grandchildren and now their spouses, and the dear friends who have been with us since way back. 

We feel profoundly blessed.

I'll fix that turkey dinner sometime in the near future.

Comments

melissa said…
Someone wasn’t supervising David’s calling time. Whoops!! But the conference sounds lovely.
November 28, 2020 at 7:47 PM
Lia said…
Discretion is the better part of valor!
November 28, 2020 at 8:39 PM
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