Borrowing a cup of....

Well, things have been a bit tough going around the farm lately.  Not complaining - just being real.  I went to check out the fridge and it was looking back at me saying - hey - remember when you use to pack me full?  That's when there were a lot more mouths to feed.  There's still enough in there for the empty nesters - it's just that it looked deserted.  I closed the door, and thought for a moment how really full my cup is in life.  That gratitude is such a filler to my soul.  How very blessed I am for so many little things that add up to be enormous things in my life. With Mr. Hillary on the site of another continent, and coming home to absolute quietness (because the birds pout when he's gone and they're very quiet), I thought of the strength of my daughter Ashley - never complaining, just looking to the future, and the joy it will bring.  Looking at my son Matt's cute Mickey and Minnie.... I felt my heart fill with grandma smiles.  As I reached over and felt Mandy's tummy as she is harboring no doubt a beautiful spawn....my soul remembered carrying her.  Today - I remembered Elder Hillary, as he shared with me that he would return home 4 days sooner, meaning a reset on my blog counter at the right....and there's something to be seriously grateful for... even though it's only 4 days, remember, the last time I saw him just about 2 years ago he was just leaving the hospital - and the look on his face cannot be erased from my mind.  For my Savior... there are not enough words of gratitude for his sacrifice for silly old me.  I'm not sure I was worth all of that - but I'm sure glad he still loves me through all of the years of mistakes and stumbles I've made.

Now and then I make a good choice, one was marrying Mr. Hillary.  Then again, I made 4 more excellent choices, my beautiful kids, and they returned the favor by marrying wonderful, beautiful spouses... and are bringing in the next generation to love.  Today my cup is full.   I've got a few more up my sleeve - I'll share them with you as I go through this month - as I need to look up somehow - and Gratitude seems to be a good place to start looking up.  Happy November... happy 46 days left for Elder Hillary,  almost 1/2 way for Mandy and Ryan, 2 weeks for Ashley and Mike, and many giggles and grins for Matt, Bethany, Em and Drewski.... I love you all.  What's on your gratitude plate?