We are so excited to extend an invitation to all of you, our incredible friends. We have done a program called, Light the World for many years now and it creates such a feeling of hope, peace and happiness. Doing so with a heart of gratitude has made the most incredible difference. I’m telling you, even if 2020 has been the WORST it doesn’t get to have the last word. So instead of enduring until 2021, let’s send 2020 off with hope!!

 

Join us by downloading the calendar and doing the daily prompts at, Light the World. And below are the thoughts we’ve had on gratitude. You can share your’s with #givethanks and #lighttheworld

Day 1 – 2020

I’ve had a stirring in my heart to share something with you all. It’s the middle of a morning on a random Friday, but I know I’m meant to push publish.

This has been a year unlike any other. I’ve found myself feeling off at times and wondered what it was, struggling to put my finger on it.
I’ve had great peace and love in my heart. I’ve noticed so many great things that have brought me joy and happiness but yet the feeling remained.

Dreamless


For the first time ever in my whole life I could not dream.

No, not at night, but in life.

I’ve always been a dreamer.

The cabin on a lake and crackling fire as my kids gather around, their own children tucked into bed and just the adults laughing and talking.

The feels of my first child going off to experience the wonder of college.

Serving missions and leaving behind the world and our jobs at the drop of a hat to serve the world as we’ve always planned.

The traditions, the holidays, the vacations.

But not anymore.

This year my dreaming has become clouded. Will college look the same in four years? Will it be safe to travel, for now all plans were cancelled.

Dreaming of the future became a black veil of unknown.

Gratitude – The New Hope


And so I searched.

If I am to live during this time surely I was prepared to do so. So help me. Help me become more, change me, Sanctify me, teach me.

And gratitude became my new hope.

I’ve been clinging to new things this year, one of which is better expressions of gratitude and happiness. Actually smiling and letting myself recognize and feel happiness in the moment.

Grateful for 2020


I’m grateful for 2020. Much heartache and confusion has happened but it has changed me for the better. I’ve seen my children connect in new ways. I’ve hoped more. Listened far more than ever. And I have felt peace, true, heart-shaking peace. I’m grateful for a year that each of us has endured and risen above. We are doing it. Learning strengths, talents and blessings we didn’t know we had.

#givethanks

Day 2 – Laughter

That old, green cooler, stuck in the snow, piled with more snow, and packed full of milk and meat. Man, it seems like a bad dream sometimes.

Our fridge had died and we didn’t have enough money for a new one so week after week in the coldest winter we’d endured, we ate from a small cooler outside. Sometimes, often even the milk was slushy from ice.

And then there was the time our water went out and I had to shower at the neighbor’s. Or our car that died so my best friend took me to the store with her each week since I had no way of getting there.

The broken toilets, the microwave that died, and on and on. Sometimes you live life so mindlessly that it’s not until something is gone that you realize how necessary it was in your life.

Laughter

I’m absolutely grateful for modern appliances and helps but I hope I always remain grateful for the thing I truly need and never think on, laughter.

I’m grateful for the good it does for my heart, soul and even physical body. I’m grateful that children let it go without any reservations and look for opportunities to bring it out in each other.

Oh how I’m grateful for smiling and laughing. Maybe I should forget the errands and be silly a little more.

#givethanks

Day 3 – Empathy

She sat next to me, my head on a pillow on the armrest, my feet curled up on the old brown leather couch, gently lifted my feet into her lap and she just held them. Occasionally the thumb of her hand stroking the tops of my feet.

And I cried.

And sometimes she cried too.

And there she remained, hour after hour, day after day while I battled the greatest battle of my life with Hypermesis Gravidarum.

Today I’m grateful for those who know how to mourn with those that mourn. There is often more power in sitting in someone’s hole than trying to pull them out of it. I’m grateful for the true heart enveloped about by her loyal soul.

Job 2:11-13

“11 Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.
12 And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.
13 So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and NONE SPAKE A WORD unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.”

#givethanks

Day 4 – Sunsets

It’s a thing for me, standing at my kitchen sink or in my living, off the back porch or just oooooing and ahhhhhhing as we drive.

Ohhhh how I live for sunrises and especially sunsets. Even as a little girl I’ve been in awe of the majesty and beauty of a sunset. It’s as if for just a few moments you can feel the potential for good and beautiful that our world has.

I’m so grateful for sunsets. For the pause in chaos. For the hope I always feel.

And Mexico. 😍 take me back!

#givethanks

Day 5 – You

I never dreamed of owning my own business. In fact, I’ve always been the opposite, wanting nothing to do with it. I had no idea it would be so incredibly fulfilling for me because of each of you.

Soooo incredibly glad you’re in your home and can’t see me all choked up, blurred eyes blocking my view to write this post.

Do you even know how you’ve lifted and strengthened this family? You’re an answer to some hard prayers!

Connection and Hope

This is not a job for Cade and I. Especially not me. This is allowing me to do what I’ve dreamed of all my life, and even a few times carefully prayed over so as to not appear selfish, the chance to connect with others and offer them a little hope and love here and there.

Maybe it’s not the coolest life ambition but sitting here in this very chair I recognize with immense gratitude that our tragic beginning led to the greatest blessing I could have been given, a chance to share my voice and connect with others around the world.

Changed by You

You’ve changed me you know. Taught me to be slower and more mindful. Taught me to look for the good in people and to remember that everyone has a story. You’ve all taught me that there IS good left in the world and nothing can silence that. No matter how bad things have gotten one of you always seems to be listening and says just the right thing, sends the most timely message and not just to me, but to each other. I’ve watched you comfort strangers in comments, offer prayers and good thoughts, and always so much encouragement.

“A world awaits you; rich and poor, high and low, learned and unlearned… all must be sought after. .. and whither we cannot go, we must send; where we cannot speak, we must write.” – Orson F. Whitney

Thank you with the utmost gratitude for allowing me to fulfill what possibly may have been promises made long ago, to lift where we can and spread what light and love, though little, we possess. Thank you for being a safe place. You are the light this world needs. Never stop writing the good you keep tucked inside you. You’re here right now because of who you are and I feel that so much. This space is only because of you.

#givethanks

Day 6 – Counsel from a Prophet

Well shoot, mom made it into another post! I keep teasing her she will be famous and people will know her name and recognize her.

She turns beet red and cringes at the thought. 😂

Wisdom from Mom

This morning she called and we talked about some things we’ve been experiencing and feeling. The discussion led to gratitude and she said my post for today so well I had to steal her words. She’s an incredible story teller and writer. Oh how I wish you all could know her.

“I’m so grateful for a man who could be given direction and act on it as a prophet of God that what our world needs is gratitude. Who knew that gratitude would release me from this world, from the hard things, and the anguish this world is causing me. And to think, we could have all wanted opportunities to stand up and rage against evils and plagues this year is facing but only he knew that our voices wouldn’t have been heard acting the same way others are acting. It would have done nothing. But the world is being bombarded with a common voice of gratitude, our voices are being heard, and more are gathering under this call than any call other call right now. Our voices wouldn’t have been heard at all, but they are being heard now and we are all participating and healing together. Who knew?”

Very true, mama. I’m grateful for Pres. Russell M. Nelson who has called forth a wave of gratitude which is changing hearts. No tests needed. My feed and hopefully yours is lighter and happier because of it. ❤️❤️❤️

#givethanks

Day 7 – Feeling Happy

I didn’t know what to expect from today. It would be quieter and smaller.

Sometimes holidays can make you miss people or feel down.

But today I’m thankful for feelings. I’m thankful that we can feel peace and happiness even when circumstances could demand we give in to pain or heartache.

Recognizing Happiness


One child has been struggling with that lately, recognizing the happy in the moment and holding onto it. Something can go wrong or be hard and immediately it’s “the worst day ever!!!”

Today I kept putting an arm around this child, or softly pulling us nose to nose and whispering, I feel happy right now, do you feel it too?

And we did.

And the more we’ve recognized those feelings in the moment the more those feelings have stayed.

Sometimes we forget that feelings and emotions, thoughts and reactions have to be learned just like the rest of life. And today I’m so grateful for peace and happiness. What a gift in a world that prefers to grump, groan and yell.

Grateful for People


And how could I not add, I’m so grateful for people. For mine. That you have yours. That we have each other even though we haven’t met in person. I’m grateful for the kindness of strangers and the safety of family.

Today I’m just grateful.

And it feels good.

And right.

And I’m happy.

#givethanks