Developing an Attitude of gratitude – Day 396

Today John helped me and we cleaned… I mean we really cleaned. We put away all of the Christmas crap. We move the furniture around in the family room. We shampooed the carpet. We cleaned the kitchen and the dining room and the living room. We even washed the windows. I am super thankful that John helped me. I love that we get to start the new year with a clean house. Now the trick will be to keep it that way.

I am grateful that John, Lilli and Chad agreed to go to the movies with me. We needed something to laugh at that wasn’t The Office. I actually don’t find that show funny and it it has been going non-stop for days.

I am grateful that w family friend gave us a discount at the restaurant we went to dinner at on the way to the movies. The holidays are SO expensive!

I am grateful for an early bed time. I am tired. But I think I will get up in the morning and attack my room and then the bathroom. Then I really will have a clean house to begin the new year.

I am grateful that I gave into the thought to ride the stationary bike this morning. It wasn’t too bad. I got a little winded when I rode for 15 minutes. But it is a form of exercise I think I might be able to actually do. That was one of the main reasons for moving all the furniture around. I wanted a little more room in the family room to do yoga and to ride that bike. I am hoping that I will be able to make it a thing this year.

I am grateful for my scripture study this morning. I love the Book of Mormon and I am so excited that it is the suggested book of study. Today I studied about how the Book of Mormon came to be. It is a miracle. I believe in miracles. I believe in the ministering of angels. I believe that God loves His children and wants to see them succeed. I am also positive that the Adversary will do everything in his power to stop me from finding power and joy in the study of the Book of Mormon. I am positive that he will do all that he can to stop the happiness, peace, and knowledge my family can gain from a study of the Book of Mormon. For this reason, I am grateful that modern day prophets have pondered and prayed and have come up with a way to fight off the frustration and disappointments of the world and within families by presenting the Come Follow Me program. I am thankful for how the study of the New Testament, in 2019 strengthened our family. We weren’t perfect, but it was the best year we have ever had in somewhat consistent family scripture study. We only have one kid at home now, and our chances to be respectable parents are nearly spent. We have this one last chance to get parenting right… if we don’t fail at this one too. I am sad we didn’t get our acts together for the other 4 kids, but I am grateful for god’s mercy and for that one more chance to try again.