Month of Gratitude and Thanksgiving

During the month of November, I decided to use my Facebook status to express my gratitude for something unique each of the 30 days.


1. Day 1 - I think it is appropriate on this first day of Thanksgiving month to be grateful to parents who gave me life.

2. Day 2 – With all the flooding in Thailand I am so grateful to Coca Cola for working so hard to insure the safety of their expat families. I am also grateful to Coca Cola and their response to help the people of Thailand in donating much needed drinking water!

3. Day 3 - Today I am thankful that I will have a home to return to, so many Thai's will not. The flooding continues and so does the devastation.

4. Day 4 - Today I am thankful that the sun shines and warms not just my skin but my heart, that the moon lights the night especially when I am lonely; that rain drops fall and clear the air like tears clear my mind and I am also grateful for snow that reminds me that even when it is cold beauty can shine.

5. Day 5 - I am grateful for wonderful parents and 2 exceptional sisters and the most amazing little brother!! I truly have been blessed with a wonderful family.

6. ‎Day 6 – Today I am thankful for clean drinking water, it is amazing how it is the simple things that one really feels thankful for in a natural disaster.

7. Day 7 - I am grateful that we have the ability to SMILE, and for those that smile at me.

8. Day 8 - After living in Thailand for a year I am really thankful for hand sanitizer!!

9. Day 9 - Thankful for mosquito repellent!

10.Day 10 - Thankful for heartbeats - especially tiny baby ones!

11. 11-11-11- Thankful for the ability I had to pack food sacks for flood victims tonight! - What was in the bag: rice, oil, fish sauce, one small carton of milk, a can of sardines, 6 candles, 1 roll of TP, bag of cookies. How many of us would be grateful for that sack of food? The THAI people are!

12. On the 12th day of Thanksgiving...I am grateful for sisterhood and bonds that hold families together. Love you, Shelby, Suzie and Kathryn they are the BEST SISTERS ever!!

13. Day 13 - I am grateful for TOOTHPASTE!

14. Day 14 - Since I was thankful for toothpaste yesterday today I am really grateful for DEODORANT, can you imagine the smells - wait I can I raise two boys that were both TEN once!

15. Day 15 - I am grateful for the ability to buy a boat. I purchased my first one paddle rowboat and donated it to the Thailand flood relief. I am also grateful for all those who have done the same.

16. Day 16 - I am grateful for Patience - even when I lose it eventually shows up again.

17.Day 17...I am grateful for the ability to see, not only with my eyes but also with my heart.

18.Day 18 - I am grateful for taste buds...and for good food!!

19. ‎Day 19 – I actually like thinking of things that I am grateful for, it makes me really consider things that I don't usually think about. So today I am grateful for the ability to read, it opens up a great big world. So an extra shout of thanks for teachers who promote reading - Thank you!

20. Day 20 - today I watched my 16 year old boy leave for school, turn around and say to his dad, "will you be home tonight?" when the answer was "no I have to go out of town" John went over and gave his dad a BIG HUG - I am thankful that my children willingly show love to their parents!

21. Day 21 - I m grateful that I do NOT have to do any homework, at least none with my name at the top!! Only one more year and my baby graduates from High School.

22. Day 22 - the grateful list just keeps growing and today I am thankful for all those other "villagers" who have loved, helped, taught and served my children.

23. Day 23 - today has been one of those days that made me realize how very thankful I am for Advil Liquid Gels, it is a small thing with big results. I can think again - wait is that a good thing or bad thing!

24. Day 24 - Today I am thankful for MY NOSE. First my face would like Lord Voldemort's if I didn't have a nose. CREEPY!! And I would be able to smell the pumpkin pies, cheesecakes and granola baking in my kitchen today! Yep! I am grateful I have a NOSE!!

25. Day 25 - Today we are celebrating Thanksgiving with about 40 of our closest friends here in Thailand. I am grateful that when we do not have our own families to celebrate holidays with we have amazing friends that we love as family

26. Day 26 - I woke up this morning very grateful for being able to have lived in Asia the last 2 1/2 years. I have grown, I have learned and I have seen some amazing things. I have been truly blessed by this adventure!

27. Day 27 - This is the last Sunday in November, the thankful month, and so I would like to express my thanks to our Father in Heaven for creating this beautiful earth - it truly is a creation of love. I have one small problem - I do not understand the need for mosquitos and there for can not be thankful for them. Does that make me an ungrateful person?

28. Day 28 - I am grateful for airplanes, my grandson, Austin, is on the plane and is ready to visit his nana! I am sure Audrey will be thankful when they both arrive 18 1/2 hours from NOW!

29. Day 29 - I am grateful for the cycle of life. And I would have to say that the cycle I am in now, being a grandparent is the BEST.

30.Day 30 - I am grateful for Re-Takes, Do-Overs and Make-up Work. If this life is like a school - lessons are to be learned and test need to be passed before we move on. I am grateful for the opportunity my Savior, JESUS CHRIST, has given me to Repent. It is by His love and mercy that I have the ability re-take, do- over and complete make up work. So when the final test of life comes I can PASS on to "higher" education

A very Thai Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving the Thailand Way

Here is Thailand we get to celebrate Thanksgiving with friends that are family.  It becomes a real expensive dinner as the American food items must be imported.  Still, we love having roast turkey, baked ham, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes and homemade rolls.  Of course we had a few Thai salads and Thai fresh fruit, but the night ended with pie, pie and more pie!

Living outside the United States I have become aware of how very blessed we are as a nation.  I have also become aware how many Americans do not realize the blessing and freedoms they have.  Life abroad has taught me many things, mostly that we as people are more similar then we are different.  We can learn to live with each other and celebrate our differences, isn't that what the first Thanksgiving was all about.  

Seasons

One of the things that I miss most about living in a tropical country is the fact that I do not get to view the seasons change in nature.  It is summer all the time, even when it rains.  The trees are always green and flowers, especially orchids, are always in bloom.  I miss stepping outside and breathing in that cool autumn evening air, the trees all decked out in a wonderful palette of yellow, gold, red and mahogany and the sweet smell of fresh baked pumpkin pie!

It is the simple things that I miss.  I dream of a simpler time, when life doesn't seem a like a rush of nothingness.  In my dream I live in the country in a ranch style home with a large wrap around porch so I can sit and watch the season change, read a book or just breath in the clean crisp air.  My dream will likely never come to pass - it will probably change like the seasons.  But, at least for now I have a dream.

Helping Hands

John has an amazing opportunity for service right now in Thailand.  This is a wonderful short video clip that shows some of the flooding, the people and the helping hands.  See if you can find JOHN, he is the tall good looking one...LOL

Just click on the title below and watch what took place Nov 12th

Students at ISB help the Thai flood relief effort

Sack of Food

I couldn't let this day go by without making a blog post after all it is

11-11-11 

The highlight of my day was knowing that I was is some small way  contributing to the flood relief effort here in Thailand.  I was able to help out our community here in Nichada by packing food bags that would be distributed tomorrow to the flood victims.  Most have lost everything they owned.  If they still have a home, the first floor is damaged and still contains water and they are living on the second floor.  Many have no way of getting food, so the food bags are delivered to them via a truck / boat system.

What was I packing in the food bags...

1. Rice -  about 4 cups
2. Oil - 8 fl.oz
3. Sardines packed in tomato sauce - 1  6 oz can
4. Milk - 1  8 oz carton
5. Candles and small box of matches
6. Toilet Paper - 1 roll
7. Electrolyte packet
8. Cookies/ crackers - small bag

We also had a few extra items to add to some of the bags, like soap and lotions from local hotels - even a few combs and tooth brushes.  We put all eight items in a small grocery bag and tied it up.  The sacks will be distributed tomorrow to flood victims in our area.  Those that receive the sacks of food, will smile and be every so thankful.  It makes me ask myself would I be grateful for a  SACK OF FOOD like that.  It is a humbling experience and I am learning the power of service and am seeing the will to survive in the faces of these beautiful Thai people.

Roller Coaster Life

It has been three weeks today since our family has been evacuated from our home for safety and protection from the threatening flood waters in Thailand.  Currently I am in my fifth hotel and lets just say not even the amazing buffet breakfast is inciting anymore.  My emotions over the past weeks have been like riding a roller coaster, up and down. I once told someone that I sometimes wished my life could be like a lazy river on a nice summer day.

However, lately my life is more like...the "INTIMIDATOR"

Now, I am the first one who will say that they like roller coasters, after all John and I conquered "Mt. Everest" at Disney World 10 times in a row! But, I am just saying that the last three weeks has had a few to many ups and downs, twist and turns for my liking.  I am an OCD, Organizationally Controlled Diva and all this "unorganization" is messing with my head.

My head was so messed up... yesterday I exercised hard at the gym in the morning and then at 8:00pm decided to take a quick 5K run.  What the heck - I am all for exercising but really twice in one day is just plain crazy!  The truth is I forgot that I had exercised in the morning - a mere 10 hours earlier, the lack of planning my day is making me forget what I am doing. (Because we all know that it is not age - 50 after all is the new 30, right?)

Ron has been traveling, Singapore this week, Japan, Philippines and Indonesia the next two weeks.  I am waiting to see what the next few days brings, hopefully I can return home and to some sort of normal organized life.  The first thing that I will tackle will be my cupboards...I have some new Tupperware's that are just waiting to be labeled.  I will then move on to my file folders...and then I will start on the spice bottles....I can smell organizational victory in the AIR.

Now if the flood waters will just let me go home.

What I Know

Since we had a special family fast today I wanted to shared my testimony in church today and wanted to share with you also...

I do not know everything, I do not have a college degree or am I a professional, I have few visible talents and am a stay at home mom who hasn't served a mission yet and never even graduated from seminary.  But, I do know some things...

I know that I have a Heavenly Father who loves me.

I know that Jesus Christ is my savior and that he willing died that I might live again.

I know that Joseph Smith was and is a prophet of God who restored the Lords true church. 

I know that the Book of Mormon is true. 

I know that there is a prophet on the earth today, President Thomas Monson, who leads and guides the Lords church.

I don't know many things, but I do know those things. Those simple truths that even a child can know.  The knowledge didn't come with any promotion, diploma or certificate it can by study, prayer and the gift of the Holy Ghost.

I have learned that life is full of trials, I have experienced my share.  I have learned to live by three key phrases; one from me, one from Sister Marjorie Hinckley and one from the Lord.

My phrase..."IT IS WHAT IT IS."  Trials are apart of this life, we can not change that.  I have been learning to just tell myself, it is what it is and have found comfort and peace as I seem to pass from one trial to the next.

Sister Hinckley's phrase: "SAVE THE RELATIONSHIP AT ALL COST."  I have had to repeat this phrase over and over when dealing with each one of my children.  I have had to use it with other family members.  When push comes to shove is it worth damaging a relationship for?  I do the things I do with in my relationships because THEY matter to me, the person and the relationship.  So when issues come up I remind myself to save the relationship at all cost, because in the end that is what truly matters.

The Lord's phrase comes from D&C 121 ...when I was first diagnosed with cancer 11 years ago Ron gave me what I believe to be his shortest blessing ever.  He laid his hands on my head and begun in the appropriate way, he then quoted from D&C 121 ..."ALL THESE THINGS SHALL GIVE THEE EXPERIENCE". Then came a very very long pause and he closed the blessing.  I was stunned, that was it...you wife has cancer and that is all the blessing you can give me?  I have since learned that was all I needed.  The Lord knew exactly what I needed to hear.  I have come to rely on those words almost on a daily basis.  

I am grateful for those three phrases in my life, they are a part of who I am.

I don't know much but I know that my testimony is stronger because of the trials that I have had in my life.  

I don't know much but I know that life, real life is eternal.

I may not know everything but the things I do know are true, eternal and they are what make me ME.

Just 10 Days

I am amazed by what can happen in just 10 days.  I have wished that the SUN didn't set , I could have used the extra light and warmth the last few days.  It has been 10 days that have been emotionally draining, physically challenging and spiritually weakening.  Since my last blog - ten days have gone by. A lot can happen in Just 10 Days!


On Monday we were allowed to return to our homes so we left the St. Regis hotel...but not until I received some very sad news that a good friend of mine here in Thailand had just been diagnosed with Breast Cancer.  She and her husband wanted to meet with me and talk to me about my experience, she is the same age as I was when I first received my diagnoses. It was good to offer my personal insights, but reliving that year has always left me a little more reflective and emotional.  My heart hurt for this young family.


Tuesday morning found just Laura and I packing for our four days in Siem Reap, Cambodia.  Due to the flooding situation in Thailand Ron had decided not to come to Cambodia with Laura and I for October break, John was attending a rugby training camp so he would be staying as well. I check my email before I left for the airport and found out that the sports camp for John had been cancelled due to the flooding situation.  I should have realized that things were going to get worse before they would get better...  


Wednesday Laura and I went to Angkor Wat and watched the sunrise, and visited some other sites.  (I will post a blog and pictures of our trip to Siem Reap and Angkor Wat at some future date and time)  The flooding situation continued to worsen in Thailand.


By Thursday my four day trip to Cambodia was cut in half due to flooding issues at home.  Coca Cola had decided to evacuate all the expat families again - this time it was going to be to Hua Hin, three hours south of Bangkok.  Laura and I got the call to come back to Thailand - we had to cancel our tour guide, re book our flights and pack.  Ron and John were going to meet us at the airport and we would be on our way south.  In the midst of all the evacuation confusion I got an email from my parents, my dad had been diagnosed with a form of lung cancer.  Which meant that he and my mom would not be coming to visit me in November as we had planned.  My dad need to have special test done and treatment need to begin as soon as possible. Emotionally this was the straw that broke this camels back.  I broke down in that hotel room in Cambodia and sobbed. My head hurt from crying, my heart hurt because of so many things at this point and my body was physically tired...and yet I had to get myself back to Thailand with in a few hours.


We arrived in Hua Hin and stayed in one hotel from Thursday October 27 to Sunday October 30th and then had to transfer to the Marriott, where I am currently.  I had moved in and out of four hotels in two countries. in less then a week!


Day 8, Monday October 31  - Halloween was forgotten and we all tried desperately to log on to the internet, the cyber ghost must have been having a great time messing the internet connection , it is sporadic at best but on Halloween it was down right scary!  Living overseas and away from family the internet is a life line and when it is severed you feel lost and frustrated.  I wanted to talk to my dad, I wanted to hear his voice so that I would know that things were going to be okay.


November 1, the day my parents were set to arrive my emotions were close to the surface, I haven't been able to find a quiet location to really study my scriptures or even to pray - I like my alone time and I have not found much of it the last 10 days. Physically I have been running to try to keep my mind clear, but that day my body decided to run a fever instead and my body ached - along with my heart.  I had planned for months for my parents to come and visit me and now that November had come, they were not.  Emotionally, physically and spiritually I was worn out.  I could do nothing but lay in bed with the dark curtains closed blocking out all the sunlight.  I just wanted to go home.


Wednesday we learned that we would be staying here until Monday, November 7th with the possibility of staying another week.   Coca Cola is taking good care of us, but I miss my home and the normalcy of life.  I can't complain, even with the sad news, the moving around, the trips not taking place - I still have a home, family and friends.  I faith in my Savior, Jesus Christ, and in His immense power to care for us even when it feels like the SUN isn't shining in our lives.  It is He that is SHINING and it is He that will help us overcome all the obstacles that life throws in our path.
  
Today finds me realizing how much can change in such a short time, but then it also got me to thinking how much I could change in such a short time.  I need to find some quiet time for myself, I need to talk to my dad and mom and tell them again how much I love them, I need to let my friends know that they are valued and appreciated, I need to exercise my mind as well as my body, I need to reflect upon the tender mercies in my life, I need to be happy with the family time I have- whether in person or though Skype, I need to remember for me, as a cancer survivor, that each day is a gift. 


I have watched the sun set, and I have felt the darkness of night, especially the last ten days - but in the morning the sun will rise and I will be reminded again of all that I have in my life, and that I can make happen in Just 10 Days!