Grateful Sunday

I read Leslie's GS today and she encouraged others to try it and so I am poaching her ideas once again (but she just has so many good ones!).

I am super grateful I went to church today. My darling friend Liz and husband Tim blessed their baby Jack (and the one boy of at least 11 girls in our neighborhood that will be born by the end of the year, including P). It was a great blessing and started the tears flowing early (I cry every Sunday, which will lead me to RG lesson). Then another darling couple gave talks on the book of Mormon. She told about her older brother and two friends who called themselves the Stripling Warriors in HS. It reminded me of the 3 Nephites (Peter Jarman & Friends) from my own HS days (they were in college). The Stripling Warriors even had a license plate frame made that said "Stripling Warrior". Pretty cool. Who wouldn't dream of your teenage boy emulating so fully the heroes of the Book of Mormon? Then I caught glimpses of the Sunday School lesson but particulary like 1 Thess. 5:11-20 or so, which states a lot to live up to, but a great standard to live by. I so look forward to scripture class starting again, when we will study the lesson even more fully. Then the grand finale, Stacey P. (my absolutely favorite teacher and one of my fav peeps) taught the lesson about keeping the Sabbath Day Holy. She began by saying something like "what if you invited your friend to a place that you could go, once a week and feel something you don't feel all week somewhere where everyone has love for you and you feel love for them, and you can feel peace and calmness in your busy life". Anyway, it totally hit home for me, she nailed it. Ever since I was little, and mostly as a teenager, and going through all of my trials and mistakes, etc. I always loved going to church because it truly always made me happy (I am pretty sure I've blogged about this before). I am always super chipper and stoked, and always have been, and pridefully because I know I am where I am supposed to be.

I am grateful for my testimony of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon (the church's amazing organization is the easy part).

On this note, I have pre-read our next lesson by my neighbor (I see her on walks in the morning) Bonnie Parkin 'Gratitude'. Thanks Leslie for giving me a heads up on expressing gratitude, which as you say in your blog, totally mirrors the lesson, and how important it is to do.