my anti-depressant

what a great month- November. A time to think about gratitude and all our many many blessings.

My sister has a blessing book- or at least I know she used to- where before sleeping she would write down her blessings. It always sounded like a cute and sweet idea. I personally like the idea of writing anything down in a really unique cool journal only found at Barnes and Nobel or such a place- but I never thought writing down my daily blessings to be important enough to do it for myself.

try it- it works miracles.

Mckenzie is almost 2 and yes I still hold her in the glider until she falls asleep. Just something mostly wonderful we share together. I am sure it is inconvenient but I choose to look at it as my little one on one moments with her. I treasure it to be honest- I love touching her soft skin and hugging her- it also gives me time to breathe deep, pray, meditate, and count my blessings...and before I know it Mckenzie is fast asleep.

Sometimes I have to force myself to be grateful- and that is usually when I am in a bad mood. But isn't it crazy how therapeutic it really can be? My mood literally changes and there seems to be a hundred things to smile and laugh about.

Gratitude is my anti-depressant.


**this calendar is from Pottery Barn- I love everything from this store- anyway I have heard of this tradition before and I want to start it tonight at Family Home Evening. Of course I don't have this adorable pocket calendar- maybe I could make it one day or buy it- ok...probably not- but the tradition goes like this: each day of the month each family member writes down what they are thankful for and put it in a jar or a cute calendar or something- then on Thanksgiving get them out and read them. Keep the pieces of paper and use them in your scrapbook with your thanksgiving pictures- or put them in your journal.

Here is a quote from President Hinckley I will start Family Home Evening off with tonight:


"Be grateful. There are two little words in the English language that perhaps mean more than all others. They are “thank you.” Comparable words are found in every other language, such as gracias, merci, danke, obrigado, domo.

"The habit of saying thank you is the mark of an educated man or woman. With whom is the Lord displeased? He names “those who confess not his hand in all things” (D&C 59:21). That is, those who walk without grateful expression. Walk with gratitude in your hearts, my dear friends. Be thankful for the wonderful blessings which are yours. Be grateful for the tremendous opportunities that you have. Be thankful to your parents, who care so very much about you and who have worked so very hard to provide for you. Let them know that you are grateful. Say thank you to your mother and your father. Say thank you to your friends. Say thank you to your teachers. Express appreciation to everyone who does you a favor or assists you in any way.

Thank the Lord for His goodness to you. Thank the Almighty for His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, who has done for you what none other in all this world could do. Thank Him for His great example, for His tremendous teachings, for His outreaching hand to lift and help. Think about the meaning of His Atonement. Read about Him and read His words in the New Testament and in 3 Nephi in the Book of Mormon. Read them quietly to yourself and then ponder them. Pour out your heart to your Father in Heaven in gratitude for the gift of His Beloved Son.

Thank the Lord for His marvelous Church restored in this great season of history. Thank Him for all that it offers you. Thank Him for friends and loved ones, for parents and brothers and sisters, for family. Let a spirit of thanksgiving guide and bless your days and nights. Work at it. You will find it will yield wonderful results." Gordon B. Hinckley, “A Prophet’s Counsel and Prayer for Youth,” Ensign, Jan 2001,