More of 13 Days of Thanksgiving

It was a very busy weekend so I am behind on counting down my 13 Days of Thanksgiving. Sooo......

Day 12 of my 13 Days of Thanksgiving

At my book signing in Grand Junction, I met a very nice man named, John Lichty. He was scheduled to do a book signing at Borders right after me. He wrote a book called, "Raising Charlie," which is about his golden retriever who died from cancer. One thing I have loved about doing these book signings is that I always meet new people. Meeting new people is like adding a new spice to a favorite recipe to make it better. I am so thankful I have had the opportunity to travel and do these book signings so I can meet people that I otherwise wouldn't have had a chance to meet.

Day 11 of the 13 Days of Thanksgiving

Yesterday, I had my boys pull out my old Christmas tree and I started to decorate it with some fun ornaments my husband and I bought while we were in Grand Junction. We found them in a store in the cute downtown area of Grand Junction called, Heirlooms for Hospice. It is a very special second hand store that sells items donated from generous people. All of the money they receive goes to Hospice to help families that are dealing with a love one who is dying. It is run by volunteers and they are so happy to be there.

In years past, I have donated a decorated trees to the Festival of Trees in Salt Lake and when I moved to Vernal a few years ago, I did a tree for the "Trees for Charity" which runs as a part of the Vernal Holly Days right after Thanksgiving. Times are tough right now and I thought I couldn't afford to do a tree this year because I usually spend $800 and up to decorate. But when I found these ornaments for .50 cents and $1, I knew I had to donate a tree this year. I am so thankful for the wonderful people who donated these ornaments. I am sure when they donated them, they had no idea that not only would they be helping the Hospice people, but their generosity would also be helping a child on another continent to have clean water to drink - possibly saving their life!

Day 10 of the 13 Days of Thanksgiving

I am so thankful for a Heavenly Father who places people in your life just at the right time to help you with something you need to learn. I have a son who is wondering if there really is a God and I have been struggling to help him know that God does live and loves him. Our Bishop, Steve Jones has stepped up and rather than preaching to Alex, he has made a special effort to teach by example.

The pilgrams dug more graves then they built huts when they arrived in this country but they still stopped and spent one day giving thanks to a good who helped them come here so they could worship as they desired. During this holiday season, I hope we all remember why we really celebrate Thanksgiving - and it's not just to eat turkey.