Thanksgiving in January

My New Years Resolution for 2011 is to live a more grateful life. I am to record in a journal one blessing I recognize and am grateful for each day of the year. Little did I know in December when I made this decision how soon I would be recording some very large blessings. On Wednesday, Jan. 12, Sheryl called to report that she was being admitted into the hospital with a blood clot in her lung. What? Sheryl is only 23. The blood clot showed up on a scan ordered by her primary care doctor earlier that day because Sheryl had made an appointment about having difficulty and pain breathing. She had visited a doctor in Sept or Oct. with the same complaint but that doctor sent her home with orders to take a decongestive. The scan showed a blood clot and Sheryl was sent to the hospital via Mike. She was given blood thinners and kept quiet. This was a very scarey experience for her and the family, who were notified by me and Natalie's posts on Facebook. So far no one knows how long that clot has been floating around. Dad and I are so thankful that Heavenly Father answers our prayers for our children. We were again given a big reason for Thanksgiving when Cara called Thursday to tell me she could not come for a visit, that was postponed from Christmas, because she had been in a car accident. A boy, who is the son of former employers, hit her broadside while she was crossing an intersection in Vermont. Cara was not hurt even though her car received heavy damage. Sheryl is on the mend and Cara's car is being repaired. I can tell already that I will have plenty of blessings and gratitude to record in my journal. I am so thankful that Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers. We pray for our children and their families each day, and continue with thoughts and prayers in our hearts. Already I am learning that a grateful life will focus on the things that really matter. Some will be very obvious others will surface from inspired thought.