Thankful Thursday...Faith, Family and Friends; Always the most important

      From a young age I have always been taught that "things will get better".  My sweet mother is an eternal optimist, she always has taught to hope and work for brighter days ahead.

     Faith, Family and Friends have always been the foundation in my life along with hard work.  My parents instilled the value of hard work in us from a very early age.  My parents learned that from their own parents, so a legacy of hard work continues.  The old picture of the little boy is actually my grandfather, who I lived with for several years before he passed away.  Spending time with him for his final few years has been one of the greatest blessings in my life, I reflect back on that time it seems daily.

    Over cookies, chocolates or pie (grandpa loved his sweets), he would talk to me about his life, and the things that really mattered.  He taught me about family history, where I came from and what various family members overcame.  He talked about his joy in being a husband, a father and grandfather.  He taught all of us so much.

     As I have gotten older I become more and more appreciative of the examples that I have in my life.   When I was younger I had no idea that one of my greatest pleasures would come from seeing the type of fathers and husbands that my brothers would turn into.  I will forever be the biased proud sister, but I do think that they are pretty exceptional.

    The picture with the baby being held is one of my favorites, I took it on a family vacation, its my oldest brother with one of his daughters.  We had gone on a family reunion to Nauvoo, Illinois.  It was June, and it was hot and humid and we were outside visiting various historical sites.   His little one was fussing, she was less than a year old, in unfamiliar surroundings and hot and uncomfortable.   He sat her on his lap and soothed her as she calmed down and cozied up and fell asleep.  She felt safe and secure with her Daddy and went to sleep.   I think about this experience often, and how often all of us are looking for something that gives us safety and security.

     I have been very blessed that I have always had what really matters, what gives me purpose and direction, and security, my faith, family and friends.  What grounds you?  What brings you joy and security?