My Thanksgiving List

I'm actually preparing for a YW activity in which we will share some of our favorite books, and I came across a review I had written for Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse. I noted that even though Billie Jo (the main character) had had some trying experiences while growing up in the Dust Bowl, her inclusion of a "Thanksgiving List" provided me with a moment of self reflection and the realization that there is so much to be thankful for, even in times of struggle. Billie Jo's story celebrated the indomitable human spirit, especially in the face of significant challenges. Here is her Thanksgiving List:

Prairie birds, the whistle of gophers, the wind
blowing,
the smell of grass
and spicy earth,
friends like Mad Dog, the cattle down in the river,
water washing over their hooves,
the sky so
big, so full of shifting clouds,
the cloud shadows creeping
over the fields,
Daddy's smile,
and his laugh,
and his songs,
Louise,
food without dust,
Daddy seeing to Ma's piano,
newly cleaned and tuned,
the days when my hands don't hurt at all,
the thank you note from Lucille in Moline, Kansas,
the sounds of rain,
Daddy's hole staying full of water
as the windmill turns,
the smell of green,
of damp earth,
of hope returning to our farm.
The poppies set to
bloom on Ma and Franklin's grave,
the morning with the whole day waiting,
full of promise,
the night
of quiet, of no expectations, of rest.
And the certainty of home, the one I live in,
and the one that lives in me.

Out of the Dust has been one of my favorites from my current BYU class in adolescent literature. It is entirely written in free prose and I highly recommend it!

Here is my own Thanksgiving List - not in free prose and not in any particular order:

Home and family
A dedicated and loving husband
Children and grandchildren who are beautiful to me
Turtle (the cat) and how she comes to prayer every night
Living prophets
Scriptures
Good books
Knowledge and testimony
Growing experiences
Living in Germany
Learning German (the slow method)
Good friends, new and old
Beautiful young women
Beautiful young men
Soccer or fussball
Smiles and laughter
Music and dance
Ballroom dancers and ballerinas
The band room
Guitars, pianos, and the drum set
Outstanding teachers
Understanding neighbors
My nearly new house
A second bathroom!
My father, who would have been 77 last week
My mother, who has the spunk at 75 to rebuild her house
Many beautiful memories


And the list could go on and on . . .