Get your Hanukkah On

I'm working out last night and they have an interview of the performers on the channel I was watching while doing the elliptic; and then come home and Oliver has shared as well. Its fun, its upbeat and leaves one wondering when the Martin's Cove or nauvoo version will get done by someone.

Christmas Flash Mob

Gotta love it

Silent gratitude isn't very much use to anyone

We were discussing with our home teacher how The Sunday morning session of Conference  has historically contained the thematic or keystone talk of the prophet. It might be because more people attend Sunday Morning session, that the church has better distribution of the broadcast Sunday morning , or tradition. Nonetheless, it was interesting re-reading President Monson's address of Sunday Morning - "The Divine Gift of Gratitude" Truly gratitude is a life changing attribute and state of being.

As he recounted the story of feeding the 4,000. I reflected upon times in my life when I have  - " Like many of us, the disciples saw only what was lacking" . In the midst of a trial it is oft time difficult to gain the eternal perspective, maintain a positive outlook, and project and be an attitude of gratitude. I have consciously tried to cultivate an attitude of gratitude to as President Monson quoted - Said the Greek philosopher Epictetus, “He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has. Grateful for what? For all the wonderful things that God has done to make me  / us happy. As CS.Lewis said in his book " We are not quite as happy yet as HE wants us to. God wants us to be happy both now and through eternity and does all he can to facilitate it if we will but subject ourselves to his will. "The prospects that God has opened to our view are Wonderful and Grand." I am grateful.



" We can lift ourselves and others as well when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues. Someone has said that “gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others . . . Often we feel grateful and intend to express our thanks but forget to do so or just don’t get around to it. Someone has said that “feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it. . .  to express gratitude is gracious and honorable, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live with gratitude ever in our hearts is to touch heaven".

 And so at the close of Thanksgiving season and the start of the Christmas season my heart swells with gratitude for my Rindy, my children and their families, my health, my opportunities, my material blessings, books, friends and temple. I think the thoughts started to formulate as I read Kristin's blog, then built as we discussed Presidents Monson's talk in Priesthood, fed further by our home teacher - I'm grateful for our Savior and the plan of happiness. My heart does indeed touch heaven.

Santa Baby

We walked to downtown Naperville tonight to join the festivities and the girls visited a friend.

Black Friday

So while some got up early
others stayed home and did puzzles and four score with grandpa

Thanksgiving Feasting

No one does it better. Rindy served another great feast. We more than ate our fill.
The dishes are now done so we can sit down to pie and a bit of gaming.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Getting Closer

So what to do?

The table is spread.

What to do indeed!

Its time for a parade.

We drove downtown for the Chicago McDonald's Thanksgiving Day parade. An easy drive downtown, convenient parking and temperate weather (high 30's). The trip was Blair, Julie, Dean, Eden, Mac, and us; we missed the boys who are at John & TJ's. The parade had many marching bands dancing and playing up a storm; inflatibles, dancers, horses and the like. Definitely a fun parade.

Thanksgiving Warm Up

As anyone could note the official cooking has commenced as Eden and Rindy are stirring the pot. How can you not be thankful with a partner who delights us with exquisite food and a grand-daughter who lights the room. It will be a glorious Thanksgiving.We are indeed blessed.

Black Friday

Black Friday is a crazy time at any retailer and we are busy at work making the final deals happen and happen in the right way.  Target too is working hard and I have to admit I like their series of commercials featuring this woman. They crack me up.

Google Street View

The world captured by Google appears to be more truthful and more transparent because of the weight accorded to external reality, the perception of a neutral, unbiased recording, and even the vastness of the project. With its supposedly neutral gaze, the Street View photography had a spontaneous quality unspoiled by the sensitivities or agendas of a human photographer.”

It’s a herculean task in its scope and a fascinating look at the world. I must admit I feel it is somewhat intrusive into my private space. It feels very 1984 Big Brotherish. But in a world where people post their most private of doings on Facebook its not a great leap to have omnipresent cameras.


http://t.co/JqUaRjy via @techcrunch