How ironic that the title of the blog is happenings and gratitude, because not only have we had tons of happenings since the last post, but today I was just thinking about how showing gratitude and counting my blessings is a new attitude I need to have in life right now, and truly how grateful I am for so many things. I was searching for my hard copy journal, and sad to admit, but it's been a while since I've written and couldn't find it for the life of me, at which point I remembered I have this online journal type thing and that I should turn here! Good thing I can't loose this either!

Life update...we have bought a house in Petal,Ms and couldn't be much happier with the area. We love the schools, our neighbors, the community, etc. Jason won the job here at USM and is now a tenure track professor. Jason was the EQ President, and I the YW President for almost all of the first year here in Petal, and then he was called as the Bishop of the Petal Ward in August, 2012. This has created the opportunity for many challenges and blessings for our family, but I feel like I have focused so much on the realities this calling brings (you can call me Realistic Rachel or Practical Priscilla, but not so much Debbie Downer in my mind!), and have dealt with many ups and downs, quite extreme in the downs unfortunately.

I was released and called as the Primary Pianist, and snuck out of Primary during sharing time to sneak into RS. Now, I know I can put more effort spiritually into just about every part of my life right now, and I continue to rationalize myself out of putting much of anything into it, but I have continued to go through the most visible motions, and have fasted, without much purpose or direction the last 2 months, hence I've gotten very little out of the experience- more than anything, I'm just worn out so many days, and even though i'd been discouraged from ducking out of Primary when I'm not playing, I felt like I really wanted to today, so I did, and the message I heard (read, "not the lesson really being given") was that I needed to be more grateful in my life. This seemed to be an answer to an unprayed prayer. The whole idea of seeking to see the hand of the Lord in my life each day, is something I need to try out at this time of my life. This year my birthday falls on Thanksgiving, a very appropriate coincidence and chance to make a goal to make this year filled with me giving thanks to Heavenly Father, my family and those around me. And so, here is to more soon to come posts on gratitude!