Gratitude... It is November, After All

It being November, I have seen many a status reading of the gratitude of my friends toward those things that they feel they are most blessed with in their lives. A great exercise, I suppose. Especially seeing as if you do something consistently for a month it becomes habit-- I wonder if those who are participating in this current facebook trend will find it easier as the year continues past November to point out and consciously be grateful for blessings that come to them from day to day...
I for one have not been participating. Not because I am not grateful but merely because it does not really occur to me to tell the facebook world what I am thankful for from day to day. Not to knock on those who are participating. I say, power to you! Keep up the good work! It is simply not something that I see as pertinent for me to join in on. However, this post being dedicated to "gratitude", I will wrap it up with a list of things that I have taken note of in my life that I am thankful for.
But before I get to that I want to share my feelings of gratitude for one particular blessing-- that is, the blessing of Christ's Atonement for man. I was reading just now in 2nd Nephi in the Book of Mormon and a particular verse stuck out to me because I had highlighted it in some earlier year when it had first touched me. In short, it spoke of how the Lord has given us a way out of sin and out of the clutches of our demons so that we might know of His love and come unto Him. Without the Atonement, which gives us the opportunity to confess our sins and repent, then I and I suppose a few others out there would be totally lost. To be completely honest, I cannot even imagine the capacity of love Christ had to be able to give Himself fully unto the Father's will and sacrifice His life for us but I am grateful. 
I am so thankful for the endless forgiveness that is available for me to take part in each day. Yes. I make mistakes. Every day. But that is okay as long as I am working toward being better and fixing those mistakes. It does not matter so much that you have made the mistake but rather what you do after that makes the difference. 
Of the following things, I am most thankful:

•  my family
• my friends
• my current job
• the fact that I was able to take at least one class this semester
• I got tickets to go to a Vocal Point Concert for free- and learned some valuable views there
• the snow cleared up before having to drive to Lehi this evening
• my relatively good health
• my talents
• my sight
• my hearing
• my ability to speak and communicate
• all the blankets I have received in past years--they are highly useful during Utah winters
• the examples of my "older sisters"
• the love that I have been able to enjoy and share
• running water that can be warm for showers and cool to slake thirst
• those moments of impeccable clarity that the Lord gives to my situation now and again
• the temple
• laughter
• hugs
• books
• sweaters and scarves
• shoes
• the ability I have to hold my peace/think of what I am going to say before spouting off
• music
• opportunities for growth even if they hurt at the moment
• Thanksgiving
• Christmas

I am sure there are more but it is time for bed. 

"Gratitude brings a peace that helps us overcome the pain of adversity and failure. Gratitude on a daily basis means we express appreciation for what we have now without qualification for what we had in the past or desire in the future. A recognition of and appreciation for our gifts and talents which have been given also allows us to acknowledge the need for help and assistance from the gifts and talents possessed by others."
--Robert D. Hales, "Gratitude for the Goodness of God"