A Grateful Birthday

I've been cleaning out some...OK...many shelves, closets, and our computer room. It's like a Thomas English muffin..full of nooks and crannies..all chock full of papers, magazines, and pictures that needed sorting and discarding. While on this quest I found another journal I forgot I had. It was started when Oprah suggested a "Gratitude Journal" about 15yrs. ago. That was before we even lived in this house and how it got to the computer room is a mystery. I had to sit and see what I wrote so long ago. I had challenged myself to write 5 things a day that I was grateful for. I did really good...for about 3 days! I did enjoy seeing what made me happy back then. 15 Simple things. I wondered if someone found this 100yrs. from now would they know what kind of person I am/was? I've mentioned this many times, but my blog is a bit of a journal for me and I have it put into book form at the end of each year. Hopefully this would be a better composite of who I was...am..will be. I would hope that they would see a person very grateful for many blessings in my life. I hope the main blessing I'm so grateful for is my family. Today is my 2nd son's birthday. He's 35...Wow is he old...Not young like me! I'm so grateful for his wonderful spirit that has blessed our family. He has a great family of his own now. He's spending this birthday alone while his wife stays with the kiddos until they sell their home and then make a big move across country. I had to call him and wish my "Star Wars" baby a happy day. We were at the very first "Star Wars" movie that came out in 1977 when I went into labor. I stayed as long as I could stand it...the movie was really good but I didn't want Craig born in a popcorn bucket! I always joke that we could have called him Luke, or Han, or Chewie! I think Craig is grateful we didn't! So here's a few snipets of his life that we are very grateful for. He was a beautiful baby!
A spunky kiddo and a good athlete...here he is at his 9th birthday..so happy...so funny...so grateful for his first skateboard!
An Eagle Scout...He put in sidewalks at an elementary school for the teachers who had to walk through the wet grass and mud each day. Recently many of the teachers sent him a "thank you" e-mail..all these years later. Gratitude has no time limit!
Craig spent 2 years as a missionary in Taiwan. Mastering the language, the food, and coming to love the people has blessed his life. We're so grateful for his service.
A graduate with his graduate wife from BYU. Grateful for an education that has helped him in his business career and his ability to make a good living to support his family.
A good father, husband...all around family man who had to celebrate today without his family. Not fun. But he has a great sense of humor as we talked about it today. He's spent a few birthdays in his life without family around. His Dad and I are grateful for a super kiddo who makes us proud every day. Happy Birthday Craig!