Beyond Blessed!

So I told Kris this experience earlier today and then when we were out to dinner with our friends Jeff and Camille Easton both of our husbands mocking us for our blogging, I shared this with them and Kris said "Oh great I feel another blog coming on"... He was right! This summer has been an interesting one. There have seemed to be tragedies all around and it's been interesting to me how the people in these tragedies have handled them. But more than that it brings to my mind the great peace and comfort that the gospel brings. I told Kris earlier that as I was driving home from the store I was so close to my house and I got a little teary eyed. I just couldn't help but think that I had just gotten home form from the store where I had purchased the groceries and treats not really warring about cost, and how I have been blessed with two amazing girls (see I'm getting teary eyed again) who are healthy and just amazing, I really do cherish every moment I have with them, and my husband, my eternal companion. I have such an amazing husband and I just feel so blessed that I have married someone as wonderful as him. Not that we are made of money and I don't have to worry about how much I spend at the grocery store, but I realize that there are people all over the world wondering where their next meal will come from, and some in our mist that we have no idea. There are others walking around that are struggling with the loss of a loved one and other challenges that we just have no idea. I remember when I was training for my marathons I would walk into stores or go to work or so on, but I remember thinking on several occasions..."No one has any idea that I just ran 18 miles", or how ever long the run was for the day. My point is that there are people all around us that are hurting and thinking "no one has any idea... what ever it is". In todays fast pace world we get so caught up with what is going on in our lives, and that's fine, but are we becoming less and less tolerant of those around us? What about the lady in the car that totally just cut you off, did you lay on your horn? Or the poor lady just in front of you in line who seems to be taking for ever? What is it that they are thinking "no one has any idea"? As I realized how blessed I was I also became aware of how intolerant I have become as well. I am so grateful for all of my many blessings and when I start to count them, I realize that I could go on forever and ever. I am going to start to pray that I might have more tolerance for those around me, those I know and those I don't know. Now watch I'll have something horrible happen to me... but you know what? this is something I need to learn and I pray that I can learn it, so however the Lord chooses to teach this to me so be it! Thanks for letting me ramble. I just want you all to know that I am extremely blessed and I know it. I am grateful for the watchful care in which the Lord has kept us!