Yesterday I ran down into Fish Creek park and as I ran up along the ridge, feeling healthy and strong, looking at the blue autumn sky and the mountains in the distance, listening to the leaves fall around me, and breathing in their musty smell, seeing the stream running beside me...I felt so much gratitude. First of all, that Heavenly Father gave us this beautiful world, but also that he gave us this world so we could grow and be happy and become like Him. It's all a gift, an amazing gift from a Father who loves us so much. I felt so much gratitude for the plan of salvation. Then I walked out of the crisp outdoors into my warm home and had a long hot shower.

This is the outside of the new temple in Calgary. I didn't think I could love another temple as much as Cardston, but this temple is so beautiful and elegant-and so different from Cardston-it stole my heart.  Here is where I learn about the plan of salvation and where I bind my family together eternally. I'm so grateful Heavenly Father continually forgives me and loves me even when I'm foolish and rebellious.

 Every day after Afton and I kiss my kids good-bye and send them out the door they come back to the window to wave and blow kisses. Then they walk off together holding hands and I watch as they cross the street very carefully.

And Afton stands here until she can no longer see them, waving.

How lucky am I that I get to spend my days with this adorable little sugarplum? She dances around, she jumps off whatever she can, she finds things that are pink, she colors in her coloring book, she reads and says things like "Mom a cat! See?" and "A star! See Mom?" She has a little lisp that I pray never goes away. She asks for things and says "'kay Mom?" and when I say no she says "'KAY!" She has started watching TV and she loves Dora or as she calls it "Map". Thank heavens for TV. She counts to 10 and loves stuffed animals and did I mention she screams at the top of her lungs every chance she gets?

Many days I have lots to say-lots to complain about, lots of opinions-but for today, for the weekend, for General Conference and while I'm with my family this holiday eating lots of delicious food-I'm just going to be grateful.