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Ten Things of Thankful: Finches, Football, and October General Conference

 

A tiny lesser goldfinch sits on a dandelion stalk in the grass

It's October! The temperatures are cooler, and this week I found myself taking time to notice little things around me, like the cute lesser goldfinch in the photo above. Just that one photo prompts several things I am thankful for, so let's just dive into the Ten Things of Thankful list!

1. I'm thankful for birds that visit my yard.

2. I'm thankful for a guidebook to help me identify the birds.

3. In the entry for "Lesser Goldfinch," the guidebook reads: "Lesser Goldfinches feed on dandelion seeds and raise their young on soft unripe seeds. They adjust the time and place of their breeding to the presence of this staple food." I guess that means I am thankful for dandelions, because without their presence in my yard, I probably would not see that cute goldfinch. 

(Next slide, please.)

Lavell Edwards stadium fills prior to the BYU/USU football game, as the sun sets amid dark clouds

4. I'm thankful John and I were able to attend a BYU football game this past week. It's always nice to return to our alma mater.

5. I'm thankful for the family-friendly atmosphere. We sat next to a father and young son from Minnesota, and behind a family from Iowa. Three rows in front of us was a multi-generational family that included a baby who looked to be only a few months old. (I also noticed other babies in the crowd, many of whom were wearing noise-canceling headphones--what a great invention for those who might not be able to handle the roar of the fans!)

6. I'm thankful that we actually stayed dry during the game. Despite the sometimes ominous clouds, very few raindrops fell. 

(We interrupt this program to bring you a very important message.)



7. I'm thankful for the Book of Mormon which, together with the Bible, brings peace and direction to my life. If you haven't read it, I highly recommend it. It's easy to access via an app that can be found at this link. It is available in more than 100 languages, so chances are, you can find it in your own primary language.

8. I'm thankful for General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which happens every six months. It's a time to gather together (mostly virtually, as the church is a world-wide church, and large though the conference center is, it wouldn't come close to holding all 16+million members) and hear talks that help strengthen our commitment to Jesus Christ and his gospel. 

9. I'm thankful for organizations throughout the world that provide humanitarian service to those in need. Some of those organizations were mentioned in General Conference this morning: Red Cross/Red Crescent, Catholic Relief Services, Muslim Aid, Water for People, IsraAid, MedGlobal. Dallin H. Oaks stated in his talk: God inspires many organizations and individuals to do much good. … More of us should be recognizing the good done by others and supporting it as we have the time and means to do so.

No matter what our religious affiliation (if any), we can come together to help those who are in need.

10. I'm thankful for John. 

John and me at the BYU football game

What are you thankful for this week? Write your thoughts down and link them up at the Ten Things of Thankful blog hop! 


Comments

  1. messymimiOctober 1, 2022 at 7:09 PM

    While i don't know much about birds, i do enjoy watching them. Believe it or not, the dark corvids (crows, ravens and the like) are my favorites.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. KristiOctober 2, 2022 at 11:53 AM

      When we lived in California, we had lots of ravens in our area. They are quite intelligent birds!

      Delete
  2. clarkOctober 2, 2022 at 5:57 AM

    My resolution as summer ends* is to not express outraged-surprise at: daytime temperatures, precipitation or how quickly the streetlights come on... lol

    hey, we're into milkweeds this year. Phyllis really gets a kick from how tall they've grown (from five to seven feet!) in, like, a forest in the areas of the property that we cleared a couple of years ago.
    I remember visiting SLC back in the 2010-2012 years... very fond memories, i.e. a western city with mountains and such, but still accessible to the visitor from New England (New England motto: Thirty minutes to any major city and your neighbors will leave you alone unless you initiate the conversation or wave from the car. Full Disclosure: not the 'real' motto of the region.)
    have an excellent week

    *yeah, like a month ago! lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. KristiOctober 2, 2022 at 12:40 PM

      I planted a type of milkweed this year, but it must not be the same as yours, because it's not nearly so tall, and I don't expect it to get that big, either. I'm hoping it will attract monarchs at some point, though.

      Delete
  3. Dyanne @ I Want BacksiesOctober 5, 2022 at 10:00 PM

    It's truly wonderful to witness people of all walks of life coming together to help in a disaster.

    My mom was a member of the Junior Audubon Society as a child, so she taught me to identify a lot of birds (she also could do it by their call). She loved feeding gold finches! She had a special feeder for them and filled it with thistle seed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. KristiOctober 15, 2022 at 6:25 PM

      I have to ask my dad for bird identification, or look it up. There are a few I know by sight (and fewer still by call).

      Delete

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