Happy Thanksgiving! - Week 12

The highlight of this week was Thanksgiving. It wasn’t the same without hearing my brothers’ flatulence and burps, or my kids doing the same thing, or family stories of inside jokes, or my mom trying to hold back a cry when starting to describe what she is grateful for… but it was still an interesting event that was unique to a deployed environment.

I started the day at 4:30 a.m. getting registered for the Turkey Trot and ran a 5k. I don’t normally do that, but apparently that’s how they celebrate any holiday in the military: GO RUN SOME MORE! But at least I got the t-shirt and felt a little more justified stuffing my face later in the day.

And for anyone feeling pity for service members who are away from their families during the holidays, they certainly treat us well and had some great food. They went all out on the decorations and made it fun.

I was able to talk to my family that night (morning their time) to wish them Happy Thanksgiving, and even stayed on the phone when Dana and the kids got to her parent’s house to say hello before the “Big Meal.”

I am grateful for so much this year. I am thankful for the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, and for my membership in His church. I am grateful for my relationship to God and the knowledge of His role in the Divine Plan. I am eternally grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ, for His Church on the earth, and the Book of Mormon which clarifies the Doctrine of Christ. 

I am grateful for the Prophet Joseph Smith and his role and sacrifices in bringing forth the restoration of the gospel so that I could have these truths in my life today. I am grateful for the priesthood and the keys which have been restored in the latter-days. I am so grateful for the temple covenants which bind me to the Lord, my wife, and my children for time and all eternity. It gives me comfort to know that no matter what happens, as long as I remain faithful to those covenants I made to God and my wife, everything will be okay in the end. 

I am grateful for this great nation which I serve today, and the inspired Constitution of the United States which I have sworn to defend and protect. I am so grateful for all the friends and family members who have helped to support my family during this time of separation. May God bless you all for your prayers, service, and love you have shown us during this time.

In His Service,
CH John Critchfield