It was dark in the car when Logan awakened. Resting his forehead on the window he peered out, but Pall he could
see were a few scattered lights from farm houses dotting the landscape. “Are we there, yet?” he asked sleepily.

“Not yet,” Mother answered quietly so she didn’t wake the baby sleeping soundly in her carseat, “but, soon.”

Logan felt the excitement well up inside him as he thought about the fun times he always had at Grandma and
Grandpa’s house. “Do you think Grandpa will take us on a Thanksgiving hayride again this year?”

Father chuckled. “Has Grandpa ever NOT taken us on a Thanksgiving hayride?”

Logan scrambled out of the car and ran to the front door where Grandma stood waiting. “I’ve missed you so much,
Grandma.” He said, while giving her a big hug. “Thank you sooo much for letting us come.”

Grandma smiled. “I’ve missed you, too and you’re sooo welcome! Thank you for coming. Do you want to take your
things up to the boy’s room? You’re the first one here, so you can pick which bed you want.”

“Alright!” Logan shouted as he ran up the stairs, but then he paused and ran back to give Grandma another hug.
“Thanks, Grandma. You’re the best grandma, ever! ”

Grandma hugged Logan back tightly. “I’m so glad that you’re my grandson and thank you for being you.”

By the next day all of the Aunts, Uncles and cousins had arrived at the old farmhouse for the Thanksgiving holiday .

Logan and his boy cousins played in the barn and the girl cousins played dress-up in the attic while the adults
prepared the Thanksgiving feast.

Uncle Spencer cut up the last potato and added it to the pot. “If this family gets any bigger, Ma, you’ll have to get a
bigger pot,” he teased.

“We better get her a bigger pot for Christmas, then,” Aunt Cheryl said patting her tummy.

“Oh, that’s wonderful!,” Grandma exclaimed. “When are you due?”

“Next June,” Cheryl answered. “Right around your birthday.”

“Oh, my!” Grandma, exclaimed.”Wouldn’t that be a grand birthday gift?”

“That will make thirty-four grand kids,” Grandpa interjected with a proud smile. “The Lord has blessed us in deed!”

After taking his first bite of turkey, Logan got up from the children’s table and ran to Grandma’s side. “This is the
best turkey ever, Grandma. Thank you soooo much for cooking it for us.”

Grandma smiled and turned to her son and daughter-in-law. “You’re doing a wonderful job raising that boy. He
always remembers to say, ‘thank you.’”

“I don’t know if it’s so much our doing or God’s doing,” Jennifer responded. “He is does have a very special spirit.”

After dinner the family piled into the big hay wagon. As was the tradition, their Thanksgiving hay ride was a time when everyone would take turns pointing out what they were thankful for as Grandpa led the horses down one of the country roads near their home.

Megan pointed to the lake. “I’m thankful for the lake, ’cause we get to swim in it during the summer and ice-skate
on it during the winter.”

“I’m thankful for Grandma’s kittens, ’cause they’re soft and cuddly and I like it when they purr,” Amy cooed.

“I’m thankful for the kittens because they keep the mice out of my house,” Grandma countered.

“I’m thankful for the mountains,” shouted Kevin , “’cause I like to go camping and hunting in them.”

“I’m thankful for the moon and the stars that light our way,” Grandpa added.

As they continued on the hayride they went past many of the wonderful things Heavenly Father had created until
everyone had named something they were thankful, but Logan, who was snuggled up in a quilt with Grandma.

“Do you see anything that you’re thankful for Logan?” Grandma whispered.

“Oh, I’ve seen lots of things I’m thankful for Grandma, but I’m waiting for something that I’m extra specially
thankful for.”

Logan waited anxiously while the family sang songs and drank hot chocolate. Then just as the horses rounded the
corner, there it was. A shining white beacon in the night.

“I’m thankful for the temple,” Logan said, “’cause families can be together forever and I’m sooo thankful that you
are my family.

Grandma hugged Logan tightly as the tears of joy fell upon her cheeks, “And we’re thankful for you.” Then looking around the wagon at her precious family she added, “We’re so thankful for all of you!”

“Amen!” exclaimed Grandpa.

by Margie Nauta Lee