HAPPY THANKSGIVING !!!
- Elder Denny Blodgett
- Nov 23, 2025
- 7 min read
When I sit down to write something on this weekly Blog, I try to think about the things that happened during the week..... the events, the activities, the people, and the unusual things we have seen or done. This week I am going to write a little about being thankful and trying to always have an “attitude of gratitude”. It is the Thanksgiving season, so this was a natural thing to write about. I reflect every year at this time about how thankful I am and how the Lord has blessed my life with good people.....who have influenced me and shaped me to be the person that I have become. I still have a lot of improvement to do, and I am still working on my weaknesses and imperfections, and trying to be a better person, but I have been blessed, and I am very quick to thank my Heavenly Father each and every day for my life….. and the blessings I know that have come from Him.
I am thankful to be here in Ghana. We could have been called anywhere around the World, and I am grateful it was here….. to meet these people and see their way of life. I love their smiles and their friendly personalities. They have nothing as far as material “things”, but they are so very happy. That lesson alone is what has made it worth being here and living with them for these past six months. We don't need money to be happy.....we all know "money can't buy happiness". Throughout the scriptures, the Lord invites us to cultivate a spirit of gratitude…..a spirit that changes hearts, strengthens faith, and opens doors to greater blessings. One scripture I like, “Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things”…..not just in good things, or convenient things, but in all things. Gratitude from a gospel sense is not merely a polite feeling…..it is a sacred commandment and a spiritual discipline. It is a way of aligning our hearts with God.
President Nelson taught that counting blessings is more than a pleasant exercise; it is a healing one. He reminded us that gratitude has the power to lift our thoughts, deepen our peace, and even increase our capacity to feel joy. When we choose gratitude, especially in difficult times, we invite the Spirit into our lives. Thanksgiving is also a season of remembrance. Daily thanksgiving keeps us grounded in humility. It helps us remember that every breath, every opportunity, and every blessing comes from a loving Heavenly Father.
I hope and pray that during this Thanksgiving season, we will all take the time to pause and reflect not just on the material blessings we enjoy, but on the spiritual gifts we have been given. A few pictures and videos below show a baptism of some people whose lives have been changed because they listened to the Sister missionaries. I show a couple of pictures of missionaries visiting the office…..I am very thankful for their service and wonderful attitudes and desire to serve God. I am hearing Christmas music in the stores and seeing lights go up in the neighborhoods. I love this time of year. We were able to get together with 50-60 other Senior Couples who are serving here and share a thanksgiving meal with one another. I am grateful to be around them and hear of their stories and experiences…..and thankful they are so close to where we live. The final couple of videos are a reminder for me of our thanksgiving last year. I didn’t share a picture of the dinner….which was held at Devin and Kim's home.....but videos of a couple of activities we did when they all gathered for a few days. I love it when they come home.
Finally, I am very thankful for a wonderful family. I could not have been more blessed to marry the person I did…..Laurie Jill Adamson. I certainly won the lottery when she agreed to marry me. She is the joy of my life and has made our journey on Earth a wonderful adventure and a blessing. She has blessed me with 8 kids and I know she went through a lot of pain and discomfort to bring each of them into this world…..children who I love very much….. and now their children..... which are the 37 young people we call our grandchildren……and almost 3 great-grandchildren. She raised our 8 kids and taught them.....and they are who they are because of my wife. I know that and I know that God knows that. We missed the Abilla’s last year, but everyone else came for last year’s Thanksgiving.....and I am thankful they like hanging out with each other. I love that my kids are good people and that they have the faith to know that our Heavenly Father is looking down upon them and this family….. and blessing us all tremendously. It doesn’t mean we don’t have our problems, sadness, and difficulties, but I love that they know all good things come from God and that He will help them in any situation they have going on in their lives…. and that it is vitally important to keep in touch with a loving Heavenly Father daily through prayer and to continue to try and live a good life. My children and grand-children are the greatest blessing of my life and without a doubt the most important thing I did in my life.....was to be their Dad.
Jeffrey Holland said, “Heavenly Father loves us…..not last year, not once, not occasionally, but always. A grateful heart sees that love everywhere”.
Russell M. Nelson said, “The joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives”. That is why the members of the Church here in Ghana are so happy.
I hope you all have a very Happy Thanksgiving. It is the season to be grateful !!!
This is a great man who is already enrolled in the Pathway program of the Church....focusing on IT.
4 Sisters in this Ward and what a great Ward it is.
This a cute Chapel and I love the grass. This is where the baptism was held.
This is John the Baptist showing the ones being baptized how it will all go down.....and Make sure to hold the nose.
These people were also baptized the same day.....at the same Chapel.
Maybe too many videos of the Chapel. But the setting was very nice.
After the baptismal service, they all line up in the front and we go and congratulate them.
Jill is alway teaching and sharing her opinion to someone. That is what I love about her.
This was after church right by where we were sitting for another meeting.....always teaching !!!
Sister Archibald from Tremonton and her companion, Sister Ngalula from the DRC.
They all came with matching dresses and ties. They were going to the Temple together for the last time. They will depart December 17th.
Better picture of everything matching....Sister Tavita got Matilda to do everything.
I guess a duplicate....Elders Abekah, Hatley, Heerdink, Mohetau, Nakatuzayako, Peterson, Rodon, and Elder Wood is missing. He is doing AP duties. Sisters Lautaimi, Najjuka, Tavita, and Tu'angalu. Great group.
Shopping at a store we did not think we would see.....very modern and very clean. Most of the people living in Ghana cannot shop at places like this.....they get their food on the Street. This is Mom in her Ghanian dress she had made.
This is where I began hearing Christmas music on November 21st.....it is that time of year.
Just like a WalMart back in America.
She is always ready to go when it comes to Pickleball. New shoes bought here in Accra.
Krysti Wilson is her partner.....from Alpine, Utah and serving as the Assistant Secretary of the Area Presidency. She and her husband are very important people around here.
This is David who does all of our "Banners". This is his work place....right on the road. Great guy.
I wanted to share this so my kids will know what to do when i pass away. This sweet woman is the mother of a Stake President here in Accra. She passed away a couple of months ago. Here in Ghana it is very expensive to hold a funeral. The family pays for everything for those attending.....food, travel costs, gift baskets, ect. It is a celebration of the person's life. The memorial service lasted about 3 hours. I wonder how many "chief mourners" I would have at my funeral service? And I'm hoping I live long enough to have people wear "red and black".
I'm getting older, but I feel good. This was a Chinese restaurant and the food was delicious.
Christmas is coming.....ready or not.....here it comes.
This is very relaxing and we never see anyone using this pool. It is just a couple of doors down from the Mission Office and right next door to the Mission Home. The water is always warm....about the temperature it is outside.....which is always between 80 - 90.
This is "bat" season. This was during the day and we think some kids were upsetting all of these bats. There is literally thousands of them. If you look close, you can see some hanging from the trees.
If these little guys see you taking their picture, they get very excited. This was at an intersection of a very busy street. Lots of little kids begging for food or some money. But they are very happy and they don't know life is any different somewhere else.
The Senior Couples got together for a Thanksgiving Dinner. The turkey and hams are very expensive, but it was nice to have food from home.....ham, turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, vegetables, fruit, homemade rolls, dressing, pie, cake, desserts, etc.
More of the same as we want to remember these people. It has been a blessing to have them so close to be able to do things together. Their ages.....55 - 75.....and from all different walks of life, with all different kinds of experiences. Their assignments include family history, humanitarian, doctors, health advisors, financial and general secretaries, Young Single Adult assignments, lawyers, communications, housing, mission leaders, member leader support assignments, etc. The Church is incredible and the service and humanitarian work that is done is beyond amazing. All of these people are here on their own dime.....the monthly expenses are about $2,500 to $3,000.
Last Thanksgiving, our family went and saw the newly released movie, Wicked. It was fun and it appears we had the whole movie theater to ourselves.
And of course, we cannot have a family gathering without some sort of sport involved. They did football earlier in the day and now the more relaxing Pickleball.
I'm thinking a 6 hour funeral service for you!! Later rather than sooner!! These 1 hour services isnt near enough time to celebrate a life especially one a full as yours!!! That is the proper pool temperature. Happy Thanksgiving to all.
Happy Thanksgiving Dad! And merry Christmas! I’m glad they’ve got the music and lights up for you. I love you! ❤️🫶🏾
Brother don't ever thjink we all don't love your photos and videos. I feel like I am just sitting on your shoulder experiencing your adventures. What a blessing to be in that land and I am sure you are teaching the gospel to many chosen people who the lord will bless. Keep strong and my prayers go out to you and Jill and the work you aqre doing.