Thankfulness #29 and #30

#29 - quiet Sundays. I love quiet Sunday afternoons.

#30
Today is the last day of November, and with it National Blog Post Month, and my "public" month of thankfulness. I have very little to say that I haven't already said. More than anything, I am grateful for the simple, little things that bring me happiness daily, and my life, which has been so very blessed. I am grateful that I have always had enough, and, I am beginning to realize, plenty to spare.

Thankfulness #27 and #28

#27 - Christmas lights. I am glad the rest of the world has finally caught up with me and is ready to fully enjoy Christmas lights! :) I went to the Light Parade in Spanish Fork last night, and it was fun. The drive down was fun too - being able to see all of the lights on the way there and back. I also got to see Bro. McBride, the former second counselor in my old ward. What fun! So, yesterday, I was particularly thankful for Christmas lights - they inherently make me happy!

#28 - football. True story. It may sound simple and silly, but, I DO like a well played game of football. I guess it's in my blood! :)

Thanksgiving Thankfulness

Today I am thankful for so much, but especially family near and far. I am grateful that we can get together and enjoy each other's company. :)

Thankfulness #24 and 25

#24 - priesthood blessings, but especially father's blessings. I have been blessed to always have a worthy priesthood holder in my life - from my dad, grandfathers and uncles growing up, to faithful home teachers and good friends, it has been a constant source of safety and comfort in my life. Last night I basically cried myself to sleep - the breakdown has been coming for weeks, mostly due to stress at work, but ya know, my girlish tendency to overanalyze things didn't really help in the anxiety prevention department. Anyway, I began my breakdown on the phone with a friend, then got off the phone and cried for awhile. Amid the crying however, I was reminded of the last father's blessing I received, which happened to be from my former bishop. I pulled out the journal entry I had written immediately following the blessing and re-read it. The peace and comfort that washed over me was powerful. The things that seconds before had concerned and terrified me were gone - because I was reminded of my direct access to Heavenly Father, his promises, and his loving, watchful care.

#25 - birthdays and birthday wishes. First of all though, I'm thankful for my mom who brought me into this world. She called me today at the exact moment I turned 24. How cool is that?! ;-) But yes, I am not yet too afraid of getting old, so I like birthdays - the being spoiled, getting your way, and having people think about you, is quite nice. So, today, I'm thankful for birthdays.

Thankfulness #21, 22 and 23

#21 - BYU having a winning season. I haven't been quite as die hard as in the past, but it still makes me smile when the Cougars pull it off.

#22 - a quiet, snowy Sunday during which I was actually able to finally dejunk my house a little in preparation for the holidays.

#23 - a new pencil sharpener that keeps the kids happy. Simple things. :)

Thankfulness #19 and #20

Thankfulness #19 - pumpkin chocolate chip bread. Yum!

Thankfulness #20 - peanut butter twix. YUMMY!! :)

Thankfulness #18

Today I am thankful for Avon.

I remember getting these with my grandma growing up. I always loved looking through the book and choosing things to get.

Well, today, I got my very first, very own Avon order. I know that's kind of silly to be excited about, but there you have it. That is what I am excited and thankful for today! :)

Thankfulness #17

Today I am grateful for good friends. As I read back over my thankfulness posts, I realize I have repeated a few things... Oh well. Does it matter if you repeat your thanksgiving, as long as it's meaningful? I hope not!

Today I am especially grateful for good friends, as I am every day of my life. However, today it is more poignant as yesterday was a very difficult day for me. I was frustrated and having quite a hard time at work. Luckily, I had a friend who was willing to come allow me to vent and help me re-vamp and prepare for the remainder of the week, which, after the tears helped me feel much better. I am also blessed to have friends, recognized, and heretofore unrecognized, who are willing to help me, and give me solicited and unsolicited advice.

So, for the friends who reach out a helping hand, the friends who offer sound advice, and the friends who offer a listening ear and shoulder to cry on, today I am grateful!

Thankfulness #14, 15 and 16

Boy, this is harder than I anticipated, this writing everyday!

Anyway here are a few things I'm grateful for:

#14 - snow. It just makes me happy, and the snow season is finally starting. I love how it makes me want to bake, and wear warm sweatshirts and listen to festive music.

#15 - my country. I taught a lesson today about being a good citizen, and it reminded me how blessed I am to live in this country where I am free to live, worship, and do as I please.

#16 - children. I love how flexible they are. They just go with the flow without complaining. On this day when I am less prepared than I would like to be, they have been wonderful, and have made me smile and laugh all day. :)

Thankfulness #13

Today I am thankful for snow... We got our first real snow of the season, and while it was a surprise and took me a few extra minutes to get out the door, it was a pleasant surprise! I love snow, and all that comes with it - hot chocolate, Christmas music, and lights. It's all just such happy stuff! :)

Thankfulness #12

Today I am thankful for warmth and good books. I love the warm feel of a new sweatshirt, or curling up in a blanket. I also really love curling up in a warm blanket on a rainy day with a good book. It's one of my favorite pastimes!

Thankfulness(es) #10 and 11

Apparently I'm not so good at blogging every day. Oh well, here is the catch up!

#10 - Veterans
Well, considering that today is Veteran's Day and I didn't write yesterday, it works out great because today I am thankful for two things. :) Today, I am grateful for veterans. I'm thankful for those men and women who have given their lives for my safety and freedom, past and present. I know there are many who have sacrificed, but today I am especially grateful for my Grandpa, Uncle, and cousin who have all served, and yet, are so humble about it - who seek no honor or recognition, yet gave so much. Thank you Veterans!

#11 - a life of ease
Now, I'm not saying I have what most people would define as "a life of ease" - nice house, nice car, maids to take care of my every whim - yeah, no, not my life. Heck, sometimes I stretch to pay the bills like so many others do. However, my needs are met. The ease of my life was brought sharply into focus today - while we all have our challenges, my life is easy. I haven't faced the divorce of parents; I haven't been the victim of violence, abuse, or tragedy; I haven't gone to bed hungry or afraid or hurt. Being a teacher, and a member of a small community, I have learned that not all students are as lucky as I was growing up. So, today, I am grateful for my life of comfort, safety, and ease.

Thankfulness #9

Today I'm thankful for the Conference Issue of the Ensign.

While I like to listen to Conference (it's like a holiday to me! I love Conference weekend!), I like that it's not awful if I should doze off during a talk or miss part of a session. I know that makes me lazy, but so be it.

I'm glad the Conference issue comes and we have the chance to study it for six months before we get new revelation. How cool is that? Continuing revelation!! It's AWESOME! Seriously. Think about it - God still cares, He is still aware, He still speaks to men today - He loves us just as much as people in the bible. And, He loves us individually. We can get revelation for our own lives. HOW COOL IS THAT?!

Thankfulness #8

Today I am grateful for families.

I got to attend two LDS Primary Programs today, the second and third that I have attended in the last couple of months. They were of course, delightful, and helped fill me with the Spirit and strengthened my testimony of the eternal nature of families.

So, today I am thankful for families. My mom and dad, are probably two of the coolest parents anyone could ask for, and were, I am slowly realizing, tailored to meet many of my specific needs. I have awesome siblings, who I am finally beginning to appreciate - a missionary brother who is maturing every time you blink your eye, and a sister who is making her own little corner of the world where everyone is welcome and included.

I am thankful for extended families. I love the good relationships I have with my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins on both sides of my family. I hope my children are privileged to have the same.

I am also thankful for surrogate families. Being the first in my family to move away from home (2,000-ish miles to be exact), I have been particularly blessed in this area. It seems that even when my family is at closest an hour, to several days away, I have always been surrounded by surrogate families who love and take care of me. Whether they be good bishops and bishopric members, parents of dear friends, faithful home teachers, or dear friends who have made a place for me in their lives and families, I have always been blessed to have them near to meet the immediate needs that my own family would if they were closer.

This quote comes from the primary children's program today, and I love it. The first time I heard it, and everytime since, it has brought tears to my eyes. I know it is true.

"God gave us families to help us become what He wants us to be - this is how He shares His love, for the family is of God."

Truly God has given us all types, shapes, and sizes of families to help us become what He wants us to be. It is in the quiet, and sometimes not so quiet moments with these that we love, that we recognize the expression of His own love for us. Truly, the family is ordained of God, and can be eternal if we choose to live worthy of that blessing.

Thankfulness #7

Today I am grateful for GNO's... For those of you who don't know what that is, it stands for "Girls Night Outs.

Tonight I went down to Provo with my friend Alice and we had a blast. First we had our own piano/organ recital in our church - FUN! Then on to Provo for Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs- FUNNY! Last but not least, dinner at Del Taco - YUMMY! before coming home. It was a lovely way to spend a Saturday evening.

Thankfulness #6

Today I am thankful for two things:
1) the comfy feel of new sweatshirts. My birthday present to myself from Yellowstone came today... I got a sweatshirt, cap, and book. It's lovely. If you see me regularly, you can pretty much expect to see me living in them for the next little while. And yes, I put them on IMMEDIATELY on my lunch break when the package arrived. :D

2) things to laugh at - like the phrase "he's a selfish goober", the blog ZUG's credit card pranks, and other such little bits of silliness.

Today I am thankful for grandparents.

I was reading No Unhallowed Hand by Gerald Lund today, and in it the patriarch of the family marries to young couples, and offered them some of his wisdom to each of these beloved younger family members before the big moment.

It made me think of my own grandparents, and how much I love and cherish them. I love memories of sleepovers complete with a "show" meticulously rehearsed and performed by the granddaughters - and grandma's obliging video taping. Listening with my cousins to "scary" stories from my grandma's childhood complete with mountain lions and runaway bulls, and dark nights alone. Grandpa's traditional Saturday morning breakfast of fried eggs, toast, and milk. Curling up on Grandpa's lap during Anne of Greene Gables, when Matthew dies, and continuing to curl up on his lap, much to everyone else's chagrin, when I come home for holidays. Road trips, family reunions, driving the lawn mowers and tractors. Walking to the store with Granddaddy for treats, and then on to the park with Grandma.

That particular scene in the book reminded me most poignantly, however, of the last time I was home, and sitting with Grandpa up in the kitchen after Sunday dinner dessert after everyone else went downstairs, and just talking about life - and his reminders that it's not important when you get married, or who the person is, as long as you love each other and the Lord. His encouragement to have patience, and love each other and learn to compromise, and to understand the reality that marriage is work - but it is so worth it. How I wish I had had a tape recorder, or at least my journal to take notes before all of that wisdom he quietly imparted started slipping from my own memory.

How blessed I am to have these wise, loving people in my life, who teach me by example to love the Lord and keep His commandments, and to love those around me and be kind and generous to all. How I hope that my own children will have those same influences in their lives.

National Blog Post Month

I read about this on my friend Shari's blog, and I think it's cool. So, while I'm a little slow on the uptake, here we go. The idea is to post once daily during the month of November. My friend has decided to post a list of some things she's thankful for, and I love that idea - the perfect way to prepare for Thanksgiving, and the Christmas season, so here's a quick blog-barf to get myself caught up...

November 1 - On this day I remember being particularly grateful for the sense of peace and contentment I am currently experiencing in my life.

November 2 - I am thankful for an awesome, supportive family

November 3 - I am thankful for the hilarious letter from my missionary brother, and for hearing that one of my best friends, Jill, is engaged!

November 4 - I am thankful that I survived my LONG meeting today, and still managed to get a lot accomplished today.