Thankful 11-20

• 11/20 - Rest.
• 11/19 - Brainless (yet still entertaining) entertainment.
• 11/18 - Nights out
• 11/17 - Washer and Dryer
• 11/16 - I get paid to do something I enjoy.
• 11/15 - The girlie sleeping for 14 hours. She needed it.
• 11/14 - Yummy breakfast.
• 11/13 - Naps
• 11/12 - The end of soccer season.
• 11/11 - Those who fight for my freedoms.

Thankful 1-10

• 11/10 - Having nowhere to be and no school tomorrow.
• 11/9 - My calling. It helps me to stretch outside my comfort zone.
• 11/8 - That my kids have great friends.
• 11/7 - Bedtime.
• 11/6 - Quiet Sunday afternoons.
• 11/5 - Warm Socks.
• 11/4 - Spontanious shopping trips.
• 11/3 - The wonderful people who make up our "hearing loss support system".
• 11/2- An easy to please family.
• 11/1- Clean clothes to wear.

Thankful 2010 - Part 6.1

• 12/31 - A great end to a great year. It was a pretty crazy year, and it had a few rough spots, but the good (as always) outweighed the bad, and I am looking forward with hope of better things to come in 2011. I am extremely humbled and grateful for the enormity of my blessings. I have so much!
• 12/30 - Jump planet! Never fails to burn off pent up energy.
• 12/29 - Snow days that make for a lazy stay at home (and not do much at all) day.
• 12/28 - Being able to teach again. I love having music as a part of my life again.
• 12/27 - The way something simple like lunch at Red Robin, can make my kids so excited.
• 12/26 - The joyful feeling associated with Christmas, and the reason we celebrate.
• 12/25 - My beautiful family. And the chance to celebrate the birth of our Savior with them.
• 12/24 - I know I've used this one a lot, but I can't emphasize how thankful I am for all of the great friends that we have made that make it so much easier to be far from family.
• 12/23 - My Husband who always manages to win brownie points right when their value is at it's peak.
• 12/22 - My Dad!
• 12/21 - Facebook birthday wishers. It's amazing how such a silly little thing can brighten your day.(and yes, I am old now)

Thankful 2010 - Part 5

• 12/20 - The little things, like errands that don't take as long as I thought they would.
• 12/19 - People who are kind.
• 12/18 - Reading Stories with the Boys.
• 12/17 - The Ability to Help in My Son's Classroom.
• 12/16 - Great Piano Students
• 12/15 - My Mom
• 12/14 - A Productive Day
• 12/13 - A Living Prophet
• 12/12 - The blessings of paying Tithing.
• 12/11 - Sales!

Thankful 2010 - Part 4

• 12/10 - A great ward.
• 12/9 - An Offer on our House!
• 12/8 - A fun night with my Beehives.
• 12/7 - Relief Society Activities Where I come home with More than I left with.
• 12/6 - TV - Sometimes you just need to Veg.
• 12/5 - Nursery
• 12/4 - My Family
• 12/3 - Kids who Don't hate me for serving Pizza two nights in a row.
• 12/2 - My Christmas Piano Recital Running Smoothly.
• 12/1 - A Husband who is Always willing to Help Out.

Thankful 2010 - Part 3

• 11/30 - Thoughtful People. - We are truly Blessed.
  
• 11/29 - Routine. - It feels so good to go back to normal life. I love the break, but it makes me remember that I like the structure too.
  
• 11/28 - Peace.
• 11/27 - Order.
• 11/26 - The Ability to Provide Christmas gifts for my Kids. - I always find it humbling to be able to go out and buy presents for them.
  
• 11/25 - Family Who was willing to brave the Elements to Spend Thanksgiving with Us. And a pharmacy, and walk-in clinic open on Thanksgiving. - Buggy had nasty infection in his jaw, and I was grateful not to have to take him to the ER.
  
• 11/24 - Good Friends, and Date Night - We have really awesome neighbors who let our house full of people invade while someone came to look at our house. Also, got to go to Forgotten Carols with my Sister and Brother-in-law. Fun night.
  
• 11/23 - 4 Wheel Drive - Snow in Seattle. 'Nuff Said.
  
• 11/22 - School! - I forget how much I appreciate it until I have them home sick for a few days, and then get to send them back.
  
• 11/21 - A Full Freezer and a Husband that Can Cook

Thankful 2010 - Part 2

• 11/20 - Quality Time With My Sewing Machine.
• 11/19 - The Ability to Be At Home With My Kids - Especially when they are sick. I'm really lucky to be able to take care of them. Even, when they drive me nuts.
  
• 11/18 - Doctors and Good Insurance
• 11/17 - A Handy Husband - I show him an idea, and cut the wood, and he has it put together in an evening.
  
• 11/16 - Projects Checked off My List - 3 Pairs of Christmas Jammies. Check!
  
• 11/15 - Good Friends
• 11/14 - Christmas Music
• 11/13 - Good Mexican Food. My life would be incomplete without it.
• 11/12 - The availability of a great hearing loss school for my daughter.
• 11/11 - Those who fight so I can be free.

Thankful 2010 - Part I

• 11/10 - A sense of humor. I love laughing, and things that make me laugh. (we rented the movie Grown-Ups. I giggled through pretty much the entire thing)
  
• 11/9 - Technology that allows us to talk, with video, to my parents who are literally half-way around the world.
• 11/8 - A charmer of a daughter who makes me smile - a lot. (It gets her out of heaps of trouble)
  
• 11/7 - A new clutch in my husband's car. Even if it cost more than we planned, the car will run well again for a little bit longer now.
• 11/6 - Getting to spend the afternoon and evening hanging out in the kitchen with my family, canning applesauce. Also, making some serious craft project progress.
• 11/5 - The chance to have breakfast with a friend.
• 11/4 - Good friends who offer help that makes my life easier. (I did not want to drive 30 miles late at night to take my husband's car to "the shop")
  
• 11/3 - The good feeling I get when I work out.
• 11/2 - Being able to live so close to a Temple (and babysitters who allow us to attend)
  
• 11/1 - A King size capacity washing machine. (because we had an all night mega-puker)
  

Today I'm Thankful For... 2010

Good Grief!! Is it seriously November again? For real? Okay, I'm really stuck back in like August, or maybe September. It's not supposed to be November already in my world.

No, I don't have all (or really any) of my Christmas shopping done. I haven't even pulled the Christmas music out (yep, I'm one of those people) A few years ago, this wouldn't have been me at all. I guess that is what three kids, and a crazy life does for you.

Not complaining though, just reflecting on the fact that I have changed a little. Hopefully in some good ways too... Anyway -

One thing that hasn't changed yet is my "Thankful" series (found here and here).

It's taken me a few days to get it up and running, but you will find the current entries on my right-hand sidebar - and a post with them every 10 days from now until the end of the year.

It seems to me like there has been a lot of talk about gratitude lately, (I'm sure it's the time of the year) but its always a good reminder for me to go back and see how many good things I have in my life. It makes the crappy things seem a lot more bearable.

So feel free to join me - just blog about something you're thankful for everyday from now until the end of the year. (Be sure to leave me a comment to so I can follow along!) Have a great day.

Thankful - Part 6 (The Finale)

• 12/31 - All of my many many blessings. They are innumerable.
• 12/30 - Jump Planet! and more family time.
• 12/29 - Getting some quality "wii" time with my husband, and some friends.
• 12/28 - Family time.
• 12/27 - Good leftovers, and not having to cook.
• 12/26 - Sunny, mid-50's weather in mid-December, allowing me to send my children and husband outside.
• 12/25 - The celebration of the birth of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
• 12/24 - My abundance of blessings.
• 12/23 - being surrounded by really wonderful people, who are so good to me and my family.
• 12/22 - The people at Costco being really nice about my son setting off their alarm.
• 12/21 - Another year of life.

Thankful - Part 5

• 12/20 - Beautiful Music
• 12/19 - Good Friends.
• 12/18 - A Loving Family.
• 12/17 - An afternoon nap.
• 12/16 - Health insurance.
• 12/15 - Quiet. Blissful Quiet.
• 12/14 - My bestfriendfromforever Lisa. Today is her birthday.
• 12/13 - The added strength I get when I have to teach.
• 12/12 - Breakfast food.
• 12/11 - Living in a really great ward.

Thankful - Part 4

• 12/10 - Girl's Night Out.
• 12/9 - My fun YW girls. Their energy is contagious and I love being around them.
• 12/8 - Ibuprofin
• 12/7 - The fact that I am able to stay home with my kids.
• 12/6 - Good friends who offer service, just to be nice.
• 12/5 - The Temple.
• 12/4 - Lunch at Red Robin - it was yummy, and I didn't have to cook.
• 12/3 - Playdates
• 12/2 - The Aggie win over BYU that left my husband in a really good mood.
• 12/1 - Pretty Christmas lights.

Thankful - Part 3

• 11/30 - My boys (who informed me this morning that they are thankful for burping), and a "girls day out".
• 11/29 - Audiobooks/podcasts that allow me to listen to what I want to be reading, and still do what I need to around the house.
• 11/28 - Peace and quiet (although we loved having so much company). Doughnuts.
• 11/27 - Sleeping in. Access to a hotel with a swimming pool.
• 11/26 - A wonderful family and good friends to spend the day with. Stellar food (thanks Babe - you rock). And a full house for the holiday.
• 11/25 - Laughter
• 11/24 - My sewing machine, and a list of finished projects.
• 11/23 - The ability to go grocery shopping.
• 11/22 - A warm home.
• 11/21 - My Husband. I love him lots, even when he drives me crazy.

Thankful - Part 2

• 11/20 - My sweet baby girl.
• 11/19 - Being able to relax.
• 11/18 - Coming home to 3 sleeping Kids. Thanks Babe!
• 11/17 - Cold Stone Ice Cream.
• 11/16 - Nights when I don't have to make dinner, and fun FHE activities.
• 11/15 - My testimony.
• 11/14 - Beefy telling me: "need candy to feel me better". It made me smile, and I am very thankful for things that make me smile.
• 11/13 - Date Night!
• 11/12 - Little moments of "Happy" with the kiddos.
• 11/11 - A positive hearing test visit.

Thankful - Part 1

• 11/10 - My cute kids. Life would be empty and too quiet without them.
• 11/9 - A (mostly) good night's sleep, and the energy that comes with it.
• 11/8 - A husband who cooks.
• 11/7 - Christmas Music.
• 11/6 - One on One time with Beefy.
• 11/5 - Friends and family who put up with my moments of crazy.
• 11/4 - Plastic bumpers on my car.
• 11/3 - Help. And, hearing my 3-year-old's bedtime prayers.
• 11/2 - The satisfaction that comes with a completed "to do" list.
• 11/1 - A clean house at the end of the day - too bad it won't make it through tomorrow.

It's That Time of Year Again!

Some of you may remember my "thankful" resolve from last year. If not, your memory can be refreshed here. Anyway, I'm going to do it again, only start from the 1st of November. Each day something new will show up on my sidebar, and then, every 10 days I'll put them in a post. Enjoy!

This Kid

My Mom called me on Monday of this week, because it was Labor day, and she was thinking of what they were doing last year at labor day (namely, rushing to Seattle to help us out after Beefy's accident). Labor day was earlier last year (September 1st). She asked if I remembered that it was a year ago...of course I remembered.

It was actually 1 year on August 31st. I thought about it a lot on that day, and the day before, and many of the days after. In fact, its been on my mind pretty much constantly for the last two weeks.

All I can say is how grateful I am to have this little guy.

Today I am Thankful For.... The "Finish Up" Edition

• 12/31 - My Family.
• 12/30 - A good Temple trip.
• 12/29 - Being able to accomplish goals.
• 12/28 - Quiet time. It's my favorite part of Sunday afternoons, and we got lots of it today.

Thanks for letting me share a few things that I am thankful for.

Today I am Thankful for... The Third 10 days

• 12/27 - Warmer weather that is making the snow melt.
• 12/26 - Getting a long, hot shower - with no helpers.
• 12/25 - Friends who make it easier to be away from family.
• 12/24 - A Savior who knows me.
• 12/23 - The magical bribing power of Costco hot dogs. (now lets just hope we can make it there today)
• 12/22 - Another good ultrasound, and that fact that it is still a girl. (I have this irrational fear that it is going to change)
• 12/21 - Birthdays. As much as I don't like them, its good to know that I still get one every year.
• 12/20 - Lowering gas prices. It now costs less than $35 to fill my car. Six months ago, it cost $80.
• 12/19 - A four wheel drive vehicle, and the key that goes with it.
• 12/18 - A fun (albeit slightly chaotic) preschool Christmas party - and that everyone made it home safe in the snow.

My Key Story

The boys and I went to a performance of the Nutcracker today. It was really fun, and short - a perk for little kids. The boys did great, and the sun came out enough that the roads weren't too treacherous, although I am still grateful that I have 4WD.

As I was getting ready to madly rush out the door this morning, yes - I was running late, as usual. I went to pull my keys out and realized that my car key (the most important one on the ring at the moment) was missing. Trying to to panic too much, I reasoned that it had to be here somewhere, ran and got my husband's key (luckily he stayed home from work today) and promised myself I would look for it when we got home.

I can't let things go that easily though, so I panicked a little, and thought about it as I was driving, and then rethought everywhere I went yesterday to think of where it could be, and called my husband and told him to look in those places. The only spot he hadn't got to was out in the yard. I walked to the mailbox in the snow yesterday, and slipped once (don't worry, it wasn't a hard fall, our yard is on a hill). In that fall, I dropped the keys and the only reasoning I could think of is that it had fallen off then.

Well, when I get home I go outside (like I said, I have a hard time letting things go) and start retracing my tracks to the mailbox. I don't see it laying obviously on the snow, but as I am walking I see a tiny hole in the snow and think, "Hmmm... Just maybe". As I reach down, and start digging down into the snow and grass, I find the key.

I was astounded. It really is a huge blessing that I was able to find it (it was buried pretty deep) and even more so that it still works (and that I was able to know right where it was so quickly). It's one of those fancy keys that has the lock/unlock and panic buttons all right on the key - they are really expensive to replace, just what we don't need right now. Anyway, I am thankful for small blessings today, and that even prayers about lost keys are heard and answered.