Breathing

Sometimes it is just enough to be thankful for the ability to breath on my own.

Borrowing

Have you ever thought how much better life is because other people let us borrow their stuff?  I think this is such a great thing.  Being able to have the use of something you only need temporarily.  I think it all evens out in the end because we all have something we own that we use all the time that can be easily loaned out.  And, we all have stuff we don't own that we only need to use once in a blue moon.  Handy I tell you - handy.  And whoever came up with the idea of a whole institution that revolves around borrowing a book - genius!

Writing it Down

Really thankful to be able to write stuff down.  Whether it is a list to accomplish things or a journal to sort things out.  A letter to a loved one. Lyrics to a song. Letters to the editor. A thank you note. A poem that makes you think. There is a certain sense of power in the written word.  It records history and reconstructs memories. It immortalizes the common man.  But only if we remember to write it down.

Change of Heart

It gives me hope to see how people can change.  For the better.  To experience things and witness things, and let them change our hearts is always a good thing.  To take the time to empathize with others and try to understand their perspective helps us gain compassion and restrain judgement.  I continually learn not to assume that someone's viewpoint is so set in stone that it cannot be softened.  I think that is why God gives us each personal struggles so that we feel the need to reach out to others that struggle as well.  It keeps us from being so quick to say "that is about them, not me."  Because as we all know "There but for the Grace of God, go I."

Time with Luke

It isn't very often I get to have one on one time with Luke.  I got to spend quite a bit of time with him today - especially in the car.  I really enjoy just talking to him and having him tell me stuff about his week and things that are going on.  He really is a pretty amazing and awesome person.  I am so thankful to be his mom.

April 25 - Educated Girls

I went and watched the movie Girl Rising with Hannah.  It is a documentary about several different girls around the world and their struggles in the cultures and poverty they live in. It tells stories of amazing bravery and determination to overcome.  It tells of abuse on many levels. The one thing that has proven to break the cycle and change the future of these girls and their families is for them to get an education.  I am so thankful that we live in a country that values educating not only boys but girls as well no matter the economical situation.

Lunch with Friends

Love having the twice yearly lunch with my friend Tanya.  For years we have taken each other out to lunch for our birthday.  Over the years it has been great because it is one of the only times in our schedules that we actually talk to each other in person.

April 23 - Little Old Ladies

I really love little old ladies.  I hope to someday be a little old lady.  I love the ones that are spunky and fun and have that little all knowing twinkle in their eye.  I think they have earned that twinkle and we need to all appreciate what they have to teach us and spend more time with a little old lady you may know.

Earth

Today on Earth Day I am reminded of how thankful I am for the earth I live on.  The beautiful things I see, hear, smell, touch and taste everyday that come from nature.  I try to do my part each day to leave it a little better than I found it. I hope I am teaching my children to do the same.

Doing Nothing

I don't know what this thing called being bored is.  I love having a whole day of doing nothing.  It is so relaxing.  As long as I don't think of what I have to do tomorrow anyway.

Able to Keep Up With Busy

So thankful today for a body that makes it possible to keep up with a crazy schedule on days like today.  I know many people have physical challenges that affect the simplest things that they need to do each day.  I try to be aware of how blessed I am that other than some annoying signs of aging that are creeping in, my body is holding it all together.

Reruns

I love getting to watch reruns.  Whether they are a few weeks old, a few years old or a couple decades old.  Oddly though when it comes to my favorite shows that I usually miss, when I do get a chance to catch a rerun, it seems to always be the same one.

April 18 - Movies That Give You Hope

I love watching the type of movie that reminds me of the goodness in people and that it only takes a few people to begin to make a difference.  I went and saw the movie "42" last night.  Hannah's history teacher for the second time this year (first was for the movie "Lincoln") has offered to pay for his students to see a movie he has felt helps them better understand some of the history of our country. Luke and I had been wanting to see this movie anyway so we went as well.  It only takes one person's courage to begin a change for the better.

Good Days

Today I am really thankful for good days.  Enough said.

Heart to Heart

I love being able to have a good heart to heart with my kids.  I love that they feel comfortable enough to talk to me about just about anything.  I am not delusional.  I know they talk to their friends about things they don't talk to me about.  I am not so old to forget how that works.  But, I am so so thankful for the things we do talk about.

Taking Little Bites

I am so thankful that I don't have to deal with everything all at once.  So grateful for the opportunity to take things one day at a time.  Sometimes just getting through the day can be a concentrated effort.  But, I know that each new day brings new possibilities and blessings.

Good Friends for my Children

I am so thankful for the friends that my children have had in their lives.  They have some really great ones.  It makes this whole growing up and being a teenager so much easier when you have someone to trudge through it with you.  I know.  Been there.  Done that.

April 13 - Chauffeur

I really don't mind being the driver for my kids.  I enjoy giving not only them, but their friends rides as well.  It gives me a little extra time when they are not distracted by other things to talk to as I drive.  It also gives me more of an idea what their friends are like as I listen to them all talk to each other in the car.  I am really going to miss this someday.

April 12- Nieces and Nephews

I love being an aunt - I really do.  Especially to my sisters' children.  I love being the aunt that is a little on the edge - even though most of them aren't old enough yet to fully appreciate that yet.

April 11 - Going Home

I just never get tired of going home to visit.  I had a good childhood and am proud of how and where I grew up.  I love that all of my sisters still live there making it easy to see all of them often.  I love seeing what has changed and what hasn't over the years.  Even more interesting is seeing who has changed and who hasn't.  It is so strange to see people and have them know exactly who you are but not be able to recognize them.

Heat

Nothing makes me appreciate heat more than being cold.  Tonight my hands are still thawing out from sitting at the first baseball game of the season with a cold nasty wind blowing.  I am looking forward to getting on my pajamas and my fuzzy socks and crawling into my warm toasty bed.  The only thing missing is my electric blanket - which I gave up for marriage.

Fresh Fruit

I think living where I have all my life has made me really appreciate fresh fruit.  Especially berries. We can devour pounds of berries in a day at our house when I do bring them home.  I decided long ago I could easily live on chocolate, cheese, bread and fresh fruit (as long as it isn't part of the melon family) and be a happy camper.

Just to be Breathing

Some days it is just enough to be thankful to be breathing.  To inhale deep and slow and just be fully engaged in being alive.

Surrounded by Art

I love that I have a daughter that fills our home with art.  Finished and in progress.  This is Hannah working on the official prom picture backdrop canvas she was asked to do.  In our living room of course.

Answers

Until today, I have never approached General Conference with a deep desire to have questions answered.  I have never had the need to be reassured or comforted or given hope. In the past I may have noticed a theme, or a repeated message but nothing that I needed to know or understand on a very personal level.  Today I needed that.  Today I was blessed to get that.

Prayer - You Can Do It Anywhere

Thankful for the gift that prayer is to me.  I am able to speak to my Heavenly Father anywhere, anytime, and about anything.  It has always been a great comfort.

Teachers

So thankful for teachers that go above and beyond.  Thankful that I am not the one trying to teach my children all of the subjects that I struggled through.  I think teachers should be paid better.  But then again what kind of teachers would we get if they were just in it for the "big bucks"?

Support Systems

I am so thankful for support systems.  Whether it be family or friends or professionals that have studied how to help with certain issues.  I can't imagine going through this life dealing with the things we do without others to lean on.  I know that is part of the reason we each have trials is to make us more empathetic with others as they go through their own trials.  I also am glad that my Heavenly Father is part of my support system and gives me trials that  help me be a support system for others as well.

My Double

I am so thankful today for someone that has become a much closer friend in the last couple years.  This friendship means so much to me.  It is nice to know I have a backup.  And she is even named Jeanette : )

No April Fools - I Love my children

I didn't post this yesterday but wanted to make sure I kept up on my daily gratitude.  Yesterday was a rough day but I ended it very, very, aware of how thankful I am for my children and how much I love them.