Day 58

I am thankful for antibiotic ointments that will kill the bacteria in any cut and skin infection.  I don't know how people did it before this was discovered.  Alcohol and Hydrogen Peroxide just don't seem to cut it quite to the extent that this stuff does.

I am thankful for renters insurance.  What a relief it is to know that if there is any fire, theft, or even flood my stuff can be replaced without too much inconvenience.

I am thankful for glue.  Isn't it amazing how much glue is involved in our lives.  We often don't think too much about it until we need it.

I am thankful for batteries.  We depend on them daily.  Nearly everything has a battery.  I walked out into my living room this morning and my clock had died.  What a pain it is to look at the clock and think is that the right time?

I am thankful for clocks.  All of our lives are run by the ticking of a clock in one form or another.  It is a comfort to know that the time is right for all things.  Time is truly the essence of our lives.  It is all that we have when we are born and all that we lose when we die.  

Day 57

I am thankful for the discovery of polenta to my kitchen repertoire.  I didn't realize how filling and versatile this dish could be.  Whether it is for Italian dishes or Mexican  it is amazing.

I am thankful for the facts about nutrition that I have been learning lately.  I have noticed a difference in my health and welfare by cutting out a lot of the servings of the meat that I was eating and increasing my good carbs and vegetables.  In time I hope to see if it will help me run better.

I am thankful for the burst of energy that I find myself with on a daily basis that I get from running.   Exercise used to wear me out.  But when I have changed my diet I feel so much better.

I am thankful for my new work out pants.  I know that with these pants I will run a thousand miles in them.  I am so happy to have started my new life.

I am thankful for pixie haircuts.  It makes my life so much easier now that my hair is so much easier to do.

Day 56

Today I am thankful for bathroom stalls.  I will let you imagine why.

I am thankful for the safe driving of other drivers.  When we all follow the rules of the road it sure makes life a lot easier.

I am thankful for the new breathing device that helps me inhale my albuterol even better.

I am thankful for the Mentalist.  I know that is strange but it is such a fun show to watch.

I am thankful for school buses and the contributions that they make for society.

Day 55

Today I am thankful for snow plows and the people who drive them.  With bad roads I am thankful that they are out to try and keep the roads safe for everyone to drive.

I am thankful for rear defrost stripes that work so well to heat up my rear window.  I don't have a brush for my new car yet and I am thankful that I didn't have to worry about scraping off the snow off of the back.

I am thankful for Thomas Eddison and the many contributions that his ideas and inventions have really changed society for the better in so many ways.  What would our lives be like today if he had never followed his ideas?  I hope that someday I can leave the world a better place because I was here.

I am thankful for the freelance jobs that have come Ryan's way over the past couple of weeks.  They have helped to boost Ryan's belief in his design talent.

I am thankful for garden burgers.  I am trying to eat a few more vegetables and not so much meat in my diet.  Garden burgers help me do just that.  I went to Red Robin and I had a great burger tonight and I didn't have anything that was deep fried nor did I have any meat.  I feel full but not over done.

Day 54

Today I am thankful for tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches.  These two things are one of life's simple pleasures.  A cold and difficult day calls for such a good thing.

I am thankful for cold mornings.  It helps me enjoy a good run even among the trials of achieving my goals.

I am thankful for concrete.  So much in our life depends on concrete.  From pipes to homes to even our cars everything in our society depends on concrete.  What a blessing it is to have it in our lives.

I am thankful for tv trays.  Such a small table that does so much.

I am thankful for trials.  They always provide good opportunities to grow mentally and emotionally.  Trials are often blessings in disguise.

I am thankful for second chances of life and love.  Life is all about not giving up and moving forward.  Second chances are what it is all about.

Day 53

I am thankful for windows.  Not the operating system that you use on your computer.  But the real windows that you can look out of into the world.  Just imagine how dark our lives would be if we didn't have windows to see out of when we had to be inside.

I am thankful for psychologists who can help us work through our troubled minds.  Mental illness is such a horrible thing to live with.  The phrase that it is all in your head is so true here.  Sometimes the worst illnesses are the ones that we can't see or feel from the outside.  Mental illness is taken so lightly that it is often joked about.  When was the last time someone made a joke about cancer of any kind or even any physical ailment.  Yet, mental illness is laughed about all of the time.  I am thankful for those who have trained to help those people through those illnesses.

I am thankful for tires.  I would hate to drive the 20 minute drive that I drive each day with wooden wheels.  Driving 60 + miles an hour on wooden wheels wouldn't quite get me to work safely in one piece.

I am thankful written word. Our lives revolve around writing.  Every culture has some kind of written language.  What a blessing it is to communicate in this way.

I am thankful for service of others.  We all depend on others to help us whether we want to admit it or not.  I am so thankful for those who take time out of their busy day to help me in one small way or another.

Day 52

Today I am thankful for the 18 wheelers that bring supplies to our area.  Just think how our nation would be affected if all of the truckers stopped doing their job.  They are people that we take for granted on a daily basis and I am so thankful for all that they do and sacrifice so I can have the supplies that I need to get by day to day.

I am thankful for gas pumps.  I am so thankful that I don't have to go out and dump gallons upon gallons into my car by hand.  Gas pumps make that all possible.

I am thankful for electric razors that shave Ryan's hair and saves us so much money.  What a blessing it is to save $120/year because Ryan shaves his head at home.

I am thankful for the pigs that have laid down their lives so that I might enjoy a pork chop meal.  Animals do so much for us and I am so grateful for all that they do for me.

I am thankful for my inhaler.  I hope I will never have an asthma attach again.

Day 51

I am thankful for mouth wash.  When you have bad breath for one reason or another we always reach for the mouth wash to take care of it.

I am thankful for the ability to stand back and laugh at myself sometimes.  This evening our friend Geniel came over to be with us.  We had dinner and watched a couple of movies and then I went to take Geniel home.  When I walked out of the complex I couldn't find the car.  I walked all over our complex parking lot and couldn't see it.  I was all in a panic and came rushing in to tell Ryan that our brand new car had been stolen.  Ryan informed me that he had locked it and that it should be parked out there.  I walked out and went to where he told me to.  I began to laugh.  I had walked right passed it more than once.

I am thankful for vacuums.  I would hate to take up all of this carpet once a week and then go out and have to beat it over a line.  What a pain that would be.

I am thankful for my new running shoes.  They make running and walking so much easier.  I haven't quite broken them in yet, but I hope to start soon as I begin my new training program for the marathon that I will be running in.

I am thankful for online banking.  It makes keeping up with finances a lot easier because I can see what has posted on a daily basis verses having to wait a whole month.

Day 50

I am thankful for board games.  They are such a good time to get to know friends and family members.  Good times can be had with some popcorn and a board game.  I dare you to not have a great time with a board game.  It just isn't possible.

I am thankful for doctors who study hard and really understand their stuff.  Without their knowledge and understanding of the human body few of us would really be alive today.

I am thankful modern medicine.  A hundred years ago if you got tuberculosis you were considered terminal.  If you had cancer, the flu or other serious illness you were in grave danger of dying.  Thanks to those who have dedicated their lives to understanding pathogens many of these diseases are treatable or nearly eradicated.

I am thankful for text messaging.  Sometimes that is the only way that Ryan and I can keep in touch. because he works nights and I work days we are like ships in the night and we rarely get to see each other.  I am thankful that we can at least do some form of communication.

I am thankful for oatmeal.  Most people don't like oatmeal.  I love it.  I eat it all of the time.  I love to put raisins, cinnamon, and brown sugar with it.  So good.  And when there isn't much else to eat in the house my pa and I will sit down to a bowl of oatmeal and fill ourselves up with this good stuff.

Day 49

I am grateful for a refrigerator.  I don't think that ice houses would be my cup of tea.  Having to go out every winter to a lake and chop up ice blocks and then having to haul them back home and then stack them just so so that they would last throughout the rest of the year is not my idea of fun.  I can walk into my kitchen open up the door find what I am looking for and then shut the door.  The only thing I have to worry about is whether or not I have paid the power bill so that things stay cold.

I am thankful for fans.  Whenever I get hot either at home or work I can reach over and turn the fan on.  That is such a relief to a hot body.

I am thankful for fingernail clippers.  I don't know how our ancestors did it when they needed to cut their nails.  I guess they used a knife.  I don't do well with that kind of cutting.  I am afraid that I would cut the ends of my fingers off.  

I am thankful encouragement from my running partner.  She is amazing.  She is always reminding me that I can do anything.   I hope that I can justify her faith in me someday.

I am thankful for insurance for my car and apartment.  What a blessing to know that if something ever happens to my cars or home that I am covered and that I will never have to worry about replacing my stuff.    

Day 48

I am thankful for hoodies.  I love having a combination sweatshirt and jacket that has a hood.  Nothing better for a cold winter morning that a hoodie to keep my ears and head warm.

I am thankful for ponytail holders.  I hate my hair being in my eyes.  I love being able to pull back my hair out of my eyes to make it easier for me to see.

I am so thankful for the support I have found in my new adventure of running.  You know who you are.  Without your support I wouldn't know what to do or where to start or what to do or even answers to all of my questions.

I am thankful for seeds.  Look at how much of our life depends on a seed.   Our food, clothing, even our homes depend on seeds.  What miracle workers they are.  Something so small becomes something so grand.

I am thankful for plastic.  I know that it isn't environmentally safe.  but look at how much of our lives depend on this material.  More than anyone of us really wants to admit to.

Day 47

I am so thankful for sacrament meeting.  I love partaking of the Sacrament and renewing my covenants with my Heavenly Father.  I love listening to the speakers.  I even love it more when I feel the Spirit of God there testifying of the truths being taught.

I am so thankful for income tax return.  I will be able to pay off a few bills and pay 6 months worth of my insurance.   That in and of itself is a huge blessing.  I really don't like being in debt.  Income tax return is a way to try to get a head somewhat.

I am thankful for the chance to redo my personal progress.  Personal Progress is a program for Young Women to help them grow their testimonies of the Savior and gain a better understanding of who they are and where they are going in life.  When I was a teenager I had a chance to do this for myself but I never took full advantage of it.  As part of the Young Women presidency I finally have a chance to do it again.  This time it is so different and a whole lot more work then when I was a teenager.

I am thankful for gas caps.  Silly I know but if you stop and think about it we would be in a world of hurt if our cars didn't have caps for the gas tanks.  We would run out of gas a whole lot faster.

I am thankful for jars.  A lot of our food comes in a jar.  Imagine what it would be like if we didn't have jars to put our food in.

Day 46

Today I am thankful for The Muppets.  I can never watch them without it bringing a smile to my face.  Ryan and I went to the new Muppet movie tonight.  I felt like a kid again watching that movie.  It was such a great feeling.

I am thankful for dollar movies.  I don't normally go to new releases.  I always wait until it comes to the dollar theater and then go watch it.  I save so much money that way.  Sometimes I can see a show for $.75.  When I can I make it a double feature.

I am thankful for fabric softener.  I hate static cling on my clothes.

I am thankful for lunch containers.  It sure makes life so much easier when you have something to carry your lunch in.

I am thankful for safety razors.  I would never be good with a straight edge razor.  I am afraid I would cut someone's throat or cut my legs off.  God bless the person who invented the razor that we enjoy today.

Day 45

Today I am thankful for the chance to help a friend today in a tight situation.  What a blessing it is to pay it forward for all of those times that someone has helped us.

I am also thankful for pad thai.  I have a new favorite kind of food.

I am thankful for good times with family.  Those small moments are what brings us together.

I am thankful for those rare quiet moments where I can turn off the tv and have no other distractions for a few moments of quiet times just being alone.

I am thankful for "Common Sense".  Because of that pamphlet I enjoy living in this great country of ours.  Sadly the author of this book is almost forgotten by our present generations.

Day 44

I am grateful for embarrassing moments in life.  They always make me laugh at myself and I even learn something about myself in the process.

I am thankful for my husband's journal entries that he wrote while we were dating.  They reminded me of just how much Ryan and I love each other.  Those entries even kindled some of the romance that had been missing in our marriage.

I am thankful for postage stamps.  Before they were invented people would send letters and the postage would have to been paid by the receiver.  Luckily the sender now pays the postage and makes mailing important documents and other things much more convient when there are a book of stamps near by.

I am thankful for the sacrifice that President Obama makes for this country.  I honestly don't agree with his politics, but I admire him for the things that he has sacrificed to try to lead this country.

I am thankful for my IRA.  If I stay with Wells Fargo in one capacity or another I will retire with a nice pension at the age of 65.  It sure brings peace of mind to know that there is a nest egg established for our retirement.

Day 43

I am thankful for the ball and socket that creates my shoulder joint.  Just think of all that can be accomplished by this simple and flexible movement.  I shudder to think of how well my arm and shoulder would function without this kind of joint.

I am thankful for dressers.  I hate piling my stuff in random places. Dressers keep everything nice and neat for the most part.  The top of mine is acting like a catch all at the moment.  I hope that tomorrow night I will have enough energy to come in my room and clean it until it shines.

I am thankful for the support of friends and family when it comes to the big decision that I have made.  I have set another goal for myself to run in the Top of Utah Marathon on September 15, 2012.  You have no idea how big of a decision this is.  I weight 300 lbs. (that is no exaggeration), I have asthma, and I hate to exercise.   There you have it true confessions. But I have this crazy dream to run in this marathon.  I have been wanting to do it for the past 4 years.  I am trying to get my personal progress in order and this marathon seems like a very big, but achievable, goal.     I am going to break it down into smaller goals.  Smaller goal number one see doctor about asthma and exercise.  Smaller goal number two get good pair of running shoes.  Smaller goal number three go running everyday. Smaller goal number four train for a 5k and go from there.  Oh I forgot to mention that one of my young women, Lauren, is going to be my brave marathon partner.  I have so much respect for her.  She is only 13 and doesn't quite understand what she is getting into.  Another good motivation to get going.  To set an example for this girl and achieve this goal with her.

I am thankful for The Cranberries.  I confess I still like them.  I have had "Dreams" stuck in my head all day today.  Last time this happened to another song I played it 5 times a day and Ryan was about to ready to kill me because I sang and played it so much.  Look out honey!!! I have a new one in my head that reminds me of you.

I am thankful for a printer that works.  I had to print out a lot of paperwork this week and we were out of ink.  Pa was kind enough to donate some ink to our cause.  What a blessing to be able to print stuff out.

Day 42

I am thankful for mashed potatoes.  I don't know who it was that thought about cutting potatoes and boiling the heck out of them and then mashing them all together, but God bless the person that did.  They sure are heavenly.

I am thankful for a sense of humor.  Granted my sense of humor is a little different from everyone else's, but it helps me make it through those tough days.

I am thankful for laughter.  Laughter is more contagious than a common cold.  I dare you to start laughing in a room full of people and not have them laughing along with you with in a few minutes.  Laughter is the best medicine for whatever ails you.

I am thankful for my surround sound system.  It makes listening to music so much better.  This morning I was listening to my favorite Kenny G CD.  It sounded just like he was having a concert in my living room.

I am thankful for my kettle.  It is a combination deep fryer, steamer, stock pot, and crock pot all rolled into one.  It is amazing.  I made minestrone soup in it today and took it to work and was able to keep it warm all in the same pot.  I have even used it to make popcorn from time to time.  It is amazing.

Day 41

Today I am thankful for my wedding ring.   I have been wearing it for 9 years.  My husband gave it to me as an engagement ring.  It had been in his family for 2 generations.   Women who have since become beloved by me as much as my own family.  Not only is it priceless as an antique, but it is priceless because of the meaning behind the ring.  The promises of forever that Ryan made me.  He still keeps those promises everyday.  I love spending my life with him.

I am thankful for email.  With Ryan and I working different shifts it is so nice to be able to shoot emails back and forth between each other to keep the lines of communication open.

I am thankful for pots and pans.  It makes life so much easier to cook dinner when I have a pot or pan to do it with.  Granted I hate washing them, but then it only makes life that much more fun.

I am thankful for elevators.  I work in a three story office building.   The stairs are conveniently next to the elevators and the floor plan of both is wide open.  The stairs tend to hurt my knees and irritate my asthma.  I am so grateful that I can take the elevator and get to my work everyday.

I am thankful for dish soap.  I am not sure how they cleaned the dishes when they didn't have that stuff.  It sure makes washing dishes a whole lot easier and more sanitary.
 

Day 40

I am grateful for the principle of patience.  When customers are being rude, or just downright ornery patience is the only thing that gets me through that call.  If I ever lose my patience with a customer it makes the call a lot worse.  I also try to be patient with my husband.  Without patience our marriage would go south really fast.  It is an ongoing thing to try and be patient with him.  But I think I am getting better.  Though he might say otherwise.

I am thankful for radios.  I love to listen to music for just about everything.  Radios provide my much needed fix.

I am thankful fences.  Kind of funny I know.  Fences to protect us from wild animals and they also protect us from being hurt when there is a pool and no adult supervision.  Fences do so much for us.

I am thankful windshield wipers.  I love the rain.  But I really hate it when I can't see out of my windshield.  Wipers come along and suddenly I can see.  I am so glad that I don't have to stop every few miles to wipe off my window so that I can see well enough to drive.

I am thankful for scientists who have made all of the contributions to bring the world to where we are today.  Think about that.  What would the world be like if no one ever took the time think what if...... Those people have been a blessing to our lives.  

Day 39

I am grateful for swings.  When I was a child the swings were one of my favorite things to play on.  Flying up and up seemingly to touch the sky.  What a feeling it is to be able to fly.

I am thankful for hamburgers.  I love a good juicy hamburger.  I got one today that was perfection in itself.  

I am thankful for the peaceful quiet of a small country town.  We went for a ride today to Oakley, UT.  I love going up there.  It kind of reminds me of my home town.

I am grateful for the city.  There are joys that come with living in the city.  Closer everything.  Sometimes though things feel a little too close.  I think that is more that I live in an apartment complex than anything else.

I am thankful for my muscles.  I would never be able to move without the use of these things.  The human body is such a wonder.  There are so many muscles that function to do the smallest tasks.  I know that I take this for granted on a daily basis.  

Day 38

I am thankful for the passage of time.  Time is the miracle worker as well as the curse.  It does always pass.  Today and tomorrow always become yesterday.  That in and of itself is a blessing.

I am thankful for my fingernails.  I shutter to think how I would deal with an itch on my skin if I didn't have nails.

I am thankful for girls nights out.  What a way to relax and chit chat about husbands, children, and other things. I love having associations with good people who we can laugh and share good times with.

I am thankful for Oreo cookies.  Whoever thought to bake chocolate cookies and then put frosting in the middle and make sandwiches out of them was brilliant.  When milk is added then you have a gift from the gods.

I am thankful for kidneys.  What a blessing it is to have them work so well to clean out the toxins in my blood as well as keep my blood pressure regular.  This is one of the many things that I take for granted.

Day 37

I am thankful for imagination.  How much of life is possible because of our ability to imagine things.  What a glorious thing it is to imagine things and then to help them to come to pass.

I am thankful for my heart.  I hope that it will keep on beating for many years to come.

I am thankful for mops with squeezable sponges.  When the toilet flood I at least don't have to wring it out by hand.

I am thankful for stores that are open all night.  When emergencies happen like they did tonight I can run to the store and get what I need.  What a blessing that is.

I am thankful for the ability to breath through a nose that doesn't run every five minutes.  My nose right now is so sore from taking care of it so much.  I hope that I can be over this cold very soon.  

Day 36

I am grateful for garbage dumps.  I know, I keep coming up with strange things.  Think about it though.  It really is true that there is a place for everything.  We are wasteful creatures.  We use something and then throw it out.  When garbage is just left on the street it becomes a breeding ground for disease and other unpleasant things.  What a joy that we live in a time where streets are kept cleaner than they were 200 years ago.

I am thankful for the covenants I have made.  I know that if I try to keep those covenants I will be able to return back to my Heavenly Father.  What a glorious reunion that will be.

I am thankful for games.  Nothing better than to play games, computer or otherwise, to unwind and bond with my family.

I am thankful for the principle of work.  I am not just talking about the 9-5 daily grind of a job, though it is part of it, I am talking about working to maintain our lives and achieve our goals. What a blessing to work for something and then to achieve it.  God did a marvelous thing when He turned Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden. When we work hard for something we always appreciate it more.

I am thankful for the ability to make choices.  Can you imagine what it would be like if we truly didn't have any choices.  If we were made to do everything.  We would never know true happiness because we wouldn't know sadness.  Every choice was already made for us.  You may think "Oh, how much easier life would be then."  Think about it.  Would life be easier?  I don't think so.  Because we wouldn't know easy from hard.  We wouldn't gain any experiences.  All of our choices would be made for us.  You may think "Oh, but there are times when we don't have a choice."  That isn't true.  There is always a choice.  If one would just stop and think there is always a choice.

Day 35

I am thankful for low grade fevers that my body has to rid itself of disease.  If you haven't guessed from my last two posts I have a cold.  It really is a part of life to have an illness.  I am thankful for this opposite of good health.  It helps me really be thankful for the times when I do have good health.  The Chinese have it right in believing in the Yin Yang relationship.  All things in life have an opposite.  It must be this way.

I am thankful for Quicken.  I know. That is strange.  I make my living by people calling me and asking me how to get their Quicken/Quickbooks to work.  I decided that I had to get this program to better understand how it works.  Just using it makes budgeting so much easier.

I am thankful for my Wii.  I like to play video games, but I love to stream movies to my Wii using Netflix.  Its a good sick day activity.

I am thankful for my vacation time as well as my work letting me schedule today off yesterday so that I could take the time to heal.

I am thankful for orange juice.  Who ever thought of squeezing oranges to get juice and then put it in a glass.  I think orange juice is the second drink of the Gods.

Day 34

Today I am thankful for Kleenexes.  I hate using handkerchiefs.  They are so unsanitary.  Plus I hate washing them.  Kleenexes are a one time use and in the garbage it goes.

I am thankful for steam.  Steam can work wonders when there is a stuffy nose and a cold.  Steam always makes me sicker for a while.  I then climb in bed and a few hours later I feel so much better.

I am thankful for my immune system.  Just think what life would be like if we didn't have an immune system.

I am thankful for the woman that Pa met today. I haven't seen him so happy in a very long time.  To watch him be more like his old self again is so priceless to me.

I am thankful for gasoline.  Without it our cars wouldn't be able to go.  Inventors have tried to come up with other options.  Over the years but gasoline has won out.  However electricity is up and coming.   I am just thankful that I don't have to walk to work.

Day 33

Today I am grateful for the Still Small Voice that guides, comforts, and corrects us all if we will but listen. Some people call it conscience.  I call Him the Holy Ghost.  I am working every day to receive Him more in my life.

I am thankful for The Book of Mormon.  What a joy it is to read it and to be washed cleaner everyday because of the examples that are set forth in that holy book.

I am thankful for whitepages.com.  Pa has been wanting to connect with some of his nieces that he hasn't seen in a long time.  I know where one of them is and was able to locate her by this marvelous website.  Need a phone number out of state this website is my best friend.

I am thankful for art.  Art is so subjective in its design and perception of the design.  How we view the world is how we will view the piece of art.  Yet beauty is to be found of some sort in every piece.

I am thankful gumbo!!!! I made some today for Sunday dinner and it was so good.  I have been avoiding it because spicy food and I don't always get along.  But it was so worth it!!!!!

Day 32

I am thankful for cleaning supplies.  Just think what our ancestors did without them.  They had to make their own.  I am thankful that I don't have to make my own supplies and what I have cleans pretty well.  I spent all afternoon putting my kitchen to rights.  It was so messy.

I am thankful for the ways that are available to a man and a woman to express love.  What a sweet thing it is to be with the love of my life every day of my life.

I am thankful for dishwashers.  Washing dishes is not my most favorite thing in the world.  I am ashamed to admit this but I have had the same dirty dishes in my sink for 2 weeks.  Ryan and I have been so busy that they just kept piling up until I couldn't take it any longer.  Dishwashers, when I do wash dishes, make my life so much easier.

I am thankful for cookbooks.  There is so much knowledge out there about different ways to prepare delicious food that it would take a life time to learn it all.   Cookbooks are a great way to learn some of these ways.  They have been a great aid in my journey to be a good housewife.  I love to prepare healthy meals at a low price.  

I am thankful for Bob Hope.  I love his comedic style of movies.  If I am ever feeling down I just watch one of his movies.  I laugh so hard that life doesn't seem so bad any more.  Wish they made more wholesome movies like that.  

Day 31

Today I am thankful for enemies.  We, as Christians, have been counseled by the Greatest One of All to love our enemies and to pray for them that use us.  I have had enemies in the past and in the present.  Mostly they have been members of my own family.  I have found that praying for them and forgiving them many times over helps me be more mentally healthy and happier.  I am thankful for that lesson that I have learned.  (Though it isn't always easy to practice it.)

I am thankful for our hill.  Our hill is a beautiful view of the Salt Lake Valley.  If you take 45th south straight up to the east bench past I-215 you will come to a seminary parking lot.  Pull in there facing west and enjoy the view.  I love going up there with Ryan.  It is a good time for some good chats and fun times.  So many wonderful memories with our hill.

I am thankful for crab legs.  Sweet gold and lots of work but so worth it.  We celebrated that Ryan got a job today.  I ordered crab legs for the first time in many years.  I love them.  I am thankful for the crustacean that gave its life so that I might eat.  

I am thankful for kitchen gadgets.  So many gadgets so little kitchen space.  Someday I will have a huge kitchen with lots of cool gadgets for my kitchen.  Including a pasta maker, professional grade Kitchen Aid, and a professional grade ice cream maker.

I am thankful for knives.  We do so much with knives every day and yet we never pause to wonder what we would do without them.

Day 30

Ryan got hired at Teleproformance today.  I am thankful for that steady job, but most of all I am thankful that his schedule is almost exactly like mine.  We have been blessed the most with this schedule change.  It is so difficult to maintain a marriage when husband and wife work opposite schedules.  This way there will only be a few hours difference and we will have the same days off.  What a blessing that is in the phone world.

I am thankful for ice cubes.  A cold drink is just not the same without them.  I also love to add them to a steaming cup of noodles for my lunch so that I can be done eating sooner.  Nothing feels better on a hot day than to run ice cubes all over the back of my neck.

I am thankful for steel.  Just think what all exists because of the invention of steel.  We take it for granted but there is so much that it does for us.  When was the last time that you looked up at the skeleton of a sky scraper and marveled at what is being placed right there.  When was the last time that we rode or drove in a car and pondered what was underneath us?  Our lives do revolve around steel.

I am thankful for kitchen sinks. So much of our life revolves around the kitchen sink.  I never really realized how much until my friend talked about remodeling her kitchen and all of the stuff that she had to do in her bathroom tub.  Kitchen sinks.  Another thing I have always taken for granted.

I am grateful for my health insurance.  Ryan has some skin problems and he is going to have to see a doctor about it.  Seeing a doctor without insurance is so expensive.  Not to mention all of the drugs that will be involved too.  Insurance is such a blessing.  

Day 29

Today I am thankful for satellites that help predict the weather.  I don't know how they did it all of those years ago when there were major storms on the way and no way to prepare for them.  What a blessing it is to know what to expect for my drive to and from work tomorrow.

I am thankful for hot weather.  It makes me appreciate the cold weather all of the more.  When ever I get too cold I just pile on the blankets and make a cup of cocoa for myself and family.

I am thankful for tears.  Our tears do so much for us. They protect us against diseases,keep our eyes dry, and show the emotions that we feel.

I am thankful for wash clothes.  I don't like to wash dishes using my hands.  Wash clothes always make them come out so much cleaner.

I am thankful for mountains.  I feel sorry for people who have never lived near mountains.  They never really get the scope of how tall a mountain is.  The song that Peggy Wood sings in Sound of Music "Climb Every Mountain" takes on a whole new meaning when a person lives near some tall mountains.  I always look up to them and think how wonderful the view from up there looks.  Especially from Mount Olympus here in Holladay.   Mountains provide us with protection from tornadoes, verity in landscape, and some other vital things that are vital to our existence.     

Day 28

I am thankful for the many people who have taken their time out of their day to read this blog.  It is amazing that  this blog has received 285 page views.  It just boggles my mind.  Thank you all.

I am thankful for the ways of mass communication that are available today.  I am addicted to the 10 o'clock news.  There I have admitted it.  I also am addicted to Google and radio.  I always have to have some kind of noise or other thing going on.

I am thankful for fingers.   I can't imagine going through life without having fingers.  With these things on my hands I can accomplish so much.

I am thankful for doors.  What would life be like if there were no doors?  We would be a lot colder, no privacy, and no quiet times when needed.  Doors give us so much.

I am grateful for cashiers and the hard work that they put in to ring up our purchases.  It isn't easy to do their job.  Waiting in line is always hard, especially when you are in a hurry, being the cashier ringing up the purchases is even harder.

Day 27

Today I am grateful for road trips.  There is just something about piling in your family, in this case Ryan and myself, into a car and staying there for long periods of time that brings people together.  It is so nice to have that together time.

I am also thankful for iPod.  I have already mentioned how I love music.  Having an iPod with some good music just makes the trip go better.

I am also thankful for headlights.  We would never have been able to make it to St. George and back in 12 hours without headlights.

Pavement is often times something that is overlooked as something to be grateful for; but driving 80 miles per hour on a dirt road isn't exactly safe.  I know, I have done it and the results weren't all that great.  I was much younger then.  I am thankful for pavement and the other conveniences that come along with it.

I am thankful for ice cream.  I love how something so simple can make a bad moment so much better.  If you are having a bad day reach for the ice cream.  You really can't help but feel better.  I dare you to frown while eating ice cream.  I am not sure that it is even possible.



 

Day 26

Today I am thankful for the tender mercies that the Lord has bestowed upon me.  These are blessings in and of themselves.  I have noticed that, at times, things don't always seem like tender mercies.  Years later perspective takes hold and suddenly we realize just what those are.  The Lord's hand is in all things.

I am thankful socks.  Funny how it sounds but think of what life would be like if no one ever thought to invent socks.

I am thankful for toilets.  I will leave it up to your imagination to figure out why.

I am thankful for my parents and the things that I have learned from them.  Some of what not to do but a whole lot of good stuff too.

I am thankful for my living room furniture.  I hate sitting on the living room floor.

Day 25

Today I am grateful for God's commandments.  Some people think that commandments are limiting.  I don't buy into that.  They are liberating.  I have never had to worry about going to jail because I have respected my neighbors property.  I have never had to worry about std's because the only person that I have been with is my husband.  I have healed from abusive situations because I have followed the example of my Savior, Jesus Christ, and have forgiven those who have hurt me.  I have even prayed for my enemies from time to time.  Because I have kept God's commandments I am the person that I am today.  (Though I am not perfect in any way.)

I am thankful that there is a prophet on the earth who points the way back home to a loving Heavenly Father.  So many people are lost in this life because they don't know that there is a way to live and be truly happy.  I am thankful that I do have this knowledge for myself.

I am thankful for my ancestors and the lessons of courage and endurance that they have taught me through reading their stories. It is so exhilarating to know where my family has come from and to know where they are going.  Family is everything to me.

I am thankful for shoes.  I do love to go barefoot as much as possible but only in my yard.  Everywhere else it is wonderful to have shoes to protect me from stepping on something and cutting my foot.

I am thankful for disagreements and the chances that I have to learn about the views of others.  I don't like to argue.  I don't even like to disagree with people.  But I find that I grow closer to that person that I have disagreed with after we have resolved the conflict in a healthy way.
  

Day 24

Today Ryan's friend dropped off his 3 year old twin girls at my door for my to love and spoil.  Not having children of my own I always look for opportunities to love and spoil someone else's children.  We took them to The Living Planet Aquarium today.  What a blessing it is to see the wonder in children's eyes.  Even in the adults the wonder was there.  How great it is to see the wonders of the sea here in this landlocked state.

I am grateful for movies.  When was the last time you really thought about the movies and what it takes to bring them to you?  What a blessing it is to sit down and watch a movie after a long day.

I am grateful for the simple joy that a happy meal brings to a child.  Who could ever have guessed that chicken nuggets, fries, and apple slices with a juice box all packaged in a red box could bring such a big smile to a child's face.  Love that McDonald's still.

I am thankful for music boxes and how they are so simple in nature and so beautiful in looks and design.  I collect music boxes.  They have always brought me joy as well as those around me who take the time to enjoy them.

I am thankful for dvd players and the hours of music and movie enjoyment that I have enjoyed from it.

Day 23

"Life is like an old time train ride.  With twists, turns, and unexpected stops.  The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride."  - Gordon B. Hinkley.

I am grateful for my glasses.  Yes, these are the ones that I wear on my face.  I remember when I first realized I needed glasses.  I was sitting in the back row in the 5th grade and I couldn't read the black board.  I told my mom this and she just told me to sit near the front.  It wasn't until I was in the 6th grade that I had my eyes tested by the Lions club at school.  They sent a letter home to my mom.  Then and only then was I taken to the eye doctor.  A week later I could see again.  I looked at the mountains surrounding Logan and they were suddenly so clear.  What a blessing it was, and still is, to see clearly.

 I am thankful for carpet.  I hate putting my bare feet on a cold floor.  I love feeling the carpet on my bare feet.  So fuzzy.

I am thankful for grass.  I love feeling the cool grass in between my toes.  I love how it adds to a landscape.  I also love how it is a classic sign of spring and warmer weather.

I am grateful for a brain that functions normally. I have grown up around people with special needs my whole life.  Either my dad or other friends of my family have had special needs in one way or another.  What a blessing it is to be able to function as a "normal" person.

I am thankful for my feet.  I love my feet.  Funny how people often hate their feet yet they do so much for us.  When was the last time you had to hop on one foot to get anywhere?  I am so blessed to have good feet with Noyes toes.  

Day 22

The blessings just keep on coming.  Ryan had another job offer.  It may not be in graphic design, but it is enough that we can be kept afloat.  This one could be a permanent gig until Ryan finds something else.  I am grateful for this other job offer.  It will be sufficient for our needs.

I am so thankful for the mutual program.  I love watching my girls have fun and learn.  I hope that some of the girls that don't come to church, but come to mutual will learn what they can do for the gospel and what the gospel can do for them.

I am grateful for Pa's medicine machine.  It has saved us many hours of fighting Pa to take his medication.  It keeps us sane and Pa independent as much as possible.

I am grateful for a smile that is shared from acquaintances.  Have you ever noticed what an ice breaker a smile can be?  Sometimes the best human relationships are the ones that started with a smile.

I am grateful for glasses.  Not the kind you wear but the kind you drink out of.  It sure makes getting a drink a whole lot easier.
 

Day 21

Today I have so much to be grateful for.  Ryan finally landed a job.  This is only a temporary thing and it will end in September, but the extra income will be a huge boon to our budget.

I am so grateful for music and how it soothes the soul.  Good music truly is the chicken soup for the soul.

I am grateful for my short term and long term memory.  I watch Pa and how he struggles each day to remember the most basic things that I take for granted on a daily basis.  I remember when I took a shower last, I remember what day of the week it is, and I can remember how to fix my meals.  I can even get the basic points of my life memories straight.  Pa really struggles with this and it is heart breaking.  I try and help all I can, but there is only so much I can do.  He doesn't understand that I suffer along with him.  I hope someday that he realizes this.

I am thankful for the ability that I have to walk.  What a blessing it is to just get up on my feet and my brain do its function to help me walk.  What a miracle the human body is.

I am thankful for oxygen.  This life giving force is so amazing.  Maslow has said that humankind has 5 needs food, water, sleep, warmth, safety and security. There is one thing that he left out though.  Oxygen.  Without it we really don't need anything else.  We can only go 6 minutes without oxygen before the human body starts shutting down.  Everything else we can go for at least a couple of days without those.  

Day 20

Today I slipped and fell on the ice outside of my apartment and bumped my knee.  I am so grateful for my nervous system that works and tells me that I am injured.

I am thankful also for the kind neighbor who rushed over to see if I was ok.  I kind of gave her the cold shoulder but I was hurting pretty bad and I was in a hurry.

Can you imagine what this world would be like if there were no laws?  Think about it?  It would be a horrible place to be.  I am thankful for laws and those who put there lives on the lines to enforce the laws.

I am thankful for a stove and oven that work.  I love to cook and so does Ryan.  These are some major things that are central to our lives.

I am thankful for those teachers and leaders that I have had throughout the years that have taught me so much.  Without them this blog would never be possible.

Day 19

When I was a little girl my mom sat me down with my little brother and told me that she was expecting another child.  We were so excited and I knew right away that I was going to have a baby sister.  When she came into the world we had were so happy.  Many years later we don't get along.  In fact I have been downright nasty to her when I was younger.  I grew up and changed my ways. But she is not speaking to me now and not taking the chance to really get to know me.  I am grateful for her.  Even though that this life may pass and she may never speak to me again I am grateful that she is a part of my life in some way.

I am grateful for each passing day that I am allowed to remain on this earth.  Each day is a gift and that is why it is called the present.

I am grateful for the sun.  What a perfect set up we have here.  We are perfectly set at just the right angle and just the right space from the sun that we thrive here on Earth.  I know that there are no accidents.  How good God is to us.

I am thankful for the knowledge that there is life after death.  What a bleak life we would live if there was no knowledge of this.

I am also thankful for my family and friends.  What a great support system they are.  

Day 18

I am grateful for food.  I know I have already stated that.  But I want to add another angle to it.  I am grateful for the things that I am learning to make food be more nutritious for mine and my family's needs.  It is true that food is just for nourishment.  But I love finding new recipes and trying them.

I am thankful for good times and laughter with old friends.  Having a long standing friendship with someone is like putting on your old comfortable clothes from time to time.  They are always fun and comfortable no matter how old you are.

I am thankful for pens.  What a blessing these things are.  I truly believe that the old phrase "The pen is mightier then the sword" is so true.

I am thankful for the knowledge that I have picked up in this journey called life.  When I die that will be the one thing that I can take with me.  The things that I have learned.  Even when I die I will never stop learning. Good thing I love to learn new things.

I am thankful for traffic lights.  Have you ever paused to wonder what the world would be like if there were never traffic lights?  What a dangerous world that we could be living in.

Day 17

Today Ryan and I had a date night.  I am so thankful for date night.  It is the only thing that has kept our marriage afloat over all of the stresses of day to day living.  It is a time for us to reconnect and to laugh at ourselves and grow closer as a couple.  I love those special times that we share together.  It is what has made our marriage strong.

 We went to the Clark Planetarium to catch a show at the Hansen Dome. If you have never been there I strongly suggest that you go.  During the show my heart was singing "O Lord my God when I in awesome wonder consider all the works thy hands have made.... Then sings my soul my Savior God to thee How great thou art!!!! How great thou art!!!!!" I am so thankful for the many splendors of this universe.  So miraculous and so diverse we as human beings could never fully understand all of God's wonders but what a pleasure it is to view and to learn about them. 

I am also thankful for trees.  What a pleasure it is to look at them.  What a blessing they are to have them here to help us survive.  We rely on the trees for so much.  They just keep on giving to us. 

I am also thankful for the ability that I have to learn new things.  What a blessing it is to be able to be educated.  Granted I am no Einstein,  but knowledge truly is power.

I am also thankful to be human and to be able to feel the emotions of all normal human beings.  Emotions are so deep and yet so basic.  What a blessing it is to feel joy, pain, anger, and all of the other things that are part of the human experience. 

Day 16

A couple of weeks ago I was watching a news cast show that talked about a study that was formed about gratitude.  It studied people who kept a gratitude journal and those who didn't.  People who have kept a gratitude journal were found to be much happier and exercise more than the people who didn't.  I am thankful for that broadcast and the idea that came to me to start this gratitude blog.  I have noticed better changes in my attitude and even find myself thinking throughout the day of the things that I will be writing about that night. 

I am thankful for the effort that Ryan puts forth to finding a job.  I know that he has been discouraged at times and that our finances haven't been the greatest since he quit working, but I am thankful for the many sacrifices that he has made in taking care of my step-dad and finishing school.  These have been blessings in there own right. 

 Being on the phone all day also makes me take for granted the blessing that it is to have a phone system in our world.  Isn't it amazing that we can pick up this device and push a few numbers and our voices can be heard any where in the world?  150 years ago such a thing would never have been imagined.  Now the phone is such a vital part of our lives. 

I am thankful for breakfast cearal.  What a fun and fast way to get a breakfast on the go. 

Being in this winter season also brings a feeling of gratitude for the summer.  I am always warm then.  If I ever get too hot I can just go jump in my complex pool and cool off. 

Day 15

Today I am thankful for the free car wash that I got today.  I love the rain.  I love everything about it. The earth smells so clean and wonderful during and after a rain shower.  Try as they may they will never quite duplicate the scent of rain.

I am thankful for my body.  I may not treat it as well as I should but I am thankful that I have it.

I am thankful for soap.  I am happy that I live in a time when the use of soap on one's self is strongly encouraged.  Life just feels so much better when I am clean.

I am thankful for lotion.  I hate dry skin.  What a great thing it is to reach for one of the twenty bottles of lotions that my in-laws always give me for Christmas.  I haven't bought lotion in 5 years because I get so much of it during the holidays.

I am thankful for pictures.  I love how they capture the look and feel of the times and events of our lives.  Such a small thing that we take for granted.   

Day 14

Today I can honestly say that I am thankful for cruise control.  My new car doesn't have it and that is going to take some getting used to.  I try and keep my speed around 55-60 mph when I am commuting back and forth between home and work so that I can save money on gas that way.  Guess I will have to learn to keep my foot on the peddle at all times again so that I can continue in that tradition.  

 I am also thankful for ponytail holders that keep my hair up off of my shoulders.  I hate my hair being shoulder length.  It drives me bonkers.  I am thankful that these little wonders help keep me sane. 

 I am also thankful that I have hair.  I hope that I never have to loose it.  I do like my hair I hate having my hair long. 

 I am also thankful for towels.  I can't imagine showering, swimming, or doing dishes and other things without these either. 

 I am also thankful for the internet.  With out this invention this blog would not be possible. 

Day 13

I am thankful for Imodium-AD.  I went to work and I forgot my lunch today so I went to the vending machine to buy me some lunch.  I bought a frozen sandwich, chips, and ice cream.  I heated up the sandwich and ate everything that I purchased.  It wasn't long after that I started to feel sick.  I know that it was something I ate.  I had to come home because it felt so bad. 

 I am thankful for warm blankets.  When I am sick or just plain being lazy it always feels so good to cozy up to a warm blanket. 

 I am also thankful for facebook and the ability that I have to keep in touch with old friends and family members. 

 I also am grateful for Ryan's hamburgers.  I don't know how he does it, but he makes the best hamburgers of anyone that I know.  He also made some corn chips too.

I am also thankful for my washer and dryer,  I hate laundry with a passion.  There is one thing that I hate more than laundry and that is loading up my laundry and taking it to the laundry mat.  I am so happy that I haven't had to do that for the last 2 years.  Most of my adult life I have used a laundry mat.   

Day 12

Today I am thankful for the chance that I had to teach about my favorite topic the Atonement of Christ. The Spirit of the Lord was there so strongly testifying of the things that I was saying.  What a beautiful conversation that I had with my girls today. 

 I am also thankful for the winds of change that are blowing outside.  They are quickly bringing the much needed moisture to our area. 

 I am thankful for my new shift.  I work 4 9 hour days during the week and four hours on Sunday (if I have to work Sunday I would much rather work 4 hours.) and I get Friday and Saturday off.  What a strange sensation it is to not go to work on a Friday.

 I am also thankful for clothing.  I might not have the latest and greatest, in fact some of my stuff is 7 years old, but what I have is sufficient for my needs.

 I am also thankful for my dear friend Geneil.  What a blessing it is to be friends with one of the most guileless people I have ever met.  She is so ready to share her talents and anything else that she has. 

Day 11

Sorry guys I missed a day.  Yesterday was so busy that when I got home I sat in my chair and fell asleep.  Kind of funny how some days are like that. 

 I am thankful for my new car.  We spent all day at Ken Garff Nissan yesterday and signed the papers on a 2012 Nissan Spectra.  I love it!!! It has a lot of room and a lot of other good stuff.  We took it on a mini road trip to Idaho Falls today.  It was so much fun.  Ryan's dad Lynn came with us and we took my step-dad with us too. 

 I am thankful for the beautiful weather that was around us today.  It felt like early March and not middle of January. 

 Today was my niece's first birthday.  Happy Birthday to her.  We may never meet again in this life but I hope that she enjoys her little musical carousel that belonged to my sister when she was younger.  I am thankful for my brother in law Shane who was kind enough to come and pick it up so that she could have it today. 

 I am thankful for good uplifting music.  It helps lighten the mood of any room, and any situation.  When I feel down or just plain upset with someone I always hum a happy tune, usually a hymn, and I always can come to a happy place again and move on. 

 I am thankful for a bed to sleep on.  It may be far from perfect, in fact it is broken, but it certainly is a whole lot better than sleeping on the floor.  That hurts. 

Day 10

Today I want to take a moment and thank autotrader.com for the good work that they are doing.  I am thinking of trading in my Chevy (It's been a real money pit for the last 2 years) for a sedan.  They told me what my car was really worth. I just hope that I can use that information when I talk to the dealership tomorrow.

 I am also thankful for mice.  No not those rodents that invade my house from time to time, but the mouse on the computer.  They have helped heal my fear of computers and have given me many hours of enjoyment and employment. 

I would like to say thank you to those farmers who make a living raising crops and livestock so that I can eat.  I am grateful to them and the labor of love that they put into their careers. 

I am thankful for water.  What a vital source it is to have in our lives.  We all need it.

 I am thankful for teeth.  I hope that I can keep mine for a very long time.  I hope that I never have to wear dentures.  I hate cleaning them.  I much prefer cleaning my own teeth. 

Day 9

Life is all about constant change.  That is the one thing in life that is guaranteed.  I am thankful for the changes that are constantly happening in my life.  It certainly keeps life interesting. Right now Ryan and I are on the threshold of some possible big changes in our life. 

Everyone complains about snow.  When the meatorologist predicts a snow storm you can almost hear the majority of the population just groan.  Myself I always marvel at the little white stuff that falls from the sky.  I am thankful for the snow and the many blessings that come with it. 

 Today the Young Women of our ward went sledding on a small amount of snow. (barely 4 inches)  I was asked to bring some hot cocoa tonight to our little shindig.  What a blessing to be all cold and be warmed up with some good hot cocoa.  The Aztecs believed that it was the drink of the gods.  I am inclined to agree with them.  Coffee is for those who like fast breakfast and a buzz in the morning.  (Who wants that?) Hot Chocolate is for those like me who love to slow down and enjoy life.  I am thankful for cocoa.

 I am thankful for my cat Nala.  She is the sweetest, funniest cat I have ever met.  She is my child. 

 Have you ever wondered what life would be like if we didn't have toilet paper?  I will let you expand on that.  I am thankful for toilet paper and the many functions that it has in our society. 

Day 8

Today I am thankful for a home to come to.  I know that sounds weird.  But if you stop to think about it there are so many people who don't even have a roof over their heads.  I used to work by a homeless shelter about 2 years ago and there were lines about a block long every afternoon of people hoping to come in from the cold.  What a blessing it is to have this basic need fulfilled and the means to fulfill it with.

I am thankful for brakes that work on my car.  I was driving home from work tonight in a construction zone.  A car was trying to merge onto the freeway and was heading straight into my lane.  I couldn't get over but I was able to slam on my brakes to avoid hitting the car.  A bit scary but there was enough space that between myself and the car behind me that I was able to brake and not be hit.

 I am thankful for gloves to wear in the winter while I am driving in the cold.  I hate a cold steering wheel on my hands.  My heater in my car takes forever but my gloves make it possible for me to drive until my car gets warmed up enough. 

 I am thankful for alarm clocks.  I know that we all dread that sound because it means we have to get up and start another day when we would much rather be in bed sleeping.  But when that alarm goes off it just means that we another chance to start a new chapter in our book of life.  What a blessing that alarm clock is. 

 I am thankful for my hearing.  I can't imagine waking up to a world where I can't hear music, a bird, or even the sound of my Ryan's voice.  Nothing but silence.  I am thankful that I know what those sounds are and that, thus far, I haven't had to live in a world of silence. 

Day 7

Today I am thankful for the scriptures and the comfort and growth that I find in them when I apply their precepts.  I love that moment of peace that comes from the renewal of my spirit when I take a few moments and read them. 

 I am thankful for my warm coat.  I walked out of my work today and I was cold.  I bundled myself up in my coat and I was warm again. 

 I am thankful for hot running water.  Have you noticed how many times we depend on running water?  When I was younger I used to go with my dad and step-mom to their cabin in Montana.  There was no electricity and no running water.  We had to haul it from a spring that was out in the front yard and heat it.  What a blessing it is to come home after a long day listening to customer complaints and to take a hot shower to relieve the stressful feelings of the day. 

Which brings me to another point.  I am thankful for electricity.   I am very dependant on that ac/dc.  I am thankful for those with the pioneering spirit who bring this great convenience to my home 24/7.

I am also thankful for the furnace that runs nice and warm.  I can walk in my apartment no matter how cold it is outside and warmed soon by that great thing in my closet.  

Day 6

Today is a great day.  One of my best friends from High School celebrated her birthday today. We are 10 days apart in ages and born in different years.  So today I start my blog with her.

 I am so grateful for Shayna and the things that I have learned from her about frugality and health.  I may not always have agreed with her about things but I have learned much from her through the 22 years that we have been friends.  I am so glad that she is still in my life after all of these years.

 I am also thankful for my other best friend from High School Kim.  I love her tough girl attitude and tender heart.  She has taught me about Courage, Strength, and Endurance. I am so thankful that we were able to put an old argument aside and continue to be friends in a miraculous way. 

I am also grateful for working in my calling as the second counselor in the Young Women program.  I love my association with my girls there and love being around other people my age who also have the chance to influence the next generation to make good choices.   

 I am also grateful for the privledge that I have to take care of my aging step-father.  I am learning and seeing sides of him that I never knew existed.  Sometimes he tries my patience beyond end with his dementia like symptoms but I always see the man and not the disease.

I am thankful for Sundays and they day of rest that they tend to be.  I always feel rejuvenated and charged to fulfill my duties throughout the week.  Sunday is my favorite day of the week.  There is such a beautiful spirit about Sundays.  

Day 5

Today I have so much to be grateful for.  I spoke with my supervisor and I learned that while disciplinary action would be taking place none of that includes termination.

Today I am thankful for mistakes and the things that you learn from them.

I am thankful for a loving Father in Heaven who is involved in the details of our daily lives. He always knows best how to comfort me.

I am grateful for trials and the strength that is gained as well as perspective that comes from enduring them well.

I am thankful for aspirin that help reduce Ryan's fever and help him deal with his earache.  I can't imagine life without that modern convenience.

I am also thankful for light bulbs that light up the night.  I am not a big fan of using candles for light.

Day 4

Today I have not had the best of days.  This is the day that I certainly need to count my blessings.  I made a huge mistake at my work on Wednesday.  It has made me think about my blessings even more.

I am thankful for mercy.  We find the perfect example of mercy with the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  I only hope that on Tuesday when I go to work that Justice will also be tempered with mercy as I could lose my job over this mistake.

I am thankful for love.  The unconditional love that Ryan has shown me despite my stupidity is so awesome.  I am so lucky to be loved by him and others.

I am thankful for low gas prices.  I got gas today for 2.73 at the Maverik on Redwood Road and I-80.  I filled my gas tank today for $33.  First time in a while.

I am thankful for my parents who did try to teach me right from wrong.  I always try to live right.  Sadly my human condition gets in the way and I make mistakes.

I am thankful for the Atonement of Christ.  I know that it is as real as I am here breathing.  

Day 3

As I have been looking over the past couple of days I have decided to still keep this as a gratitude journal, but to tell more of the reasons why I am grateful for the things that I list. 

I am grateful for temples.  Here the power of God is used to bind families together so that we can all return to our Father as one eternal family.

I am grateful for allrecipes.com and other cooking websites.  I am trying to live a more healthy lifestyle.  These websites have provided me with many recipes healthy and otherwise.

I am thankful for computers.  They allow us to communicate with people in far off places, assist people with various functions, as well as entertain us in ways that we could never imagine 40 years ago.

I am grateful for sheets that don't have holes in them.  I know that this may sound funny to you but sleeping on a materess with no sheets and just the matress cover isn't fun.  In fact it is down right itchy.

I am grateful for my television.  It has brought me many hours of entertainment as well as some education about the world around me.  I am enjoying a Netflix broadcast of Yanni right now.  So relaxing.

 

Day 2

Today I am thankful for the following:

My husband Ryan .

Books.

My eyesight.

My computer

my nose

Day 1

Today I am thankful for the following things:

Two cars that work

My warm fuzzy pj's that Ryan bought for me for Christmas.

My Job @ Wells Fargo taking phone calls.

Warm fuzzy socks from Laurie (Ryan's sister).

Jesus.