Less

I'm grateful for having less. I have watched a few shows lately with people on them that have a ton of money. They are so involved with themselves that they can't see all the good around them and all the good that they can do with their money. They have nannies, housecleaners, house managers (seriously?), they fly out of state to get their hair done, they bicker and argue and throw temper tantrums when things don't go their way. They are missing out on so much! They miss out on the joy and hard work of raising their own kids. They miss out on the happiness I feel when I've finally got my house clean, and know that I did it by myself. They miss out on meeting someone new and giving them a chance. They miss out on learning to get along with other people, even if your views and opinions are different. I never thought that I would be really, truly grateful for not having money. I'd say I was, but not really be :). But really, truly, if that's the way people with a lot of money are, I am grateful for having less.

my kids

I am so grateful for my kids. They are my joy in life. I often think how sad life must be for those people who decide not to have children, for whatever reason. True joy comes from giving your everything to someone. And what a better way to give then to children. They are so grateful and excited and happy to receive anything. They are so quick to forgive and to forget. I can't count the times that I've yelled, stomped, and been angry at my children, and yet a few minutes later I'll find a small hand clasping onto mine and tiny lips whispering, "I love you Mommy." They are my anchor, holding me to reality. This life only last so long- I don't want to waste it worrying about myself. I would much rather use my time teaching, rocking, holding, kissing, cleaning, laughing with, playing with, and enjoying my children. Thank you, dear Lord, for the beautiful blessings of my children.

Tony

I'm grateful for Tony. He has done a ton lately. He been working like crazy! But he always manages to be happy when he is around me and the kids, even though he says his work isn't always too fun. I'm grateful that he cares when I leave. I'm grateful that he wants me to be around him. I'm grateful that he is willing to take a stinky job just so we can have an income. I'm grateful that he compliments anything about me that he can think of. I'm grateful for Tony

Will power

I am grateful for will power. I am not real great at having a whole lot of will power. I usually just like to float along not making any changes, but when I do decided to change something I am grateful for the will power that I do have. I love when I set goals and actually use the will power to achieve them. You would think that I would do it more because I know how great it feels when I do do it, but I don't. However, I am grateful that every once in a while I have some type of will power. :)

cute kids

I am grateful for cute kids, and that I have the cutest kids ever!! I am sure happy that kids are so darn cute. If they came out all ugly and stuff they would be so much harder to care for. But really I am grateful for the times after a long, hard, stressful day when your kids do something or say something that is just so cute and loving and makes everything that you do and work for worth it. For reason I am thankful for cute kids. :)

Sunshine

I am grateful for sunshine. Sunshine that makes everything start to grow again. Sunshine that makes it so that my kids can play outside and be happy and wear themselves out so that they sleep. :) Sunshine that seems to rejuvenate me and my soul. That streams through the windows and warms up the house. I love sunshine. What a smart, generous, loving father God is to give me sunshine. Thank you for sunshine.

Prayer

I am grateful for prayer. For the fact that I can talk to my Heavenly Father whenever I feel a little nervous or out of place or happy. I am grateful to receive answers to my prayer and to have a knowledge that if I pray faithfully I will receive answers, in one form or another. I am grateful for prayer.

Crunchy Things

I am grateful for crunchy things. For Snow when I gets real hard and you step on it and it does that cool crunch noise. For leaves in Autumn. Stepping on crunchy things makes me really happy. I am grateful for crunchy things.

My life and kids

Last night was probably one of the worst night yet with Fox. He must have not been feeling well because he was up about every hour. When I finally got him to sleep I had to get up, and not long after my kids got up. They ate and then went upstairs to play. Soon after I heard a thump and screaming/crying. I went up to see what happened and Emma was sitting on the ground crying and Liam ran over crying and said, "Emma fell off the slide (a plastic toddler slide) and she can't stand up, she broke her leg!!" I checked out Emma's leg and it was fine so I took her down stairs. As soon as I put Emma down and got her to stop crying, Fox woke up. I walked by my Mom to pick him up and said, "This is my life Mom." She replied, "Yeah, and you chose it."

I did. I chose this life, and these kids, and I am so grateful for them. They are just what I need. They make me laugh and cry and think. I need them and they need me. I get to serve them everyday and it makes me love them more and more. I am so grateful for my life and my beautiful children.

My Mom- (one of the many to come, I'm sure)

Today I am grateful for my Mom who always watches my kids when I have to drop off and pick up Liam. During this winter it has been so nice to have my Mom to watch my kids when I take Liam to and from school. She often has to rearrange her schedule around those times. I can take my kids and do if I have to but it is great not to have to. Thanks Mom for all you do. And for watching my kids at 9:00 and 12:00 (11:30 on Mondays :) ) day in and day out. I am very grateful for you.

Education

I'm grateful that I can do school fairly well. I'm grateful that I learn things fairly easy and am not afraid of school work because I know that know matter what it is, if I try hard enough I can do it. I'm grateful for my learning ability.

Good visiting teaching partners

I am grateful for good visiting teaching partners. The ones that will help call and give lessons. The ones that will actually go with you and make you feel like you are doing you calling. The ones that are happy to go and aren't dragging their feet and angry about the fact that they have to go. The ones that make you feel like they really want to know you and are there because they want to be and not because its their calling and they have to be. The ones that pray with you before you go and pray with you at the sisters house. Right now, I am grateful for any visiting teaching partner, but especially good ones. :)

My Calling

I am grateful for my calling. I may act and think that I don't want to go, but when I finally get to my calling (YW stake sports director), I love it. I love the rules I have learned and that I can somewhat ref. I love to watch the girls play and be goofy. I love to watch them support one another, even if they are not on the same team. We had three ankle injuries today, and all of the girls so compassion and concern for the injured young woman. I love that the girls will say "sorry" if they foul and will call fouls on themselves. I am very grateful for my calling

silly singing

I'm grateful for silly singing. Liam sang, "To live with him some day-hey!....jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way!" When I laughed and told him that those weren't the right words he just giggled and walked away.

Then, on the way to school Liam sang, "Hey, little diddle, the cat and the fiddle. The cow jumped over the moooooon!! The little dog laughed to see such a sport" He then would laugh as hard and loud as he could, which ended up sounding like yelling and puking at the same time. He found it so funny that he would then laugh hysterically, and then start over. I don't think he every made it to the end of the song. I'm grateful for Liam and his silly singing.

Drive safely!!

Today I am grateful for the little girl that was being dropped off at Liam's school. Before she closed the door to her Mom's car she yelled, "Drive safely!!" I am grateful for the giggle she gave me. It wasn't a ha-ha funny giggle but it was a happy, "oh how cute" giggle.