I AM THANKFUL...

Nov 1. That Gavin is such a great big brother! I know he is not always perfect, but I just walked in on him playing with the littles and it is cracking me up! He has the hugest imagination of any nearly 16 year old I have ever met. He is going to be an awesome dad one day. How many big kids will take the time to really play with their siblings the way he does? ♥ him!
Nov 2. That I get to love on my baby nephew Beau! Having him here on Wednesdays takes me back to the days when I had little ity bity ones at home. Time goes soooo fast! How I wished I could turn back time and snuggle all my babies just one more time. I am so grateful to be a mother!
Nov 3. That Xandi and I both have great jobs. As much as I complain about wishing I could just stay home, I am still grateful that I have worked for Dr. Gorang for the past 20 years. I have learned so much, and am so grateful for the knowledge that I have gained. Besides, I have a pretty sweet gig only having to work 2 days a week.
Nov 4. For my AMAZING kids! Each one of them are so different and I am amazed at each and every one of their unique traits. How did I hit the lottery five time? I ♥ them!
Nov 5. That my husband still likes to hang out with me! I love our Saturday day dates that have become a tradition. One on one time with my best and dearest friend is the bomb!
Nov 6. For family movie night! Popcorn, snuggies, a movie, and all my kids in the same room at the same time...Hard to come by these days, but I will take it when I can get it and lately that has been every Sunday night down in the basement. Priceless!
Nov 7. That my kids can give me such great advise. Sometimes they are more mature than I am! Not hard I know, but still! I count them as some of by dearest friends in the whole wide world, and I am one lucky momma.
Nov 8. That I have had the awesome opportunity to serve with some amazing women in my callings. Women that I might not have ever gotten to know, but so grateful that I did. Women that will be endeared to me forever. True examples of what service and sacrifice are. They have helped strengthen my testimony.
Nov 9. Today I am grateful that I am 5 months free from my Diet Coke addiction. No I didn't lose any weight like I thought I would. It didn't help me with my stubborn belly fat like people said it would (by the way, I have come to the conclusion that no amount of diet, exercise, or Spanxs will remedy what I have going on! Saving my money for surgical intervention, and by the time I have enough money I probably wont care what my belly looks like :) BUT I no longer wake in the morning with a headache, needing my fix and I am so thankful for that.
Nov 10. That my cute mom has stayed pretty healthy and is doing much better than I expected considering what seemed to be a grim diagnosis. I love her so much and am so grateful for every day that I have her at a phone calls distance when I need her. I will always need my momma!
Nov 11. For my freedom. Freedom isn't free, It's paid for with the blood of those who fight for it and I am so grateful for all the brave men and women who have fought throughout history for what we enjoy everyday.
Nov 12. I am so grateful that I have the kind if relationship with my kids that they can talk to me about all sorts of things and that they trust me, and I pray I never give them a reason not to.
Nov 13. I have the BEST husband in the whole wide world for me. I love him so much that I'm pretty sure I am going to really like having him around, for like forever! I sure can't imagine not having him right by my side in this life or any other.
Nov 14. For an amazing father-in-law. He comes twice a week just to spend time with his little bud Gentry. How awesome is that? How generous he is with his time and his love to help us out so I can go to work and not have to worry about daycare for the kiddo for the few hours he needs someone before school. ♥him.
Nov 15. That my kids are SO MUCH smarter than me!
Nov 16. Looking at the breathtaking sunset this evening has reminded me of the gratitude I have for this beautiful world that I live in. First I saw the sun setting on the mountains east of us and thought to myself how lucky I am for the amazing view out my kitchen window, then I walked to the front of the house and saw what was one of the most beautiful skies ever painted by mother natures hand. "I'm glad that I live in this beautiful world, Heavenly Father created for me!"
Nov 17. For the everyday stuff that me as a mom gets to do. Clean, help with homework, make lunches, laundry, cooking and doing the dishes. I am so grateful for this stuff (cough,cough) even though sometimes I complain because I feel like a maid. I know it sometimes feels like a never ending chore but I know that these are the things that remind me that I am still in the thick of it all. Motherhood. I know a couple of people that would trade me in a second to get to do these never ending chores to serve a family. This is the stuff that makes me take moments that I say to myself..."I'm gonna miss this one day!" and I will!
Nov 18. Today I am thankful for warmth. The warmth of my cozy house as is blows gigantic, fluffy snowflakes outside my front door. The warmth of my fireplace first thing every morning as my children pile in front of it deciding if they want to get ready for school. The warmth of my alone time in a steamy bath of hot water and no place left to go except bed. The warmth of "the cozy", Xandi and I's favorite blanket, not because it's pretty but because it's cozy. The warmth of a yummy cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows galore after playing outside in the freezing wind and snow. I am so thankful for this season of warmth in the midst of so much that is chilly and cold.
Nov 19. Saturday mornings, and that my hubby is always the big spoon.
Nov 20. I am so grateful for all the different callings I have had especially my most recent one, although each one has taught me so much and helped me progress and do things that I'm not sure I would do unless is was for the Lord. The wonderful people that I have grown to love from serving my father in Heaven will always have a mark on my heart. ♥ you forever, you young women and leaders in the SS north stake.
Nov 21. That I can walk and run and feel my heart pounding in my chest. That I am strong even though sometimes I am mentally weak. That I keep trying even though I am not the perfect picture of health and fitness. One day I will get all my ducks in a row and get my eating and exercise all in sink so it looks like I am doing some good. Until then, I will just keep trying.
Nov 22. For my faith... A Favorite on Gratitude: And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole. (Luke 17:15-19) I will forever be grateful for the Lords hand in my life. I hope and pray that I will always show him that I love Him, because I am trying to be like Him.
Nov 23. That my big boys are spending the day with Matt hunting. He is such a great guy to my kids and we love him so much. I hope they know how lucky they are to have such a great uncle to help them and encourage them in their interests. He has even been teaching Gavin how to load shells, and has been taking the boys shooting to practice for this big day for weeks. Now I just need to keep my fingers crossed that Gavin gets his elk.
Nov 24. On this Thanksgiving day I am so grateful for my siblings. I love them to pieces and am so grateful for a day that brings (almost) all of us together again. Not sure how many of these opportunities we have left anymore and I cherish them when we have them. They make me laugh so hard, they make me smile, and sometimes they even make me cry. I am so happy that I was raised in the family I have and can't imagine a life without each one of them in it. Secondly, it's about my parents...They are amazing people and I love them so very much. I am so grateful for each day that I get to have them here on this earth. No matter how old I get, knowing that I can call on them for ANYTHING is priceless.
Nov 25. For Gentrys prayers, they make me smile. He never asks for anything unless he thanks Him first and he thanks his Heavenly father for everything. It is a great reminder to me to be more grateful.
Nov 26. For Kim. My sis. My friend no matter what. She is always so generous with her time and stuff and love for me, my sweet, and my littles. I love her so much and I am so grateful for all she is for me.
Nov 27. For days that I don't have to do one darn thing!
Nov 28. That I am still completely and utterly in love! I don't know if anyone out there has as good of a relationship with their spouse as I do. We have been blessed with many years of loving each other and after all that it just keeps on getting better :)
Nov 29. For great neighbors and friends. I think we live in a pretty great place with some pretty good eggs, and I am so grateful for the friendships I have here in Saratoga Springs.
Nov 30. I keep catching myself wishing that I had better "stuff". Stuff is just stuff, and in reality I have everything that my heart has ever desired. How many people can actually say that their dreams have come true? I know I have said this before but somethings you just can't say that you are grateful enough...I am a wife to my best friend in the whole entire world. I am the mother to five incredibly smart, thoughtful, respectful, spiritual, beautiful children. I have a lovely home with the most amazing yard to run a play. I was blessed to be born in this country in this time of history. I am so blessed to have a testimony of my Savior, Jesus Christ, and have the priesthood in my home and men who honor it and use it to bless our family. I am blessed by the people I surround myself with and am so grateful for everyone of them. My life is so full and I am so blessed. My dreams have come true.