Wipers

I am thankful for windshield wipers. How would we drive in this gorgeous weather without them?

One amazing girl

I am thankful that I have a daughter who keeps track of things and helps me to be as fair as possible as a mom. She's a great girl. I love her tons. She is the most driven, self-motivated person I think I have ever met. She has a plan for her life and is working non-stop to make it happen. She gives me very little to worry about, and for a 17-year-old, how many parents can say they are grateful for that? Shan, you are amazing.

Drama!

I am thankful that I have learned to avoid Facebook comment-drama by keeping my mouth shut most of the time. Once in awhile I simply must interject my nosey opinion about things, but for the most part, I sure enjoy Facebook most when I can just see what my friends are up to and not get involved in heated debates. I still have a lot to learn here, but I am thankful for my progress.

Volunteers

Today I am thankful that the teenagers volunteered to do the dishes after a big family dinner with our friends! Thanks, S & C!

Broken Dishwasher

Sounds ridiculous, I know, but I am thankful that our dishwasher is broken. I have rediscovered the joy of washing dishes by hand. It reminds me of when Norm and I were first married, and I am loving that the big kids aren't holding it over the little kids' heads all the time: "When I was your age, we were doing dishes BY HAND!" Now the little kids are learning to do dishes by hand too. There is just something so satisfying about a sink full of sudsy water, and of course the singing that goes along with the washing is something I will surely miss when the kids are all grown up.

Good People, and Good Council

I am thankful someone was found alive! And that there are so many good people in the world, going to Haiti and helping, each in their own way: doctors, search and rescue workers, etc. I sometimes wish I could just drop everything and go help.... but it is not to be. I am thankful my life is what it is, that we are blessed and safe and healthy, and I am thankful for council to be prepared, in case the day comes when we are not so blessed or safe or healthy.

Example

Today I am thankful that, although spreading out my child-bearing over 18 years has its challenges, it also has its benefits. One thing that came to mind is that I like to nurse my babies for what some people consider a long time, a year and a half, or more. My older children will have grown up seeing this, and will hopefully follow that example. I was only 8 when my mom had her last baby, so many things about baby-rearing I was not able to learn by example, just because I was quite young. I hope that my older children will be able to learn some good things from watching me mother my little ones. I also hope they will let the bad things I do slide right thru their memories and be forgotten!

Color!

I am thankful I learned how to change the colors of my blog-- the black was just really getting me down. Winter is "blah" enough without having to look at a black blog all the time. I am thankful there is supposed to be a storm coming early next week. Winter needs to hit her "refresh" button.

Bacon?

Today I am thankful that, although Adam picked bacon to have for his special birthday breakfast, and I had to fry bacon in my kitchen (never! bacon is for camping breakfasts only!), it does mean I get to have this:

for lunch! A BLT with real bacon. I only eat something like this about once a year. Usually right around the time of Adam's birthday. Hm. It was delicious!

I am thankful for the temple. There is peace to be found, work to be done, and joy as a result. I need that!

Errors!

Not errors, but FINDING errors! Today I found an error on a utility bill that I had not caught before. There had been a billing mistake on the part of the utility company. It resulted in a credit of hundreds of dollars to our account! I am thankful the mistake was theirs and not mine. I am grateful we caught it and that we benefit!

Sunday Dinner Dishes

I am grateful for the fun new tradition of singing together as we do the Sunday dinner dishes. Usually it's showtunes, but you never know.