November, A Month of Gratitude

On Facebook last year a bunch of my friends listed all of the things they were grateful for daily for the month of November in honor of Thanksgiving. I can't remember why but I didn't get to start on the first day of November last year so I skipped doing it. I'm a little bummed I didn't just catch up and do it but for some reason I have this terrible "all or nothing" outlook on life and I copped out. This year though I wanted to make sure I participated and it was so much fun. It really was a challenge for me and I'm so grateful I completed it. In doing the challenge I also wanted to make sure that I actually put thought into it and that I didn't just come up with the things I always seem grateful for. I wanted to find a lot of hidden blessings in my life and I found SO many bright moments that a lot of the time it was hard to pick just one thing to give thanks for each day. It also made me think, "is this going to be something I'll be thankful for later?" and just approaching the day like that made me more aware of my blessings and my attitude was often much better as the day went on. So with no more explanation for why I found this a great experience here are just a few of my blessings I'm thankful for!!

November 1st: I'm thankful for my little man who turned two today. Even on his worst days he still brings light to my life. Love you Colby. Happy Birthday!!!

November 2nd: I'm so grateful for older kids who sleep in. Roslyn sleeps in pretty good too but I could certainly go for her cutting out her 530am feeding. After long nights, with undetermined numbers of feeding, it sure is a blessing that everyone gets up later than your average child does.

November 3rd: I'm thankful for a husband who lets me vent, yell and cry when I'm stressed out and upset. Even though sometimes I want him to be mad with me and it frustrates me even more when he's not, I'm grateful that he is able to calm me down and helps me look at the brighter side. I know everything is going to be okay when he's around. I love you Paul!!

November 4th: I'm grateful for parents who taught me right. That French toast, pancakes and waffles should all be eaten with peanut butter and maple syrup on top. The other options are "okay" but peanut butter and syrup equals heaven on a plate.

November 5th: I'm grateful modern medicine and the role it's played in our lives. Without the today's medical devices and testing options I don't want to think about where Colby could possibly have been in the first few months after he was born. We were able figure out what was wrong and take corrective measures quickly when we knew there was a problem and not have lasting medical problems because of the help we received. I'm grateful for the equipment/medicine that has been able to help children of my friends have a fighting chance or give other friends the last few precious moments they needed with their child. Whenever I get frustrated with the oxygen equipment here at the house or see our power bill that could be lower if we didn't have to use it or I'm tired of making the next appointment to follow up on things with Colby, I am reminded that we are blessed to be able to have equipment here at home and hospitals "near" by that keep my child healthy and that we don't have to check in or stay in the hospital every day. My heart goes out to those whose children are in the hospital or the NICU and have to travel and spend days, weeks and months away from their kids. I'm grateful that we are living in a time where science can advance enough to give a child born at 20 weeks an honest chance at life and thousands of people more time to achieve their goals every single day.

November 6th: I am thankful to know where I can look for guidance during uncertain times when it's hard to find light in the world.

♫ We thank thee, O God, for a prophet
To guide us in these latter days.
We thank thee for sending the gospel
To lighten our minds with its rays.
We thank thee for every blessing
Bestowed by thy bounteous hand.
We feel it a pleasure to serve thee
And love to obey thy command.

When dark clouds of trouble hang o’er us
And threaten our peace to destroy,
There is hope smiling brightly before us,
And we know that deliv’rance is nigh.
We doubt not the Lord nor his goodness.
We’ve proved him in days that are past.
The wicked who fight against Zion
Will surely be smitten at last.

We’ll sing of his goodness and mercy.
We’ll praise him by day and by night,
Rejoice in his glorious gospel,
And bask in its life-giving light.
Thus on to eternal perfection
The honest and faithful will go,
While they who reject this glad message
Shall never such happiness know. ♫

November 7th: I am grateful today for the extra sunshine we've had over the last few weeks. I knew winter wasn't completely ready to settle in but the last week or two have been wonderful and a true blessing with what is going to potentially be a really hard winter.

November 8th: I'm grateful for cameras. As most of you already know I'm a little obsessed with taking photos (as I have 13,253 photos loaded on FB alone) but I am so grateful I can take pictures of my kids and our lives and document the things that are important to us. I'm also grateful that I can upload them in places like FB because our families are so far away and we hate how many things they can't see in person but being able to document life with photos and things like that makes it easier for everyone to enjoy life with us.

November 9th: I'm grateful for my little family. Sometimes these kids drive me crazy but each time I watch them accomplish something new, take pride in something they did, listen to a "command" or say a new word, it brings me joy and increases my love for them exponentially. I love seeing their determination, even if it gets them in trouble, but know that it will make them a better person later in life. It's amazing to know that I helped create them but know that they are "on loan" from the Lord and that He is trusting me with a great responsibility. I take this seriously and know that I will be accountable for helping them develop into the person they'll become some day. I only hope that I'm doing a good enough job, especially on days that seem the hardest.

November 10th: We watched Battleship tonight and I was going to post this later but between the movie, Veteran's Day coming up, and it being the Marines Birthday today, it has been stuck in my mind, so I'm just going to say it. I'm grateful for our troops. They perform a duty that I don't think I could ever do myself. They risk their lives to protect my freedoms and my family and they do it without ever having met me. They sacrifice time, holidays, big events and memories away from their families to protect, honor and serve our country. They are our strongest warriors and some of my biggest heroes.

I also am grateful for our Veterans who have sacrificed the same time away from family but have helped protect my future and have helped lay the ground work for the future of my children. May we not let their sacrifice be in vain and may we pray for our country, our freedom and for those who keep us safe every single day.

November 11th: I'm thankful for laughter today. When Colby and Riann really get playing, they have the BEST laughs in the world. It is so contagious and it can't help but put you in a better mood. I wish I could get it on tape but usually we're enjoying ourselves too much to change directions.

November 12th: I'm grateful today for this girl. Sometimes she drives me nuts and we are still learning to get along here and there but when I look back at pictures like this I have to remind myself, "No wonder where she gets it..." Love you babe!!!

November 13th: I'm thankful for my gym membership. I was thinking about it on the way to this gym today that it's wonderful to not have to go at 5am or at 9pm when the kids are down and I'm positive Roslyn wont wake up for Paul. I wish the prices were better but it really is a blessing to be able to take the kids with me, to a place they love to play, and get a little me/physical time in during the day. Now if only I could get more focused and make all of this physical time count!!!!

November 14th: I'm thankful for the snow. My snow gratitude comes and goes but I really do enjoy the kids getting excited every morning when they see it, even if we don't get new stuff. Seeing the world through their eyes really does make it better.

November 15th: I'm thankful tonight that I'm going to bed early-ish and get to enjoy as much sleep as I can manage, between feedings, and that I'm not at the theater trying to watch the newest Twilight movie with a million crazy women, of all ages, crying out for Jacob and Edward. Sweet dreams all!!!!

November 16th: You all knew this was coming... I'm thankful today for hot water!!! It's been a rough week here at our place but I know there are plenty of people who don't have the luxury of hot, or even running, water. I'm so grateful to have our hot water back and working. It really is a blessing that water is so easily accessible to our home and family and not something I take for granted.

November 17th: I'm grateful for family time. Tonight was wonderful. We got to simply hang out, let the kids run crazy and play, and laugh at all the silly things they did. Nights like this are good for the soul.

November 18th: I'm thankful for eternity. Some days it seems like forever but most of the time eternity doesn't seem long enough. I'm grateful for a church that believes in eternity and teaches you to plan on eternity. I love my family so much and the promise that we can be together for time and all eternity, not just until "death do you part", is something that keeps me going every single day. I'm grateful that I don't have to worry about those I love when they pass because we will be together again.

November 19th: I'm grateful for my in-laws. ALL OF THEM. I've been given some of the best sisters-in-law in the world and it's been a blessing to have them as a part of my life. I didn't get sisters by blood and these girls really make up for the years I went without. I'm also grateful for my brothers-in-law and the chance to get to know them better. They're so much cooler than I originally thought they were and so easy to get along with. I'm also VERY grateful for Paul's parents. I've known Paul and his family for 20+ years, with the majority of that time being closest to his parents, and I couldn't be more blessed. They are amazing examples of love and patience. They have always accepted me, good and bad, and I've always felt loved and accepted in their lives. I just might be the luckiest girl in the world for the extended family I've got.

November 20th: Today I'm thankful for the rain. It's so different living here where rain is such a necessity for the area and you can't help but pray it will come. As opposed to living in Seattle where you just wish someday it'll stop. Rainy days out here are rare but I appreciate them so much. It makes me feel closer to home and more at peace than I ever thought a rainy day could.

November 21st: I'm grateful for my neighbors, both next door and around the corner. I live next to some of the most amazing people in the world. I know I can ask them for help anytime of the day, or night, and that if I'm ever in need of protection, they've got my back. I'm grateful for their friendship and kindness and it's a joy to be outside or walking through the neighborhood(s) knowing that we're surrounded by some pretty awesome people.

November 22nd: I'm grateful I know just enough about cooking to pull off a decent Thanksgiving dinner. It wasn't fancy, or perfect, but it was good and I hope everyone enjoyed themselves. It was a little harder this year not celebrating with other people but we had a good time. I'm excited to not have to work tomorrow (for the first time in 6 years) and that I get to spend more time with my family. Happy Thanksgiving everyone. I hope you all had a great day!!!

November 23rd: I'm grateful for Paul's job. We've been so blessed by the place Paul's been working over the last year. They have been great to work with and they did so much for him while he was in school and they've been a great spot to get started in "the business", however after they lost their rights to the Volkswagen franchise it was time for us to start looking for a new place to work so that Paul could follow his passion and continue on with Audi/Volkswagen. After about 3 months of looking over different options, Paul has been hired over at Teton Toyota and will be starting Monday as one of the two new technicians over at the new Teton Volkswagen. Within the next year they will have a brand new dealership and service department and we're so excited for the opportunities this is going to open up for Paul. We're grateful to be back on track and back in a position for growth and development.

November 24th: I'm grateful for the time we've gotten to have Paul hang out with us this week. He's going to be pretty busy over the next couple weeks starting his new job and the last few days have been great having him around to play with. And I can't complain about being able to sleep in a little bit each morning either. Love you babe!!! ;-)

November 25th: I'm grateful that my kids love each other so much. They have the normal spats every now and then but its never as bad as it could be, and never in a spiteful way. They are always excited to see each other again anytime they've been apart, even after something as simple as sleeping at naps or bed time. They enjoy playing together so much and even Roslyn gets excited when they involve her in what they're doing. I can't wait for them to get older because I really do believe there will always be an underlying love for each other that will trump all hard situations later in life and I'm so grateful that they're developing this love now because it's only going to get harder from here.

November 26th: I'm grateful for nap time and the few moments of peace it brings me each day. Nap time is my time and I eat it up!!!

November 27th: I'm thankful for all of our grandparents (the kids' great-grandparents). We are lucky to have all 8 of them alive and that the kids have been able to build memories with all of them. I'm also specifically grateful for my grandparents, for their love and direction in my life. I've taken different paths here and there in life but always found their love unconditional and at times that's exactly what I needed to get back on track. There are many lessons left to be learned from all of them.

November 28th: I'm grateful for sleep, which I don't get nearly enough of. I might elaborate more tomorrow but for now my bed is calling my name... G'Night all!!!

November 29th: I'm so grateful for Colby's speech development over the last little bit. I've been so worried about him for a while now but in the last few months his speech has blossomed. It's wonderful! The world is amazing through his eyes and it's so great to have him tell me all about it. It's also fun watching his eyes light up as he thinks about words and how they need to be used. It's amazing how much understanding comes from just one word here and there and it has been so fun to watch him get excited about talking to us, even when he knows he's in trouble and asks "why?" NONSTOP as you try to explain it all to him.

November 30th: I'm grateful I did this challenge. I know it drove a lot of people nuts that we were all doing these posts and I want to say thank you for bearing with me. It reminded me how blessed I am for the many things I have both temporally and spiritually. Sitting down every night and really thinking about what I've been given and truly understanding where these blessings come from gives me a new perspective on where I am in life and how much potential each day has. I am truly blessed.