Instead of posting one thing that I am grateful for every day, I've combined it into one list.
I am grateful for:
1. The true gospel of Jesus Christ as restored by the prophet Joseph Smith.
2. My family, both immediate and extended. They are the joy and support that I need in life. I cannot imagine my life without Daniel and Oakley. I love them both so very much.
3. Temples. They are exceedingly beautiful on the inside and out and a beacon to the world. Because of the sacred ordinances of the temple I can be with my family for all eternity. I am also grateful that we were able to take Oakley to our temple in Brigham City.
4. A Warm apartment. I greatly dislike being cold so I am glad that when the wind blows, the rain pours, and the snow falls, I can stay all snuggled up and toasty.
5. Working vehicles. They sure make grocery shopping easier and we get to travel to visit family.
6. A new house. We have spent 4.5 years in apartments. I am so excited to have more room to move and my own space to decorate. The kids will especially love having a yard of their own that they can play in.
7. A healthy baby boy. Each baby is a blessing and a miracle. Life is so precious and delicate. Pregnancy is a miracle that the Lord blesses me with. I am grateful that doctors have the skill and technology to see that my baby is healthy and growing.
8. Energy and good health in pregnancy. I have known women that experienced a lot of difficulty in pregnancy. I am grateful that anything that I experience is quite mild and that I can take care of my boys and play with Oakley.
9. A washer and dryer. I love that I can just throw laundry in and it washes itself. What a blessing it is to be able to take care of other chores or play with my son while still getting our clothes clean.
10. Hot showers. No one likes cold showers.
11. Cameras. What a special gift it is that we can capture moments in our lives and preserve them in albums, blogs, books, frames, etc...
12. Facetime with grandparents. Technology is a special gift. Oakley is so lucky to be able to see his grandparents over the internet and be able to talk to them.
13. Dan's job. What a blessing it is to have a steady income. It is also convenient that he can take time off to take care of us when we are sick and come to all of our doctor appointments. He also has a lot of time with family which we love.
14. Good finances and the blessings that come from paying tithing. We have never been wanting. We are able to provide for all of our needs as well as a few extras.
15. Babysitting Hannah. Oakley loves to have her come visit. He has been able to learn how to act around a little baby and has been practicing being a big brother. We are sad that we won't be able to play with her anymore when we move.
16. Pandora and dance time. I love that I can pick any genre of music to listen to. Oakley and I also enjoy dancing around the kitchen and being silly.
17. Dishwasher. I hate doing dishes all the time. Rinsing them and sticking them in the washer is wonderful! 'Specially when my homemade dish detergent and Lemi-Shine sanitizes and cleans.
18. Pinterest. I have to include this. I have tested so many new recipes and found some keepers. I also love getting ideas for crafting, saving money, and decorating ideas.
19. Ora Jell. It really helps easy the pain of teething for Oakley. He is just got his molars and they we could tell how painful they were because he had very tender feelings.
20. Hungry appetites of my boys. My boys will eat anything and everything that I make and place before them. It is nice to know that they will always eat my experiments.
21. Story time with Oakley. I love the way that he gets so excited and snuggles into me. He loves bringing me books and then going back for more when we finish reading them.
22. Nap time. Not only do I get more things done, but I love the snuggles that Oakley gives me. He has recently taken to pulling me in closer for hugs and just putting his arms around me. I love him to pieces!
23. the Founding Fathers of this country. What inspired and brave men they were. I hope someday that I can meet them.
24. The Book of Mormon. It is full of stories of brave men and women. It is a true book. It contains a message of hope and deliverance. It testifies of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
25. Joseph and Emma Smith. They had so many personal trials to endure as well as being the first leaders of this church in the latter days.
26. Living prophet and apostles. They are truly called of God. I know that If I head their council then I will be prepared for all that life has in store for me.
27. Pompoms, tubes, spoons, and bowls. Sounds silly, but Oakley can entertain himself for hours with these things.
28. Being a stay at home mom. I love that I can stay home with my little boy. I have the energy to keep the apartment clean, cook dinner, and play with my son. Student Teaching taught me how exhausting it is to work outside the home and then come home to family.
29. A college degree. I am glad that I put the effort into finishing. It is something that I needed to do. The Lord's hand was definitely my school work and scheduling. I can now look forward to being in a classroom to teach again someday down the road.
30. My musical talent. I have been blessed with the aptitude to do well with music. I have had many unique opportunities because of my talent and have seen how music can bless my life as well as those around me.
I know that there is so much more to be thankful for, but I will keep it at that. I have truly had a blessed life.
