30 Blessings for 30 Days of November:
1. Today I'd would be ungrateful if I didn't say I am SO GRATEFUL for our MODERN APPLIANCES, our washer was down and after ordering the correct part from the distributor it was down a total of seven days...not a good thing when you depend on that dryer to run effectively around the clock. It would have been more convenient if it went out during the summer months to dry clothes outside since being fall and cold outside our upstairs was covered with the necessity clothes that couldn't hold out a week for washing drying on hangers hanging in the door ways and hung to self dry over the stair ledges and on shelves, it was a sight. We are very spoiled in today's society!
2. Today I am reminded how thankful I am for GOOD KIDS. I know I can be hard on our children at times expecting them to remember to do this or to do that or to pick up after themselves or to stop picking on each other. I sound like a broken record to myself at times- I can only imagine how I sound to them...repeating myself what feels like constantly so lately I've been trying to focus on the positive to reinforce how wonderful it is when they do things without being asked or reminded vs nagging them when negative. At the end of the day I know we have GREAT kids who show love and respect by words and deeds to their parents, family, friends, teachers and most importantly themselves as a unique child of our Heavenly Father.
3. Today I am thankful for the FALL BACK THING OF DAY LIGHT SAVINGS, every year it seems like I can fully use that extra hour to add to my life so I find myself anxiously looking forward to it. Where or where does the time ever go? If only there were more hours in a day...well there was to today and it was used to the fullest!
4. TUCKING IN TIME WITH HUGS AND KISSES. Love this time, love the little moments, the bed time routine, the stories, the sweet prayers, the kids staying up well past their bed time so they can milk the one on one time with mom and dad...
5. Today I'm thankful for A GOOD HAT or a GOOD PAIR OF EARRINGS, for those mornings that come far sooner than you'd like and you have to be out and about or seen in public when a shower just doesn't fit into the schedule...because after all, we all know when you just want to sneak into the grocery store and sneak out that's when you run into everyone and their grandma that you know. Today, the hat was a quick fix then I threw on an inexpensive fashionable scarf, my fav fall boots and I was out the door ready to face one of those days, not to mention this blistery fall wind and rain...
6. I am thankful for TEACHING OPPORTUNITIES with our children in the every day process of life. We literally combed our entire home for a day and a half looking for Bre's cheer shoes. As she got ready for cheer practice last night she looked for them with no prevail and ended up going to practice wearing her gym shoes so the today I looked all day in every knick, cranny, cupboard and closet, above and beneath, inside the home and then the shoe rack in the garage, gym/dance/sports bags of the kids, then after she arrived home from school Bre even looked outside, in the cars EVERYWHERE... how could a pair of size 8 woman's shoe's just disappear? Brooke likes to wear slip on and wear any and every-bodies shoes so we thought of many numerous scenarios with her wearing them and then the shoes ending up in her toy closet or under a bed or maybe some one slipped them on to take out the trash or have not...then we even thought that a friend may have accidentally taken them home (we always have extra friends coming in and out of our home.) Finding the shoes was so important because all of the cheer leaders wear the same shoes and their end of the year exhibition is this weekend so as I was making dinner I had enough of shoe searching, I was finished looking for the shoes so I reminded Bre to say a prayer to ask her Heavenly Father for help. Then a bit later as she still continued to look and ask her bros and sisters if they seriously had no clue where the shoes were, I ask Bre if she had said a prayer and she said that she did. At this point dinner was over and Bre was getting a bit frustrated and I was starting to think at the end of cheer season we may be having to look into buying a new pair of Nike cheer shoes which aren't the cheapest shoes around. Matt announces it's time for family scripture study and Bre says, "I can't read right now, I have to keep looking for my cheer shoes I have practice soon." Dad says, "if you do what we are supposed to be doing the Lord will bless you." Bre's thinking that reading scriptures is going to take valuable searching time away from her hunt for her lost shoes and her last practice of the season was only like a half an hour away so after a bit of coaxing the family gathered around our big ottoman our usual gathering place to sit on our sectional sofa for family scripture study and prayer. After we had finished and the whole family was still sitting on the sofa, with one last plea I asked them all..."so is everyone sure they have not seen Bre's white pair of cheer shoes or has no idea of where they can be." Just then, Josh stands up from the couch and says are you sure they aren't under here and then with his mighty muscles lifts up the ottoman (take into account it's a ginormous ottoman but it can be lifted up by either of it's four sides to stand on two legs to look under it.) And low and behold as we all sit there, everyone bursts out laughing...in astonishment there here shoes laid hidden under the ottoman in plain sight for all of us to see. Now, needless to say I am certain I looked in and under the sofa and ottoman on more than on occasion that day and saw nothing, we considered it a tender mercy from our Heavenly Father for being diligent to in following the council. Bre's prayer had been answered, ask and ye shall receive, knock and it shall be opened unto you. We can pray about any and everything in our daily lives, our Heavenly Father wants to hear and help us.
7. Today I am thankful for a LOVING HUSBAND who shows love for me and his children in countless ways every day! If there's a will, there's a way with this man. Matt is super creative in many avenues, he's persistent, a true worker that makes matters happen yet he puts his family first. Our marriage and family is a team that works together and when we all do our part to work together for the whole, it's so great to see the beautiful things that come out of life from the simple words or actions to the accomplishments, to making a busy evening full of schedules happen and work for everyone with some of the kids watching a younger one to Matt holding his end of the chauffeuring to and from activities while attending a concert in between so I can be at a meeting I need to get to. Life is surely a juggling act, organization is a must in our family but being flexible is even more important because as we all know as much as we need a plan, life is ever changing...it sure is great to have an amazing partner in the process!
8. I am thankful for SEASONS today. I love them all for so many different reasons. Change is a good thing to mix things up through out the year and our lives. I do however love the traditions the seasons bless our lives with and the opportunity to look forward to these traditions. Fall with the pumpkins, the color of the beautiful leaves and the ones that fall off the trees (how they are crunchy when you step on them and how they blow in the wind and make way when you drive through them), then scarfs, sweaters, hats, football games, the first frost of the year, hot cocoa, harvest moon and fog, colds and flus...okay we could do with out those ones- but they sure make you feel blessed for a healthy body after the fact right?
9. Today I am thankful for MUSIC with hymns and primary songs. For me good music is a way to uplift our spirits, be touched by the spirit and a great reminder of what we stand for and what we believe in.
10. Today I am thankful for BIRTHDAYS!!! Josh turned 7 today with his birthday of November 10th. Celebrating the individual and all of the unique and special traits, talents and qualities that make up our individuality is so much fun, what a great blessing! Happy, happy Josh Blosh~
11. LAZY DAYS truly are a blessing...the past three weeks have been busy in the heading up department for myself. Between the Fall Festival, Jarom's b-day, Primary Program practice with the pizza/root beer float feed and then the actual day of the program then with our traditional rice krispy treats for the kiddos and Josh's b-day, a lazy day to kick back and relax was sooooo needed today, a day to breathe. Today being the day after our primary program/Josh's b-day is Veterans Day (a shout out for all of our WONDERFUL VETERANS...another blessing for sure and the service paid for all of our rights and freedoms) thanks to them we get a day off of school and work for reflection so it enabled me to have a lazy day today to not have to wake up at 5 am to get kids off to seminary and school and to not get out of my bathrobe until noon, we had a very relaxing morning...
12. MODERN TECHNOLOGY, a big blessing. I wouldn't be sitting here typing on this lap top with out it. We have came so far in such a short amount of time, when we talk to our kids about the internet, email, cell phones, texting, instagram, viral videos and so on and so fourth...communication and the mighty world of technology is so different from when I was a youth! If used correctly, a lot of good can come through the technology we have in today's world, even the genealogy and missionary work that is now accomplished with the blessing of our modern technology, we have many great and modern tools at our finger tips.We were going through old pictures a few Sunday's ago after church and we came across all of the old letters that Matt and I wrote back and forth in our court-ship as we met each other through letters (the kids got a kick out of us reading them out loud) then in the binder we came across an email that was printed out and I remember that was one of the first times I had used email so it sparked a conversation with the kids about technology then and now, it's strange to think about that then to wonder what it will be like when our kids have kids....
13. YEARLY FAMILY PICTURES, just got ours taken a few weeks back but developed today (the taking of the pictures part isn't always the most pleasant, seems like more of a chore and even border line torture if you'd ask the kids, getting all ready and coordinating, this year we even had to do it twice...we were having the pics taken out side at a local Christmas tree farm, the first round we ended up getting rained out, gotta love the great northwest!) Anyways, the end result of the actual pictures are always worth it in the end, it's fun to look back to see the growth and changes of the kids from year to year.
14. FUNCTIONING HOUSE HOLD and STOCKED DAILY ITEMS are a true blessing, a blessing that I personally take for granted until BAM! When it rains it always pours, everything always seems to go out or run out all at once right? Not only did the dryer go out last week, the washer is down this week, the frig filter needed replacement, all of the light bulbs seemed to go dead at once, then the head light in one of the car goes out and the other car needs an oil change, all of the kids soap, shampoo and hygiene items are used up, the toilet flush handle breaks in one toilet and the chain breaks in the other, new contacts need to be ordered (like ordered yesterday) since one waited to notify mom until they were down to their last pair of dailies, chocolate milk spills in one of the kids back packs and sits over the weekend (not mentioning any names..ELLIE) soaking through all of her books, binders and work so we had to replace much due to the horrible curdled milk smell we even got to purchase a new book for the school library, sports clearance for school needs to be paid before winter sports starting Monday, a few important keys on the piano that aren't working need to be replaced so the boys can practice with out more due frustration, the kids had dentist check ups and we need a pulled tooth and two cavities filled then we were reminded that the older three need braces not to mention apparently missing important teeth run in our family so we will need to look at fake teeth of some sort for our older girls, I think I'll stop...I suppose first things first, right?...and I used to think that kids weren't expensive. Needless to say the realization that Christmas is only like 40 days away and this mom and dad haven't even thought about Christmas shopping for the kids yet, oh well it will all get taken care of. Let's focus on the blessing...I am very thankful for those rainbows amongst times like these where it seems like you are hit with a storm...only wish it were a wind storm where money grew on trees :) wink, wink.
15. Today is a rainy stormy stay-in day, still had to run kids around today and make a quick trip to the grocery store but totally a comfy hoodie, yoga pants and sheep skin boots day so today I am thankful for HOME MADE SOUP and good ole' HOME MADE CHOCOLATE CHIPS COOKIES. Mmmm. mmmmm. good, COMFORT FOODS, there's nothing that can take the place of them! My kids will love me when they get home from school.
16. HEAT, today I am thankful for all forms of heat with heaters, warm blankets, toasty fires, hand and toe warmers, even Matt who keeps our bed warm- he's a built in heater his body temperature is always far warmer than mine, candy cane warm cocoa to warm up with- just had some this morning...so good, but as the temperatures drop outside thank goodness for heat and heaters of all kinds and forms!
17. LAUGHTER, I am thankful for a good laugh and smiles in general. Isn't it amazing how a simple smile can brighten our day? Laughter and smiles are contagious, we need to do more smiling in our day!
18. GRATITUDE, not that "thank you's" are needed for our actions or service, but isn't it nice when you receive an unexpected "thank you" or someone lets you know that what you've done or your efforts are appreciated? I was handed an unexpected thank you card today at church and it was so sweet! A gratitude attitude goes a long way and is certainly a blessing that keeps on giving. I'm sure our Giver feels the same way. Sometimes we are really good at asking for things but when we receive do we always remember to have a grateful heart?
19. Today I am reminded how much I am thankful for PERSONAL INSPIRATION and FAITH in our Heavenly Father's will...He always knows best in his own time frame.
20. MOUTHS of BABES are one of the sweetest blessings, they are just plain honest and say the sweetest things...so inncoent! Sometimes they are just too smart for their cute little bodies.
21. GOOD PEOPLE to serve with are a huge blessing. I have the best primary counselors to serve with right now. There's no unneeded drama and the focus is the children which is right where it is supposed to be. It's SOOOO NICE to serve with dependable, loving sisters who continually keep focused and always keep calm and serve on...
22. FRIDAYS are a blessing, Thank Goodness it's FRIDAY...enough said :)
23. Today I am thankful for a group effort and TEAM WORK, the youth did their annual turkey basket service projects today and worked so good together to get their service accomplished then we all worked together to put up our Christmas decorations inside and out as a family, Spencer's flag football team gave a awesome group effort to win their game and then we checked out the progress of our Black Diamond flip home where the guys have been working together so hard to get the job done. Working together with a team effort with our groups or family, whom ever your family may be "your ward, your friends, team, work buddies, your immediate or extended family," so thankful for a group effort and the love and unity put forth to work as one to get the job done, it's nice to see everyone working together in harmony.
24. LESSONS and COUNCIL from our leaders. It's nice to be reminded of what we already know or should know and be doing. Whether it be in church, conferences, meetings or just by examples...repetition is so good for us. In the process of our days and life, reminders or nudges to be better people and to step up our game is a good thing. We can always do and be better right?!
25. Today I am thankful for THINKERS and INVENTORS, the great minds of our world that remind us to never ever give up! I've been helping Ellie with her essay on Thomas Edison and after researching him we've found out just how inspiring he is...here's a few quotes, "“When
you have exhausted all possibilities, remember this - you haven't. Our greatest
weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is to try just one
more time. I have not failed, I've just
found 10,000 ways that won't work. Many of life's failures are people who did
not realize how close they were to success when they gave up. We often miss
opportunity because it's dressed in overalls and looks like work. To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of
junk. Genius is 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration. If we
all did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves!" Where would we be without great minds that think outside of the box?
26. Today I am thankful for good QUOTES, okay I know yesterday I was thankful for great thinkers and inventors but here's one more quote from Thomas Edison that I just had to put out there, I LOVE IT...so true!!! Maybe it's just because between Matt and I we are just very technically minded vs book smart that some of our children have inherited our genetics so the typical mold of education and the whole learning process given at school hasn't been the easiest task because everyone does learn so different. “The most necessary task of civilization is to teach people how to think. It should be the primary purpose of our public schools. The mind of a child is naturally active, it develops through exercise. Give a child plenty of exercise, for body and brain. The trouble with our way of educating is that it does not give elasticity to the mind. It casts the brain into a mold. It insists that the child must accept. It does not encourage original thought or reasoning, and it lays more stress on memory than observation.”
27. Today I am thankful for FAMILY VACATIONS, we don't get away too often but the vacations where you get together for the holidays to reunite with family near and far or to reunite and catch up after a period of time with reunions and such are by far the best with the most fond memories! Grandmas, Grandpas, Moms, Dads, Sisters, Brothers, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and "Brothers and Sisters from Other Mothers" :), we are all FAMILY!
28. THANKSGIVING feasts with an opportunity and full month to really ponder the MANY-MANY blessings we truly do have is a huge blessing! The gratitude attitude needs to last and linger through the whole year, it keeps an optimistic mind to reflect on the positive vs the negative! Not to mention the yummy traditional turkey dinner with all of the trimmings with foods and baked goods that are so craved this time of the year, there's nothing quite like mom's cooking!
29. SNOW is a blessing, a beautiful white blanket that brightens not just the outsides but our inside spirits, it's fun to see how much excitement snow brings to the kids and kids at heart! We received the blessing of a covering of snow in Idaho today, my kids were in heaven. Hopefully we will get some snow back home this year as well. A great way to welcome in the Christmas season.
30. OUR SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST, it's December now! Due to traveling my last day of the 30 days and blessings of November is actually a couple of days late since it's now Dec 2nd. So grateful for the many eternal blessings of my Savior and the birth, life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The blessing of eternal life with our families through His atonement truly is the greatest blessing! It is a wonderful time of the year indeed...
