Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving is around the corner and Joe and I are flying to Utah on Friday to spend it with my family! I know things will get super busy between now and then so I just wanted to take a couple minutes and make a list of ten things I am thankful for this year.

#1 First and foremost I am thankful for the gospel in my life. I know without an understanding of The Plan of Salvation, knowing I am a daughter of God, and being able to communicate with Him through prayer, I would never be truly happy. I have learned from experience(and I'm sorry to say I've had to learn it on several occasions) that if I'm not doing the spiritual things I need to be doing, I feel the void and I do not feel sincerely happy.

#2 I am thankful for Joe. He is such an incredible person and I love him so much! He's always making me laugh, and he's so adventurous and fun to be with. I've never met anyone more selfless and giving. Since I was a little girl, I thought about the type of man I wanted to marry, and he's more than I could have imagined. Girls always dream of finding their prince and being treated like a princess (I think we can blame Disney for that =) ) and after dating for many years I was starting to believe there really weren't guys like that. Then I met Joe. I can't tell you how many times I've come home to flowers, just because. He is always doing sweet things for me and making sure I'm happy. He has taught me so much since we've been married. He works hard and he plays hard. I couldn't have married someone more amazing. He's perfect for me.

#3 I am so thankful to have such a wonderful family. I have amazing parents who I've grown to appreciate more as the years have gone by. I often think about how blessed I am to be so close to all of my siblings. I was afraid when I moved that our relationships would drift apart, but that hasn't happened at all. They have been so sweet to call and talk, or ichat, and to always make me feel included even though I can't physically be there. We all get along so well and can be honest and open with each other. We rarely ever have any "family drama" and I count that as a HUGE blessing!!! I'm also so thankful for amazing in-laws. My siblings all married such sweet wonderful people, and we have so much fun together. Nothing makes me feel more loved, than seeing them make a big deal out of the fact that I'm home. They always set time aside to hang out and to make sure I get time with their kids. You guys will never know how much it means to me!

#4 I am SOO incredibly thankful for these sweet children. Before they came along I thought there was no way I could love anyone but my husband as much as I love my immediate family. However, the love I have for my family and for Joe's family became even stronger with the addition of these sweet kids. Words could never describe the love that I have for them. Being around them makes me so happy. I know Joe feels the same about the kids on his side of the family...... There is just something so special about watching your sibling have children. Seeing the resemblance they have to their parents, watching their funny personalities, seeing them learn new things, being around them when they're grumpy, etc. It's so fun to observe! They are all so unique and special in their own ways and I have loved being able to watch them grow up. I can't even imagine the love I will feel for my own kids one day (if we ever have any=) ).

#5 I'm so thankful to have married into such a wonderful family! Everyone has been so sweet and welcoming and it has been so much fun getting to know them. They are all so much fun to be around and they make me want to be better. They all share a common love for college football, and I will say I have learned to be able to sit through a game now=) I love that they live close and we're able to see them often.

#6 I'm thankful to have such an amazing best friend. Ashley and I have known each other since 5th grade! Friends and boys have come in and out of our lives, but our friendship has remained strong throughout all these years. I love her so much! She's the type of friend where we can go months without seeing each other but when we get together, it's like we've never been apart. She makes me laugh and we have so much fun together. I know no matter what, she will always be there. Not everyone has a friendship like that, so I count myself very blessed.

#7 I often think about how blessed I am to have been born in this free country. I know it's easy to take our freedom for granted. We have so many opportunities and blessings here and I want to say thank you to all those who sacrifice their lives, their time, and their families to fight for our freedom.

#8 I'm thankful for my health. I may complain about my body a lot, about not being as thin or look as young as I'd like to, but when it comes down to it I am thankful for my body. I have never had any major health issues, which I'm so grateful for. I am able to go to the gym and exercise whenever I want, I can run and play with my nieces and nephews and Andre, I don't have to be in bed all day, I'm not confined in any way, and honestly I feel pretty good! This is another thing I try not to take for granted. When I was pregnant and feeling so sick, I swore I would never take good health for granted again and I'v tried not to. Life can be miserable without it.

#9 I'm thankful for my job. I have really grown to love these kids! They have taught me so much! I have learned patience, love, how to manage my time better, compassion, and so much more. When I first started being a nanny I thought there would be a possibility that I would get burnt out and not want to have children of my own. I think I did feel that way in the beginning, but now I feel so much more prepared. I see the blessing that they are in my life, and can only imagine how I would feel if they were my own. Especially Andre, he just has a way of brightening up my life. He can make me laugh so hard. Some days are hard, but for the most part I love it.

#10 Last on the list for today, but not least....... I'm thankful for the commodities we have and most likely often take for granted. Running hot and cold water, a washer and dryer, heating and air conditioning, the ability to grocery shop and not have to kill our own food, a beautiful apartment, a stove, oven, and refrigerator, food on the table every night, a vehicle that gets me to and from places, light, computers, skype or ichat to see my famly, cell phones, clothing, a comfy bed to sleep in, etc. I am thankful for the things I use every day that make my life better and easier. When it comes down to it, most of these things save me time that I can spend doing something better.