It's Thanksgiving

 And I am feeling guilty I have done very little to celebrate the holiday other than lecturing my kids over and over about all the things they have to be thankful for. One assignment I gave them was to write down 20 things they are thankful for and I was amazed at their gasps of indignation so then we had to have a quick talk about all the things they have to be grateful for. But now I'm feeling like I need to fulfill my own assignment.
I'm thankful for...

-A husband that does the dishes every night and pretends to listen while I talk his ear off after the lights are out for the night and is the most patient man in the entire world.

-A family that teases, laughs, plays, and works together.

-In-laws that are the opposite of everything I had ever been warned about.

-An extended family that we are very close with and love spending time with. 

-My job that stresses me out and makes me laugh til I cry...simultaneously.

-My fifth graders who make me want to pull my hair out and who I love more than I ever imagined.

-My friends who I can talk to all day long and still never run out of things to say.

-A warm house that I love to come home to.

-All the nice material things that I have...soooo spoiled.

-The peace the gospel brings to my life.

-The wonderful community we live in. Some of the best people in the world live here and we get to associate with them every day.

-The free country we live in. I'm not always happy with the decisions being made for the country but we really are blessed with the freedoms we have. Every day we say the Pledge of Allegiance I am reminded of the valiant men and women who have sacrificed for all the things that I have.

-My cell phone. It's embarrassing how connected I am with that thing but it has saved me from being lost and driving around aimlessly more times than I can count.

-My education. I have been so blessed with good teachers who have taught me about more than their subject matter covered. Those life lessons will always stay with me.

-Food. Oh my stars I am grateful for food. According to me, good food is one of the things that makes life worth living.

-Seasons. Each time we have a new season coming around I decide it's my new favorite. I love the new life in spring, the fun and sun in summer, the leaves and crisp air in fall, and the snow in winter.

-Candles. I am a little crazy about my house smelling good and have all sorts of candles burning to make it smell lovely.

-Flowers. Even though they are all dead now, I love my flowers in the spring and summer. Every morning this summer I would get out of the house and take a walk around my yard admiring my flowers and examining the new growth.

-A soft and cozy bed to sleep in. Kolton and I say every night that our favorite part of the day is when we get to stretch out in our bed. It's just so comfy and fluffy and great.

-Good people all around the world. Even though there are bad things that happen every day there are always good people there trying to lift and help and do what they can to better someone's life.

There's probably a million more things I can think of, but there's a pumpkin pie calling my name that I had better get to...

Happy Thanksgiving!