There's a challenge out there to list 365 things to be thankful for. I thought about not listing them because, well, it seems like a lot of work, I've done similar lists before, and I'm a fairly positive person anyway, so the 'daily reminder' to be thankful is not a mechanism I need to keep an attitude of gratitude. However, in the spirit of the holiday, and to prove I am truly thankful for all I have, I've decided to make the list. Here goes:
1. Mike, my loving and eternal companion. This one alone I could break down into a hundred reasons - his hands: strong, gentle, talented; his work ethic: honest, perfectionist, dependable; his character: sense of humor, excellent father to his daughters, responsible; his spirituality: testimony of God, knowledge of the scriptures, devotion to God and family; his physical being: taller than me, hair on his head, generally fit and active, (I'll not go into the more personal aspects, but suffice it to say I could list several more things here); his emotional support and stability, his social graces and willingness to accomodate his wife in my social needs, and many more things - but this is all just #1.
2. Megan, my firstborn. Again, I could break this down more, but won't. She's always been a blessing to our family, a peacemaker, a beautiful and talented daughter of God, and full of love and fun! Fluid and graceful, but she's much stronger than she appears!
3. Mallory, my independant and intellegent daughter #2. She has a wonderful knack for bringing joy with her wherever she goes, carries a song in her heart that would be a delight for anyone to hear, and loves with all her heart. She's a naturalist and a nurturer.
4. Maycee, my over-achieving special daughter #3. She has set the bar high for herself and it is an honor to be her mother. Her level of spirituality and dedication to the Lord is as high as I would imagine required of Mary, the mother of Christ herself. She's incredibley bright as well.
5. Myrah, my beautiful baby (now 15) and daughter #4. She is the lion and the lamb in one. Her independent nature, yet need for acceptance; her tough as nails attitude, yet stongly feminine qualities; A social butterfly (my butterfly princess), yet likes her solitude at times. She will always have my heart.
6. Chet, my first son-in-law and caretaker of Megan. I've trusted him with one of my precious jewels. He carries excitement in his eyes and smile, and is easy to love.
7. Scotty, my second son-in-law and caretaker of Mallory. He has a devotion and dedication to his little family that cannot be denied. His heart is as big as Alaska.
8. Benjamin, Grandson #1. How to make me happy in an instant? Put Benji in front of me! Full of smiles and bounce. He's a 'thinker' and a charmer (as well as a 'chew-er').
9. Mary - twin sister and best friend. She understands me completely (and loves me anyway!)
10. Marie - non-related best friend. She is a talented and wonderful person.
11. Milford Ward - Church family and support group (Many people I could note individually, but that would be too much)
12. Bookclub - love reading, being introduced to all kinds of good books, and discussion is always great.
13. Dump the Plump - keep me motivated ladies!
14. The Book of Mormon - truly another testiment of Jesus Christ. This could actually be broken down more as well - Book of Nephi is inspiring, 3rd Nephi with visit of Christ in America is awesome, story of Ammon in the book of Alma has always been one of my favorites, and more!
15. President Thomas S. Monson - Latter-day prophet. ('nough said)
16. President Jensen - Stake President and all around great guy. It's not like I know him very well or hang out at his house, but he exudes peace and love - genuine love for 'his people'.
17. Bishop Pearson - 7 years as Bishop - I feel sorry for him!! He loves the ward and bends over backwards to help all of us.
18. Primary children - the honest love (and comments) are a joy to be around.
19. Primary music - messages of the gospel in fun little packages.
20. Girls Night Out (R.S.) - OK, so I don't go every month, but when I do go, it's the greatest!
21. Ward activities - I always look forward to getting together with the ward in a casual setting where we can all relax and just really do some bonding and have fun.
22. Easy deliveries of my children. Had a discussion the other day about this blessing in my life.
23. Freedom to raise my family as I like
24. Freedom to worship as I like
25. Freedom to gain education as I like
26. Freedom to chose my own vocation and work place
27. Fair pay for my work
28. Good working conditions/office job
29. Computers
30. E-mail
31. Telephones
32. Cell phones
33. Call forwarding
34. Voice mail
35. Classical music
36. CD's to hold that classical music (among other types of music)
37. CD player to play that CD
38. Accapella music
39. Groups able to sing accapella music
40. Cordless headsets for phone
41. Ipods
42. Post-it notes
43. Staplers
44. Staples for those staplers
45. Lighting fixtures
46. Light bulbs for those lighting fixtures
47. Printers (for the computers noted previously!)
48. Puff's tissues (softer and stronger than other brands!)
49. 3-hole punches - I'd hate to cut out those holes with scissors!
50. Scissors, for cutting things besides tiny holes.
51. Magnets
52. White boards
53. White board markers to write on the white board
54. White board erasers to take off what the markers put on
55. Colors (they're SO pretty!)
56. Chairs with wheels
57. Chairs that rock/glide
58. Chairs that are cushioned
59. Kittens that romp and play
60. Cats that purr
61. My huge leather & down-filled coat that keeps me so warm!
62. My many scarves that keep my neck warm
63. My leather gloves
64. The bike that the Macy's have let me use
65. The gel seat on that bike
66. The odometer/speedometer "toy" on that bike
67. A water bottle holder on that bike
68. A bike rack in the garage for that bike
69. A garage on my house
70. A house to live in
71. The location of that house
72. Good neighbors
73. My back deck
74. My gas grill
75. My hammock
76. My flowerbeds
77. My tomato plants
78. My firepit
79. My gas fireplace in the living room
80. My ceiling fan in the living room
81. My comfy couch
82. My comfy recliner
83. My comfy sofa
84. The piano my mother gave me
85. The Bose music system that sits on that piano
86. The autoharp my father gave me
87. The chimes my husband made me
88. The music stand a friend gave me
89. The stone top coffee table
90. And matching end tables
91. And matching bakers rack
92. The Pfaltzgraph dishes mom gave me
93. Utensils for eating with
94. Glasses in my cupboard
95. Dish clothes - stained as they may be, at least I have some
96. Dish towels
97. Paper towels
98. Dawn dish soap - the best.
99. Aluminum pots and pans - Towncraft
100. Cutco knives
101. Refridgeration
102. My deep freezer
103. The meat in that deep freezer
104. Indoor plumbing
105. Toilet paper
106. Feminine protection (in all its variety)
107. Eye make up remover
108. Moisturizer (facial)
109. Foundation (make-up)
110. Blush (various tones)
111. Eye shadow (various colors)
112. Eye liner (various colors)
113. Mascara (black)
114. Earrings (various colors, sizes, shapes, styles, etc.)
115. Watches
116. Rings for my fingers (various styles and colors)
117. My wedding band - what it symbolizes, as well as it's value
118. My anniversary band - ditto above
119. My 'Mother's Ring' - ditto again
120. Necklaces (various colors, sizes, shapes, styles, etc.)
121. Bracelets (various colors, sizes, shapes, styles, etc.)
122. Calculators
123. Sweaters (shall I be more specific as in, my black sweater, my tan sweater, etc.?)
124. The Internet and it's research capabilities
125. Pictures
126. Cool frames to put those pictures in
127. Cameras - to take those pictures
128. Calendars - to help keep my life straight!
129. Water bottles
130. Mexican food (chips, salsa, corn tortillas, rice and beans, cheese, and more!)
131. Jeans (especially if they fit well and in preferred size!)
132. Biking shorts (especially if they fit well and in preferred size!)
133. Flowing dresses (especially if they fit well and in preferred size!)
134. High heeled shoes that match whatever you're wearing perfectly
135. Tennis Shoes
136. Good hair days!
137. Ability to sing
138. Ability to teach
139. Ability to lead music
140. Ability to organize people
141. Ability to organize things
142. Ability to speak in public
143. Ability to keep a positive attitude
144. Ability to laugh
145. My 'yellow' personality
146. My cute nose
147. My tanning bed
148. The fan beside my tanning bed
149. My elliptical machine
150. A television in the basement to watch when on the elliptical machine
151. A remote for that television
152. A washing machine for my clothes
153. A dryer for my clothes
154. An ironing board
155. An iron.
156. Cold water to drink
157. Hot water to bath with
158. Water for the iron
159. Toothbrush
160. Toothpaste
161. Deodorant (Secret, vanilla scent!)
162. Deodorant for Mike (Axe, whatever!)
163. Razor
164. Shaving cream
165. Bath and Body Works, Shower gel (any scent is good!)
166. Loufa
167. Happy memories of vacation to Mammoth Cave
168. Memories of vacation to Canaan Valley - skiing
169. Memories of Caribean cruise Christmas '02
170. Temples
171. My Endowment
172. My temple sealing/marriage
173. My eternal family
174. Glue sticks
175. Pot Roast Dinners
176. Slow cookers (crock pots)
177. Electric knives
178. Electric hand mixers
179. Toasters
180. Waffle makers
181. Microwave ovens
182. Conventional ovens
183. Hot pads/mitts
184. Large cooking utensils (whisk, spatulas, slotted spoons, tongs, etc.)
185. Carpet
186. Extended family (In-laws and Out-laws! This also could be a hundred individual items, but I'll keep it combined here)
187. My education at Southern State
188. My education at Wilmington College
189. The Bachelor's degree I have because of those colleges
190. My car
191. My husbands truck
192. Maycee's car (because we don't have to share)
193. Recycling programs (I'm not excessively green, but appreciate the efforts of others)
194. Blue pens
195. Red pens
196. All other color of pens :)
197. Scotch tape
198. Tape dispensers
199. Double sided tape
200. Duct tape
201. Business cards
202. My health
203. My legs (muscles, bones, ability to walk, etc.)
204. My arms (muscles, bones, ability to lift and use, etc.)
205. My heart, lungs, liver, stomach, and other major organs (I would list separately if I wanted to go to 1000)
206. Child services that help children in need of protection
207. Foster parents who love and help those children in need and are given the authority to do so.
208. Haircuts (or trims)
209. Clean fingernails
210. Indoor plants
211. Locks on doors
212. Local police and firemen willing to risk life for average citizens
213. Ability to see
214. Ability to hear (though not well, I am still grateful)
215. Ability to smell
216. No being able to smell very well (not as sensitive as some, thank goodness!)
217. Ability to speak
218. Ability to feel touch and temperature
219. Ability to cry
220. My sense of humor, corky as it may be
221. Diet Coke (my vice) with lemon &/or cherry flavoring too!
222. Hearing children laugh
223. Ability to drive a vehicle
224. My daily safety on the roads
225. The sunshine
226. Occasional rain
227. Lightening and the sound of thunder - I just think that's cool
228. Snowflakes
229. Enough snowflakes to ski on!
230. My skies (boots, poles, etc.)
231. My bike helmet (and car mounted bike rack - had to squeeze this in somewhere...)
232. My bed
233. My pillows
234. The television in my bedroom
235. The remote to that television
236. Candles (various sizes, colors, scents, etc.)
237. My parents (I guess I could list separately, but I won't)
238. Growing up on a farm with lots of room to run around
239. Hairspray
240. My dresser and chest (bedroom furniture)
241. Ohio - all it's variety and interesting places
242. Cough drops
243. Ibuprofen
244. Band aids
245. Neosporin (antibiotic creams)
246. Spices (salt, pepper, cajun, etc.)
247. Milk (1% white, and chocolate!)
248. Honey Bunches of Oats with Almonds - my favorite cereal
249. Sales on my favorite cereal
250. Sales on milk
251. Being told I'm attractive
252. Sleep
253. Glasses to help me see more clearly
254. Heat (furnace, pumps, blowers, whatever it takes to stay warm in the winter)
255. Air conditioning (when needed in the summer)
256. Hard wood floors (wish I had some!)
257. Alarm clocks (not that I use one, but should. I like the technology!)
258. Showers - for that warm water mentioned earlier
259. Shampoo & conditioner (actually counts as two, but I need more space)
260. Ability to make choices (my agency)
261. Blow dryers
262. Curling Irons
263. Tweezers
264. Knee Highs and control top stockings (2 for 1 again!)
265. Ability to read
266. Ability to do math (granted, no more than basic algebra is all I can remember right now)
267. Ability to type (thanks, Mom!)
268. Trees
269. Wild life (squirrels, deer, wild turkeys, Red-tail hawks, chipmunks - all seen on bike trail this year!)
270. Loveland Bike Trail
271. Ribbons and bows for packages (these are a few of my favorite things...)
272. Movies (Princess Bride, Pirates of the Caribean, Twilight, just to name a few I like)
273. DVD's - when the theater movies become home movies
274. Chocolate - any kind, any time, any where!
275. Ice cream - most any kind, any time, any where!
276. Missionaries throughout the world willing to serve on their own accord (and dime)
277. Forgiveness - from others, and especially from God
278. Revelation - personal and to prophets
279. Scriptures - as a whole (BofM noted previously)
280. Family Home Evening - as a kid
281. Family Home Evening - as a parent (different perspective)
282. Family Prayers
283. Christmas holiday season
284. Birthdays
285. Nativity sets
286. Easter holiday season
287. Pioneers
288. Veterans
289. Patriotic music
290. Bras
291. Harmony in music
292. Talented pianists (and other musicians)
293. Ability to imagine and pretend
294. Ability to inspire others
295. Ability to have faith and hope
296. Ability to trust others
297. Ties (yes, neck ties)
298. Ability to make things out of ties (yes, neck ties)
299. Power strips
300. Electricity to power all the electrical things I am thankful for
301. High-lighters (various colors!)
302. Personal notes in the mail
303. Health insurance
304. Mike's employment
305. Swimming pools (diving boards and slides too)
306. Opportunities to play at Girls Camp
307. Opportunity to serve as a Visiting Teacher
308. Opportunity to serve in various leadership positions throughout life (RS/YW/Primary)
309. Weekends
310. Umbrellas (ellas, ellas)
311. O'Charlie's steaming, hot, sweet, buttery, and delicious rolls! (aahhhh - angelic voices sound) 312. Hooks to hang my coat on (at work, church, home)
313. Knowledge of life after death
314. Knowledge of God's plan for his children
315. Knowledge of life before birth
316. Time on earth
317. Time with children
318. Time with Mike
319. Time alone
320. Radio in car (and Sean Hannity)
321. Wall paper &/or boarders
322. Zoo's
323. Museums (Art, History, Science, all kinds!)
324. Jets/airplanes
325. Buses/Trains (so Meg can get to work)
326. Those who help Myrah get home from school safely.
327. Those who help Myrah get to school from Seminary.
328. Seminary for my children
329. Youth activities for my children
330. Youth leaders for my children
331. The values I hold in my life (standards of living righteously)
332. Flowers (all kinds, colors, sizes, shades, scents, etc.)
333. Hummingbirds, owls, peacocks (and other birds, but these are my favorites)
334. Medications to treat chemical imbalances
335. Smiles (especially on my children)
336. Good jokes/humor
337. The moon
338. The stars - especially a clear dark night with millions of bright stars
339. Mountains and valleys (snow capped, or misty - any scenic view)
340. Deserts - scenic views of red plateaus
341. Fire - flickering, popping, relaxing, non-violent types
342. Dancing - moving my body to rythms
343. Sewing machine
344. Ability to use that sewing machine
345. Sewing supplies to assist the sewing machine
346. Patterns to use with the sewing supplies
347. Material for said patterns
348. My unique accent heard by some
349. Vaccum cleaners
350. Carpet shampooers
351. Friends who loan their carpet shampooer
352. Dryer sheets that smell so lovely, like a garden full of flowers (or something like that)
353. Memories of Grandpa N. (Dad)
354. Memories of Grandma P. (Mom)
355. Scrapbooking and other craft supplies (Sissix, colorful papers, hot-glue gun, etc.)
356. Search engines (to go with Internet mentioned earlier)
357. Mud between my toes after playing with my girls outside (remember that?)
358. Pacifiers for crying babies
359. Disposable diapers (thanks, Mally, for accomodating when Benji comes over!)
360. Color ink to go with computers and printers noted earlier
361. Othodontic braces (for me, as well as for my children - what beautiful smiles!)
362. Skilled doctors who have operated on me and my family throughout our lives
363. Date nights with Mike
364. Continued modern technology and advancements
365. My Savior Jesus Christ, who loves me, died for me, and wants me back even after all my sin.
So there you have it, 365 things to be thankful for. That's one a day to look at until Thanksgiving week, 2009.
