In the spirit of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, I've decided it would be neat to have a Gratitude page on my blog. I plan to regularly add to this list nouns (and possibly other parts of speech here and there) for which I am thankful. Items may or may not show up more than once. Please feel free to comment and add your own moments of gratitude here. To begin, here are a few items that come to mind immediately:
Colin, my husband
Degen, my son
Maggie, my daughter
My parents
My sisters
My brother
My mother-in-law
My father-in-law
My sisters-in-law
My nephew
A car that works
My testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ
The scriptures
My ability to read
My ability to write
My grandparents
My computer
Knowing how to use a computer
My brother-in-law
Clocks
Television
Food
Smiles
Smilies 
Books and shelves to put them on
Air to breathe
Hey Bethany, it’s your cousin, not some random person. Anyway, I was googling stuff for fun, and I can’t even remember how I found you, but I did. This is a pretty awesome blog. Anyway, I thought that the gratitude wall was an interesting idea, and wanted to post some of the things I’m grateful for too.
Cool cousins such as yourself
Classical music with Cuban twist
Dancing all night with family
Leaves that change colors
Snow (yes, snow)
Warm coats for when it does snow
Music
Hands that work
Brains that work (most of the time)
Computers (when they work)
People who love me and people to love
Anyway, I just wanted to say hi and that I love you guys! Drop me an email sometime! Love you, Rachel
Rachel, it’s awesome that you found me by accident, partly because if you browse around you’ll find that your mom found my blog by accident too! I would have been excited even if you had been some random person, but it’s especially exciting to hear from a cousin. I’m glad you like my blog and thanks for adding to the gratitude list. Here’s my addition for the day:
I love having so many awesome cousins (another cousin on my Dad’s side of the family just had a baby, so I’m thankful for cousins once removed, too)
Blueberry eggos
Vacuums
Clothes washers and dryers
Dishwashers
Shoes
Library books
Shampoo
Aunts
Uncles
Sweaters
Sweater-wearing weather
Rain
Fog
Sunshine
Wind
Today I’m grateful for…
My calling at church
That getting things done feels so good
Holidays
Cool weather
Sponges with one side that’s scrubby
Nesting dishes
Babies who nap
Anticipation
The way peanut butter and honey sandwiches get crunchy in the middle from the crystalized honey (one of my sisters hates that, but I love it)
I need a grateful list today because all four of us are sick and I’m tempted to be very grumpy. So, I’m thankful for:
Paid sick days at Colin’s work
Doctors who listen
Having a mom in medical school
Health insurance
Kleenex with aloe and lotion
Clothes washing machines and dryers
Dishwashers
Antibiotics (we don’t need them right now for the flu, but I’m grateful for them when we do need them)
TV and movies to keep us distracted from our misery
Holidays
A Christmas Carol
Hot baths
Bubble bath
Degen thinking pancakes are cookies
Smiles
Great counselors in my Primary presidency
The Wheelers
Sleep
Naptime
Cold drinks of water
Lemonade
Cell phones
Pride & Prejudice
Veterans
Ability to vote
The Bill of Rights
Ability to read and write
sisters
the internet
Google
tylenol
good friends
helpful people
It’s a Wonderful Life
watching my kids grow up
holidays
America
colorful fall leaves
indoor plumbing
our heater and air conditioner
food
sleep
a car that works
church
friends at church
Food
Mornings
Quiet time before the kids wake up
Lots of sleep
Tuesday
Holidays
Today I’m grateful for:
My kids
My husband
Canned fruits
Sugar-free Jello products
Vacuums
Clothes dryers
Church
The Internet
Disposable diapers
Pride & Prejudice
Search engines
My oven
Booster chairs
High chairs
Vitamins
The U.S. Postal Service
Online banking
SPRING!
Flowers
Today I’m grateful that I can look up a recipe for just about any combination of ingredients in the world on the internet and actually find something edible.
I’m also grateful for my sticker chart and my computer that help me log my goals and achievements.
And for having the dumpster for my trash so nearby.
Oh, and YouTube because it has clips of Fiddler on the Roof on it.
AND that Degen is taking a nap, that he and Maggie still nap, that they go to bed at a decent hour and usually doesn’t get up again until another reasonable hour. Thank you Dr. Weissbluth and your book!
Today I’m grateful that you found your gratitude blog so I can read it when I’m missing my daughter.
I’m grateful for technology for tons of reasons (not the least, it’s been the reason Steve has been able to support his family.)
I’m grateful for musicals that put me into a good mood.
I’m grateful to know that even bad things don’t last forever.
Today I’m grateful for my family
strawberries
Colin sending me to the grocery store by myself!
cantaloupe
dishwashers
Colin’s job
My awesome, supportive in-laws
The gym in my apartment complex
Colin supporting me in accomplishing my goals
people (like my wonderful Aunt Marla) who post more gratitude on this list
and I’m grateful for Colin
I’m grateful for:
Options
God
Food
Sleep
A comfortable bed
Healthy kids
Health insurance
Water
Prayer
My church calling
Packing tape
Stickers
Swimming pools
Sunshine
Ideas
People smarter than I
Lists
Funny faces
Music
A car
Funny sounds my kids make
Kids who always want more big hugs
PBS kids shows
Good visiting teachers
A clean carpet
Clean dishes
Clean clothes
Time to think about gratitude
Sleep
My kids and husband
My sisters
My brother
A car that works
Finding food I want to eat
Zofran
Church
Friends in Arkansas
That I saved my boxes from my last move
Kids TV shows
Grandma and Grandpa
Good health insurance
Email
A patient husband
Obedient kids
Cows mooing in the distance
A great view from all the windows in the house
Naptime
Hi! I knew Colin when we lived in Calif. for a short time, and have enjoyed reading your blog while at work. I thought I might add to your grateful posting, since it has been a while.
I am grateful for:
Christmas
Family
Kids who love me
a WONDERFUL husband
having enough money to pay cash for all Christmas gifts
a new wii
homeschooling my kids
curious children
a daughter who calls me at work to tell me she sewed up a laptop cover for her new laptop that we bought with cash
A son who helps around the house without complaining- especially the heavy lifting parts
having my baby turn 5 and not having any more baby urges
getting a wheat grinder finally!
homemade bread
mint candy
a whole bag of mint candy in my stocking- thanks Bill!!
trees around our house
snow
great yarn and a yarn store near our house
playing games with my family
a church callling I enjoy- and being able to learn at the same time
great friends
a warm house to live in
Mom and Dad who are still alive
seeing my parents great examples, and watching them serve a mission
Bill’s parents, and their great examples- and watching them serve two missions
ice cream- even in winter!
water to drink
a job I like- even if I do have to get up REALLY early to be there
learning new skills
books
librarys
having other peoples kids be bad when I can see it, and knowing that it isn’t the parents fault- and so that I know my kids are actually pretty good! warped- yes, funny- yes, mean- probably
sunday afternoon naps after church
the Gospel of Jesus Christ
the Atonement
My Scriptures
my ability to read
reading glasses that make the books clearer
being able to live in a free country
the great servicemembers who serve our country so we can be free
home canned food
gardens
beautiful flowers
a clean house
folded and put away laundry
any job that is done already that I didn’t have to do
and last of all, my wonderful, beautiful children, all 6 of them, and the wonderful, patient, loving and generous husband that I married 21 years ago. They are the BEST!
Thanks for letting me think today of all the wonderful blessings I have, and to post some here.
Michelle
freedom
a time to begin again
watching lights turn on in my children’s lives
btw I love this section because it is so cheerful it could life anyones bad days. Thanks!