Thankful #30

Another Year. More Changes. More Successes. More Trials. More triumphs. More Learning. More Accomplishments. More Tears. More Laughter.

Change is inevitable. Trials are inevitable. We all have them. We all do our best to cope and to get through them. I am so grateful that I made it through another year. I made more mistakes. I made more good choices. I laughed and I cried. I said a few bad words. I prayed. I set goals and accomplished them. I set goals and completely failed. I am grateful to know that I am a daughter of God. I know I am. I am grateful to know that He knows who I am and who my children are. I am grateful for the Priesthood. I am grateful for Priesthood blessings. I am grateful for tithing, and the ability to pay it. I am grateful for family and that I have one. All families look different. Mine is just right the way it is right now. I am grateful for agency. I am grateful for health. I am grateful for music. I am grateful for those around me who are such good, good people. I am grateful for lessons learned, and lessons unlearned. I am grateful for all of it.

Thankful #29

New traditions.

We were able to go do the Polar Express Ride on the Heber Creeper with Josh's dad's family last Friday night. I have never been on the Heber Creeper. SO fun! We had an entire train car to ourselves, as a family, and we sang carols and drank hot chocolate. The kids were able to talk to Santa and see lights. It was so fun! I would LOVE to make this our new tradition!

Thankful #28

Tradition.

I am grateful for the traditions that my parents had, and their parents had. I am grateful for the yummy Thanksgiving food my mom makes every year and that we have Thanksgiving dinner as a family... whichever family it happens to be with each year. I am thankful for my family and that my children and I always have a place to go for the holidays.

Thankful #27

Adventures.

We took the three younger boys to Scheels last week. It was quite the adventure! The boys especially loved the giant ferris wheel and the fish tank. They all believe that the guys from "Tanked" built that fish tank. We might be slightly obsessed with that show! I am grateful for adventures. Josh is all about adventures and exposing the kids to different activities and places and foods and people. I love just watching the kids experience all of the new things in life.

Thankful #26

School.

I am grateful for my children's schools. I am grateful for their teachers. I am grateful for the fun projects and activities that they get to do. I am thankful for everything that they are able to learn at school... not just their arithmetic or their grammar, but lessons about being social and lessons about being kind and helpful. I am also very grateful that the elementary school is right behind where we live so that I don't have to worry so much about them getting to and from school.

Thankful #25

Primary.

I am a simple-minded girl. I understand what is taught in Primary. I get the Primary songs. I totally feel the Spirit when I am in Primary. I still sing Primary songs to myself at night when I am having a hard time sleeping, or when I have bad dreams. I am so thankful for Primary!

Thankful #24

Ice cream.

Enough said. I am so grateful for ice cream!!

Thankful #23

Crossword Puzzles.

I love crossword puzzles of all kinds! It is therapeutic for me to sit at night and unwind by playing games while my boys sit around me and watch tv or play games. I love that they are so relaxing to me!

Thankful #22

Chicago Fire.

I am addicted to this show. Seriously. I lay in my bed on Wednesday nights at 9:00 and text my Josh throughout the whole show. I LOVE this show!

Thankful #21

The Jordan Bantam Maroon Football Team.

This year has changed Jackson. He has always been such a GREAT kid, I mean a really great kid. But, he wanted to play football. He took that challenge and really worked so hard at it. He made some great friends, developed some new skills, learned lots about himself and had a blast. I am grateful for his coaches. He could not have had better coaches for his first year in football. I am grateful for the team moms, who worked so hard each and every week. I am thankful for those boy he played. I am grateful for what he learned.

Thankful #20

Nice People.

Seriously. I have a neighbor who brought a homemade loaf of bread to us a few weeks ago, just because. I was so thankful. I have a ward member who came to me yesterday, just to say that she was so happy to see me and my boys there, that it makes her happy to see us. I was so thankful. Today, a guy held the door open for me. Just because. I was so thankful. Each morning, my boys go out and start my car, scrape the windows and turn on the heater for me. I am SO thankful. It really isn't that hard to be nice to people. I am so thankful for people who are nice to me and my kids.

Thankful #19

Travel.

The past year has been full of adventures. Last December, I was able to go to Hawaii with my dad and step-mom. I can't wait to go back! Early this year, Josh and I took the kiddos to Idaho Falls and Great Falls, Montana. We also went to Disneyland, Las Vegas and San Diego in May as a family. Last month, Josh and I were able to go to Chicago and South Bend. We have had such a fun year of travel. I am so grateful for our opportunity to go on these adventures.

Thankful #18

Extended Family.

This is my Aunt Marlene. She lives in Texas. She is my dad's oldest sister. She came to watch one of Jackson's football games. Pretty stinking cool. I am grateful for my extended family. I am thankful for my four grandparents, two who are living and two who have passed. My miss my Grandma and Grandpa Robb every day. I literally think about them everyday and miss them so much. My Grandma Robb was the ultimate example to me. Oh, I loved her. I loved her soft skin and sweet smile, her faith and her love of her family. My Grandpa Robb was one of my best friends. He was such a grumpy pants. That might be where I get it from! He loved his diet pepsi... had one in each pant pocket, one in his shirt pocket, one on his tv tray and one in his hand. He loved his family so much. My Grandma and Grandpa Nef live in California. My Grandma Nef is the socialite, the entertainer, the budget queen, the food making specialist. My Grandpa Nef is tender-hearted, hard-working, kind and affectionate. I love that every time I see him, he hold my face in both hands and kisses me, like he is trying to get my attention for that one moment to tell me he loves me, still. He calls all of the boys, "dude." I love that. I have several aunts and uncles and cousins who I love. I am very blessed and very thankful.

Thankful #17

Health Insurance.

I have four boys. Enough said. I am so grateful that I have a full-time job, and work for an institution which provides employees with the option to have health insurance. I am grateful that this allows me to take my kiddos to the doctor when they're sick or to purchase medicine or to get us some fun shots when needed. I am SO thankful for health insurance.

Thankful #16

Food.

Food and I have had a love/hate relationship for quite some time now. I love it and hate the way I perceive my body after I eat it. After a week long stay in the hospital a few years back, I am doing much better with those feelings, and have gained the 20 pounds required of me back then... and kept it on! I am grateful that my children and I have food. I am grateful that none of us have any major allergies to food. I am grateful that after three years of a GJ feeding tube, Kaydon has no problem taking all food by mouth, and no longer requires the feeding tube to stay alive. I am grateful that I have the ability to cook and bake, and grateful that my mom and my grandmas taught me how to do that. I am grateful that my boys can cook, and do a great job at it. I am grateful.

Thankful #15

Friends.

I've said many times... I don't have very many friends, but the ones I do have are priceless! They have my back. They let me be me. They let me cry. They let me be angry. They make me laugh. They believe in me. I can trust them. Actually trust them. Imagine that! I feel so blessed to have the friends that I have! Heavenly Father knew just who I would need, and He blessed me with them. I am so thankful for my friends.

Thankful #14

Laughter.

I love to laugh. I love to hear my kids laugh. Braxton's laugh is so contagious! You don't have to have a clue what he is laughing about... his laugh just makes you giggle! I love the sound of my kiddos laughing. It makes me so happy. This little ray of sunshine makes us laugh all the time! She has the funniest facial expressions and she says the funniest things. We just love to watch her. I am so thankful for the ability to laugh with my family and be happy!

Thankful #13

Shelter.

I am so thankful that my mom provides the quorum and I with a place to live. I am grateful for mattresses and warm blankets and comfy pillows. I am thankful for heat and electricity. I am thankful for running, warm, clean water. I am thankful for a fireplace that has been very active so far this fall! I am thankful for appliances to wash our clothes and dishes and to cook our food. I am thankful that, especially during this cold, cold winter season, the boys and I are protected with a roof over our heads and warmth inside!

Thankful #12

Utah.

We live in THE most beautiful place. The mountains are never disappointing. They are always there. They make me feel so safe. They are majestic. Everywhere you look is beauty. I am so thankful to live in the most beautiful place!

Thankful #11

RRH.

I am so thankful to have a full-time job, with health benefits and paid holidays, vacation and sick days. I am so thankful to work in an amazing division with good people who are dedicated and kind and funny. I am especially thankful for my boss. I am so blessed to work with a great man, who has integrity. He is a great example of a husband and father. He cares so much about the people he works with. He puts up with my "high strung, loud, sometimes crazy" personality. He even lets me just sit and cry sometimes. I MIGHT have issues... just saying. I am very grateful for RRH.

Thankful #10

My brother and my brother-in-law.

Logan is the baby of the family. He has always had this amazing blonde hair and beautiful blue eyes. His smile is literally ear to ear. He has a beautiful singing voice and is super good at his job. His partner, Skip, is just as handsome and is SO funny. Seriously, these two together are a bucket of laughs every minute of the day! LOVE them! They are so giving, always volunteering and always giving to others. They are kind and respectful and so unselfish. I am so thankful for them and their big hearts and amazing smiles!

Thankful #9

My brother and sister-in-law.

Brandon and I are one year apart. To the day. We have the same birthday. That's always been pretty fun. Brandon has always been the smart one. The one who did everything right. The one who owns two homes and a business, who is a doctor, who served a mission, who is still married to the same person. Perfect. Yep, complete opposite of his big sis! Brandon is a wonderful uncle and a loving little brother. I know he loves me, despite my short-comings. He also loves my kids and I am grateful for that. He and Carrie, his wife, have sleepovers with the boys every now and then and my kids love that time with them... and their dog! I am thankful for a brother who loves me and who loves my boys and who is in my corner.

Thankful #8

Auntie and The Uncle.

Auntie and The Uncle are on the right side of this picture. When I was young, Auntie lived with us for a little while. I seriously thought I was the luckiest girl EVER! I loved having her with us and I loved that I got to see her everyday. Then, she married The Uncle. I was pretty mad at him because she moved out. I don't even think he knows that, but I was very mad. They have two boys who are all grown up now. My boys idolize The Uncle. They are always asking me when they get to see him again. They LOVE that man. They surprised us in May when they showed up at Disneyland. The boys almost thought that was better than Disneyland itself! He was so funny... he brought cantenes full of kool-aid and pb & jelly sandwiches for the boys to snack on while walking around Disneyland. They LOVE him. Auntie sends me new markers every few months to color with. She has never judged me, never made me feel dumb or like a failure. I really love her! I am so thankful for Auntie and The Uncle!!

Thankful #7

My dad.

My dad and I have always been close. I used to love watching him coach baseball. My mom would load us kids up and we would work in the snack bar while my dad coached. That was how I spent my childhood and I felt very, very lucky. My dad taught me to love and appreciate sports, and I do! He taught me to not take the Lord's name in vain. He taught me to speak my mind... and I do! I am thankful for my dad and I love him very much.