Little Children

Today is Halloween....

(a day I think is perfectly AWFUL for a variety of reasons!)

BUT, I do love seeing the little children as they come so excitedly to the door.

Gardner's children model their Halloween costumes for me
Aren't they just the cutest little kids EVER?!?!?!?!??

I love their enthusiasm, their laughter, their sparkle.

I am grateful for little children.

Scanners

Tons of pictures....

How to process them and get them on familytree????

Well, a scanner, of course.

Now, the pictures will be saved forever out in the big wide world.

And, I am grateful.

Sunset

RAH called to me to come look at the setting sun...

It was very unusual.

And striking.

I was grateful for that one and many others.

So gorgeous.

I'm grateful I can see them.

Sunrise

They are so fleeting...

And so stunningly beautiful.

When I can catch one in the mornings,

I am grateful.

Experts

I love to be helped by people who know what they are doing...

I so often do not know what I am doing, so it's good when people who are experts can give me some help and advise.

And, I am grateful.

Oh I Hate to Say It!

Television.

I have a couple of favorite programs...

Last Man Standing with Tim Allen is the only comedy we watch on a regular basis; it's fun, but I always wish for old-fashioned values, like marriage before living together....AH, those were the days!

Television is often relaxing, fun, entertaining,

And, I am grateful.

Freedom

Listening to an audio book about WWII, reminds me of what a great blessing it is to be free.

To not have enemies taking over our country (although I sometimes think we have some of that in our own government!)

But, to be abel to drive where and when you want,

Buy what you want,

Live in our own home;

What a great blessing freedom is...

And, I am grateful!

Music

I love music.

I love to sing along sometimes.

I love musicals; church music, my children and husband's music.

It brings me joy to listen to music.

And, I am grateful.

Direct Deposits

When I was teaching school, all those years ago,

Mrs. S would come to the school promptly on pay day, pick up her husband's check and head to the bank (I presume).

Those days are long gone.

I just get up on the last day of the month, check the internet and presto; there is the money in the bank.  No need to wait for the mail, go to the office to pick it up,  because, as if my magic, it just appears in the bank account faithfully each month.

And, I am grateful.

Potato Chips

my absolute favorite snack.

I eat way too many.

But, I do love me some Lay's potato chips.

And, I am grateful.

Recurring Theme

....an income.

Some of my children live on the edge; not because they are wasteful, but because of their situations.

I want to bail them out.

That's not the prudent thing to do.

Allen and I struggled on our own, so they must do so also.

It worries me; causes me concern and despair at times.

But, most of all, it makes me grateful that Allen worked for 32 years, day in, day out...plugging along.

And, because of it, we have a modest, but adequate

INCOME.

And, I am grateful.

Photos

It's so fun to see a picture from long ago.

This is a picture of Allen's mother.

Ha!  Ha! She is so cute; I think Lois looks just like this.

Pictures; there is nothing like them.

And, I am grateful.

A Mind That Works (So Far, at Least!)

Some of my relatives have suffered from dementia....it's a terrible disease.

I am definitely forgetful...oh yes.

But basically, I'm still functioning alright mentally.

And, for that, I am grateful.

A New Day...

I din't get the windows washed,

so I will do it today.

A new day...

what a blessing....

and I am grateful.

Good Good People

waiting for an oil change...

waiting, waiting, waiting....

then Dr. Howe came in.

We talked, he told me about himself.

And, I learned that he used to take Ethan Bundy for a ride every Thursday.

That was so marvelous to hear.

And, I was struck - again - with what wonderful, good, unselfish people there are in the world.

And, in my little corner of the big world.  They inspire me....and

I am grateful.

The Sense of Taste

I eat a lot of popcorn.

I like its salty crunchiness.

I eat a lot of bananas.

I like their sweetness.

I love the taste of pizza, bean burritos, potato chips; it all TASTES so good to me.

And, I am grateful.

Eyesight

What a great blessing...

to

SEE.

And, I am grateful!

Reading the Scriptures with Allen

So far we have read the Book of Mormon,

the D & C,

most of the New Testament.

Now, we are back with the Book of Mormon.

It's good to share it with each other.

And, I am grateful.

The World Wide Web

I love the internet...

I can:

do family history,
google anything,
find answers on wikipedia,
connect with former friends on Facebook,
post pictures,
get recipes,
read the scriptures,
etc., etc., etc.

I use the internet every day.

And, I am grateful.

Kristi

She's often had bad luck.

I don't understand it.

But, her car was stolen on Friday from a parking lot.

I can't even imagine the SHOCK of that happening.

But, I know that I am very thankful for that dear wonderful daughter of mine.

Shoes

Eli's day to give me an idea of what to be grateful for.

He said, "Shoes."

It's sort of ironic as I just wrote a very long blog post on SHOES (expensive shoes, in fact).

But, I had never written SHOES in my thankful journal.

And, it IS true.

For shoes, I am very thankful.

IPad

Miles is sitting on my lap.

I asked him what I should be grateful for today and he immediately said,

"IPad."

Miles likes to play games, especially, Mine Craft.

I use it for scriptures, and a few games also.  And, for watching some fun shows.

It's true.

I really like my IPad - just like Miles likes his.

And, I am grateful.

RAH

I don't say it often enough.

But, he is a good husband....a good man.

And, I am grateful!

General Conference

It's always inspiring.

And, now, we can LISTEN to the speakers almost immediately.

What a great blessing to listen and then relisten.

And, I am grateful.

Mission Monday

No, we are not still on our mission.

BUT, today, I went to the LDS Employment Center to see our old friends...

it was so awesome to see:

Ron and Sharon
Sister McMichael,
Sister Fehye,
Brother Clayton,
Elder Bryd,
Bishop and Sister Schmitt.

I realized what marvelous and GOOD people they are.  I feel so blessed to have served with them.

And, I am grateful.

Autumn

It's such a stunning time of year;

the weather has cooled off,

the leaves are changing,

the roses are in bloom again,

the pomegranates are ready to eat,

oh, yes,

it's a wonderful time of the year.

and, I am grateful.

Modern Technology

Year ago, I was watching a movie where the character took her car keys in a crowded parking garage, pushed a button, and the lights on her car came on, so she could easily find her misplaced car.

I'd never seen that before; it was amazing.

I love what is happening with modern techno stuff;

 like my back-up camera in the car,
a built-in GPS,
automatic door unlock without using a key...

it all makes life much easier; and

I am grateful.

Nieces and Nephews

I have a bundle of them.

They are remarkable, talented, good, thoughtful, kind, humble, and did I mention talented?

I love it when they WANT to come and visit.

I love RAH's nieces and nephews also.  They, too, are good, fun, happy, thoughtful folk.

And, I am grateful.

It's a Recurring Theme!

Freedom.

I am reminded over and over again what an incredible blessing...

FREEDOM is...

And, I am grateful!

Teachers!

Over the years, I've had some great teachers...

Secular,
Gospel,
Outside the classroom,
Inside the classroom,

Some were funny,
some were knowledgable,
some inspiring,
most were devoted to their calling/job.

I have indeed been richly blessed by many many teachers.

And, I am grateful.

Musicals!

Amy, Eli, Miles are here.

We went to see Mary Poppins.

Fantastic!
Great music,
incredible dancing,

fun times with the Hackworths

And, I am grateful.