Safe Travels

Well, we made it to Solingen, Germany.

All in one piece and without any harrowing incidences.

And, I am grateful.

We are staying in a 300 year old home;

it's very cold.

I'm tired, but feeling grateful.

Grand Adventures on the Horizon

Okay,,,,,

it's scary, exciting, fun, adventuresome, and one-of-a-kind.

It's a month-long stay in Germany.

It's been in the planning for a long time.

And, now it's here.

And, I am grateful.

Early Mornings...

...so much to do.

So, it's good to get up and get going.

And, I'm grateful to be able to do that.

Rain in the Desert

It's always a good thing when it rains in Southern Utah.

When it happens, I am very grateful.

Our Lovely Home

I'm very grateful for our home;

it's just perfect for the two of us and any guests we have.

I feel blessed that it is paid for.

A home is a wonderful thing to have....

And, I'm grateful.

Health

I've been struggling with a cold/cough for three weeks.

It hasn't been pretty or fun.

But, it certainly makes me so appreciate my relatively good health.

Oh, yes, I've grateful.

A Good Night's Rest

I haven't been sleeping very well at all.

So, last night when I slept the whole night through.

It felt so good.

And, I am very grateful.

MONDAYS!

I know, I know...

Most people don't like Mondays.

But, I do.

I have for many years.

It's a week plan, improve, work on, center on.

I'm really grateful for Mondays.

And, now, if you'll excuse me, I have things to do.....

Good Books

I love a good book.

They take me to places I'll never go,

people I'll never meet,

and situations that leave me wondering and pondering.

Being able to put words together just so is such a talent.

And, I'm grateful for authors who leave me speechless and moved.

Good books thrill me.

And, I'm grateful.

Humble People

Some people are just so humble,

Good,

Kind,

Thoughtful.

I admire that.

They are inspiring.

I'm thinking right now of Stephanie Gee and her brother-in-law, Andrew Gee.

They inspire me.

And, I'm grateful.

Motivating People

The guy was on the elliptical machine behind me.

He was going at a very fast pace.

I wanted to quit, but he was working so hard, as were others around me;

lifting weights,

biking,

treadmilling,

So I soldiered on.

And, I was grateful for their inspiration.

Another Day With Lots to Do

I just love that there is another day...

to run errands,

make phone calls,

clean something,

make something,

I'm so grateful for another good day.

A Little Bit of Money

A neighbor, with hat in hand, and overwhelmingly humbled, came today to borrow some money.

Not a lot.

Just a little.

But, I was thankful we had it to loan.

We do not have a lot of money compared to many of our friends.

But, we have

SOME.

And, today - and every day - I was grateful for that.

Calm Waters - For the Moment

I even hesitate to be grateful for it....

Things can change so quickly.

BUT, at this moment, things are going okay.

Of course, there are challenges.

Of course, our children have some situations.

BUT, for this exact moment, there are no dramatics, histrionics, overwhelming problems.

And, I am so very grateful.

Neighbors - Iveys and Ures

Sunday afternoon...

Late afternoon.

Doorbell rings....plus a little soft knock.

Standing there in the doorway, two little neighbor girls with a plate of chocolate cookies....not just any chocolate cookies, but made by Andrea; best cook in the neighborhood...

So sweet.

And tasty.

Also on Sunday afternoon, the Ures brought over some grapefruit and lemons, fresh from a relative's tree.

And, I am grateful to have such generous, kind, thoughtful neighbors.

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for the goodness of people.

Food

I've been trying to not eat after 7 p.m.

It's very hard and sometimes I just don't make it.

Like last night...

I was so hungry.

So, I had some popcorn, a little Cutie, and a couple of tastes of yogurt whips.

It wasn't a lot.  It was just a little.

But, it was easy, fast, and available.

I'm so thankful that when I'm hungry, I have access to food.

Oh, yes, I'm grateful for food.

My Thoughtful Daughters.

Man, I was blessed in the good daughter department.

And, I'm so grateful.

Neighbors and Friends

Last night I was relaxing on my new birthday gift -

a Hammock.

When I saw through the window four of my favorite people:

Jessica,
Avery
Skye
Eden

It was the Stout family - minus Jason.

And, they came to say Happy Birthday with a plate of cookies.

There are so many people like that in our neighborhood...

And, I am grateful.

My Granddaughter, Janessa

These post-it notes were scattered all around.  I just put them on the door to take a picture and to have a good reminder of what a dear granddaughter I have.  I'll probably leave them there for about three years.

Yesterday was my 71st birthday.

Early in the morning, I got up to go exercise.  On the floor leading into the kitchen were the three large white papers a the top...saying there were 71 one things Janessa loved about me.

Then, scattered all around the kitchen/living area were 71 post-it notes.  Totally made me cry; then laugh.  Throughout the day, I would discover these little notes and it was just so FUN!

What a thoughtful gift!

What a girl!

And, I am grateful.

71 Birthdays

and in honor of that I'll list 71 things I'm grateful for:

1. Saviour
2.  Atonement
4. Gospel
4. Allen
5. My father
6. My mother
7. Jenni
8.  Brent
9. Sean
10. Lisa
11. Janessa
12. Stockton
13. Landon
14. Justin
15. Amy
16. Eli
17. Miles
18. Calder
19. Jeremy
20. Carisa
21. Bridger
22. Oscar
23. Kaelyn
24. Alyson
25. Sayre
26. Kristi
27. Bobby
28. Will
29. Lilly
30. Jordan
31. Janna
32. Oliver
33. Lucy
34. Imogen
35. Anna
36. Eyesight
37. Hearing
38. Mobility
39. Health
40. Home - paid for
41. Car - paid for
42. Truck
43. Flowers
44. Food
45. Fingers
46. Toes
47. Clothing
48. Garn
49. Dorothy
50. Linda
51. Jerry
52. Kaey
53. Gavin
54. Preston
56. Shauna
57. Libby
58. Janice
59. Brian
60. Lois
61. Bill
62. Donna
63. Jerry
64. Ava
65. Extended relatives
66. Neighborhood friends
67. Education
68. Sunshine
69. Flowers
70. Modern conveniences
71. Life

I ran out of numbers before I ran out of things to be grateful for.

My heart is very full today.  Thank you, Heavenly Father, for the goodness that surrounds me.

My Brother

I was a little surprised when the package came in the mail; but I shouldn't have been...

He's always so thoughtful and doing kind things.

And, when I unwrapped it, it totally made me laugh!

Oh, I'm so thankful for my baby brother, Preston Gee.

Time to Rest

I've had a terrible cold/cough/etc. for over a week.

It just keeps hanging on...

and on....

and on.

I have places to go, things to do, but I feel weighted down and exhausted.

So, today after the family left,

I was so grateful to be able to just lie in my room for awhile.

Just relax.

It felt good.

Even though I don't.

And, I am grateful for a little time.

From Miles - EASTER!

I"m very grateful for this beautiful morning.

It is so significant,

and I don't think most of us even understand how significant it really is.

But, I am grateful.

from Eli scissors

  I am thankful for scissors.

My Office

Man, I just love coming in here every morning....

Checking mail,

Updating my finances,

Making calls,

Doing family history.

And, I get to do it in such a clean, neat, sunny environment.

Oh yes, I am grateful.

Good Readers

I love listening to audiobooks as I:

drive around town,

exercise,

lay in bed.

The books I listen to have multiple characters, so it requires a very talented person to use a variety of voices, inflections, dialects; and then to remember them all!

Man, it is just so fun to listen to a well-recorded book on tape with an artful reader.

And, I am grateful.

Allen and the Trees

Wherever we have moved, Allen has planted lots of trees.

LOTS OF TREES.

In fact, at each place, he's ended up having to take trees OUT!

But, my goodness, they make a home so lovely.

And, I am grateful for Allen and the trees he has planted over the years.

Of course, when Allen plants the trees, they are little, scrawny, puny, teensy, stick-like.  We have been gone from this home for 10 years.  And believe me, the trees looked nothing like this!