ABC's of Thankfulness

A - Autumn, so boring but so true!  I think Autumn is the most beautiful season of all but even more than that, especially after the hot, miserable summer we just had, Autumn is a sign to me from God that even after stressful miserable seasons in my life, I will live through it and I will see relief

B - Bryan, Brett, Bryce, Blake, Brandon, Burney and the soon to be two new Babies!

C - Caleb

D - Daughters in laws!  We could not have been given more wonderful daughters in laws.  Amanda and Dani are both beautiful, smart, sweet, and accept our crazy family ways.  But most important, they couldn't be a better fit for both of our sons

E - Elizabeth - My 97 year old mother who becomes more precious to me with each passing year

F - Friends - I have been blessed with some of the most amazing friends.  They are like me, they don't have a lot of time to hang out, they are too busy raising families and being a helpmate to their husbands, but they know, and I know, that if ever a need arises the others would be there with a shoulder to cry on, a hand to help, and a prayer to give

G - God!  My heavenly Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit have lovingly guided me, gently rebuked me, been my guiding light, my unwavering support, and my everlasting hope

H -  Happiness - something I have been given an abundance of all of my life.  The only times I lacked it, was when I chose to feel sorry for myself rather than be happy

I - Immortality - Something we all have when we know Jesus.  Because this earth is not our permanent home, we can rest in the assurance that all will ultimately be well

J - Jamie and Josie!

K - Kristi, Karen, Kyle, Kyson, Kierstyn, Kollyn, and Kailyn!

L - Lexi - the one who made me a grandma, the one whom is becoming a young woman, who is so full of love and wisdom, but who is going through the usual Jr High problems that comes with that age and those new hormones.  The one whom I wish I could shelter from the hurt feelings that she will face, but who makes me realize that women of all times faced the same emotions, and she will get through them, just like I did, my mother did, and her mother did, and she will be stronger and smarter on the other side!

M -  Mark - He has been the biggest blessing God could have given me, to raise a family with him, to work with him, to play with him, to watch our children become wonderful adults with him, and to be a grandparent with him!

N -  Noise! - The noise of Mark working in the shop, and the trucks coming in and out of our drive, the noise of the vacuum running, the food frying, the noise of grandchildren squealing and playing, the noise of our children laughing and teasing one another, each and every noise represents something to be thankful for!

O- Onery little grandsons!  I love getting a call or a message on facebook telling of the latest things one of those little guys said or did!  They sure keep their mamma's on their toes!

P - Preston and Popcorn!

Q-Quart canning jars!  I have really gotten into canning this summer and I want to continue to do so this winter.  I love going down to my basement and see all the full, colorful jars greet me!

R - Ryan

S - Stacita and Shane, and all of my other son-in-laws, even though I've mentioned them all by name, I want to mention them again!  Just like our daughter in laws they would not be better if we'd handpicked them ourselves!  They are all hardworking men who provide well for their family's, love our grandchildren, and who make our daughters joyful and happy women!  What more could parents ask for!

T - Tyler

U - Underwear - I mean really who would want to go without them?  And to be perfectly honest - Granny Panties - they're comfortable and it's what I wear - so laugh all you want!

V-  Voluptuous Body - No, I am not using it as a complement, it sounds better than plump, or chubby, or worst of all that mean "F" word.  Truth is, I would love to be forty pounds lighter but I'm not.  My body still catches hubby's eye, but more importantly it is strong and healthy!  It easily gave birth to six children, nourished them their first two years of life, it can do lots of physical labor and at fifty five years of age, I don't feel much different than I did at twenty five!

W-  Work - It feels so good after a day of working hard and getting a lot done.  There have been many times at the end of the day, I thank God for the gift of work and tell him I sure hope there is work to be done in heaven!

X - Extraordinary Life -  When I see on TV the lives that so many people are living, I cannot help but believe if you have love that lasts a lifetime, children who love you and each other, and it is the simple things in life like family, cooking, and gardening, that bring you joy, you are living an extraordinary life!

Y - Yogurt - My own homemade yogurt.  It is so easy and so good!  The first time I made it, it became just like cucumbers, tomatoes, and melons - ever since I ate the homegrown kind, I never buy them at the store because it doesn't even taste like the same thing!

Z - Zipcode - No, not the actual thing, but the fact that I no longer am working for the institution that uses them.  Although I am grateful for the money I made and the experience, I am so glad to be back home.  I like being able to plan a day with Mark or the girls without having to ask for a day off weeks in advance, I like being Mark's "Beck and Call" girl again, I like having time to enjoy homemaking and my bookwork instead of it just being a rush to get it all done so I can get to work

Things I Have Learned

Microwaving socks to warm them up is not a good idea

Teenagers physically require more sleep


Nothing is accomplished by using bad language, especially for a woman


You may not be able to choose anything else, but you can choose your attitude


Self pity is one of Satan's most effective tools


If you don't make time for friends you will lose them


If you want to feel good when you get older you have to exercise and eat right

Marriage is even better after 50

The less you try to manipulate situations, the quicker they correct themselves

People will always, ALWAY'S disappoint you , but no more than you have disappointed them

There are people who are only happy if they have a crisis going on in there life and therefore they create them

Don't drink a half jar of honey because you have heard that honey helps boost your immune system and you have been exposed to the stomach flu or you will never touch the stuff again as long as you live

Most people that you say you don't like, you find out you really do once you get to know them

A habit does not form in 21 days, for 21 days you choose to do something and then if you wake up and choose not to do it, the habit is "over"

Nothing is more peaceful than having a baby fall asleep in your arms

No one thinks alike, not even members of the same family, and that's OK

The happiest people are those who don't let the small things bother them

Snot nose teenagers grow up to be your very best friends

Husband's become "cool guy" when they are around other men, and laughing about it with the other wives is the antidote, not to make them stop, but helps you still like them after you go home

You can hold on to hurtful things that people say to you, but why would you want to?

Kids sports can bring out the best in parents and the worst in parents

When you read that fennel seed helps with indigestion, you should check and see if the grocery store sells a small bottle before you order five pounds from the internet

Mother's become more precious with age

It's not what you do through the day that makes you tired, it's what you didn't do that you should have

If it won't matter six months from now, it don't matter

The things you dread the most usually turn out to be no big deal

A walk in the snow, especially a woodsy area, is well worth the effort - and take your camera

It takes many many years to learn who you are and even more to learn to be yourself

True heroes very seldom get any recognition

When your kids grow up, you will forget what all you did for them and only be able to remember the things you didn't do - and they will assure you they remember what all you did and don't remember what you didn't

"A son is a son until he takes a wife, but a daughter is a daughter for the rest of her life", is a stupid saying and one that scares mothers with only son's and is absolutely NOT TRUE!

You remember and celebrate all the little milestones of your grandchildren's lives even more than you did with your children because you have more time

You need to read the Old Testament in order to fully grasp the New Testament

Worrying about and trying to live according to what other people think is a sure fire way to be miserable

And finally, if you are surrounded by people who love you, no matter what else your circumstances, you have been given the biggest blessing that God could ever give