Multi-Thanks

I know I've been remiss recently in not listing the things I'm thankful for, but I'm intimidated by others who are also listing their blessings and doing it much more eloquently than I can. However...that doesn't change the fact that I have many things to be thankful for, and that I should be listing them:


I'm thankful that my husband waited for me to wake up this morning so we could take a morning walk together.

I'm thankful for friends who share their cool finds and their abundance, and I'm thankful for friends to share my abundance with.

I'm thankful for this time of life when I have time to spend recovering from the time I used to exercise.

I'm thankful for soft carpet, a good vacuum, and a warm house where I can do my Christmas shopping online.

I'm thankful that my brother is in town from NY and that I get to see him tomorrow.

And I'm thankful that my husband has next week off so we can go on morning walks together every day!

Military

I'm thankful for all the men and women who serve in our nation's armed forces. I try to always say thank-you to the people in uniform I see. I remember my dad in uniform and the pride I had in his service. I'm also thankful for the opening night of college basketball in which UNC played Michigan on board the USS Carl Vinsom air craft carrier. A great setting for a wonderful event. Even the President attended and watched the entire game. Thanks to the military for allowing the NCAA invade their ship, and for hosting them so beautifully.

Donations

I'm thankful that there are places like Deseret Industries, Good Will, Savers, and other charitable organizations that allow me to donate the extras that pile up around my house. I have more motivation to clean out closets when I know that my extras could help someone else in some way. I'm thankful that we have enough and to spare, and for the realization that I could do with less.

Service

I'm thankful for the means to help others--time, talents, supplies, etc. I went to our Stake Humanitarian Day today with my daughter and we colored educational kits. I'm thankful I can use my hands to do somethings for others that they cannot do for themselves.

Inventions

I'm thankful for people who have the brains to create machines--machines to make cement, to transport cement, to pour cement; machines to design and build giant pipes, to transport pipes, to lay pipes. I truly believe that necessity is the mother of invention, and I'm amazed at how each invention brings a slew of other inventions to go along with it. I'm thankful for inventions, and the people who bring them into the reality of daily life.

And I'm thankful that I'm not one of the construction workers laying pipe in the huge canal enclosure project going on in my backyard! I prefer using my sewing machine--which I'm also very thankful for.

Family

I'm thankful for family--immediate and extended. I'm thankful for the ever-growing circle of people who I love and who love me. I thankful that this family circle is something that sustains me, and that I can draw on in times of need. I'm thankful for all the combined years experience available to me--all the wisdom and lessons learned. And I'm especially grateful that I am part of an eternal family circle, and that I'll forever have access to these people that I love.

Thanksgiving

I've seen a couple of family/friend blogs containing posts of gratitude in honor of this month of Thanksgiving. I really like that idea and want to join in with my list, daily or weekly--however it turns out. With today being the 5th, I'll list five things for starters.

I'm thankful for a new furnace that is capable of keeping us toasty warm in our comfy house.
I'm thankful for my wonderful husband's encouragement of and confidence in my exercise/ weight loss efforts.
I'm guiltily thankful for large TV's to watch football and movies on!
I'm thankful for the squash from our garden, as well as all the other produce that has now become food storage for the winter.
I'm thankful for many good books that make reading such a pleasure, and for my love of learning that drives me to read a little of everything.

And here's an extra one--I'm thankful for the chance to consider all the things I have to be thankful for! Contemplation is well-spent on gratitude.