today, I am thankful for...(part 9)

my husband's laugh.

I find myself laughing at his laugh more than I laugh at what we are watching.  I am lucky I married someone who laughs hard and laughs often.

today, I am thankful for...(part 8)

Good days at work.

I had needed one for sure and Tuesday was it.  I love days when I feel productive!  Behaviors were in check.  Work got done and I didn't even have to raise my voice.

Wednesday I got students who were giggly.  Not in a purposefully trying not to pay attention way, but in a very seriously happy way.  It was the best.

And tomorrow is FRIDAY!

Then there are only two days of school before Thanksgiving break.

today, I am thankful for...(part 7)

My sisters and my brother.

Like I said in my previous post, I start my classes with a question.  In language arts, I do it for the purpose of getting my students to write.  In my social emotional learning class, it is so my students can share about themselves and start relating to each other.

One of my classes pulled the question:  What do you think is the biggest waste of time?

I was shocked by an answer that seemed to get a lot of "oh yeah's" from classmates.  One of my students said her siblings.  She gave reasons like they are annoying and take her parents time when they get in fights, among other things.  It made my heart sink.

I want to say that I am so very thankful for my siblings.

No one gets us like we get each other.  What we went through last year has created a bond that is unbreakable.  We finish every conversation with "I love you."  We can't leave without giving lots and lots of hugs.  We love to dance.  We love to laugh.  We love to watch scary movies.  And we love to be together.  The older we get, the more fun being together is.

They are what I miss most about Utah.  I can't wait to move back and be surrounded by my best friends again.

Sibling dates are the best dates.

P.S.  I can tell you what I think is the biggest waste of time for my students.  video games.  I don't like them.  And that is all they ever seem to do.  Poor Ashton hears me whine about it all the time.  But guess what.  We don't have video games and what is he doing right now?  Reading.  And I love that.

today, I am thankful for...(part 6)

my testimony.

I like to do warm ups with my language arts students.  I start the class with a question and ask them to write a few sentences on it.

A few weeks ago, the question was: What is the thing you fear most?

One of my kids told me that he wasn't afraid of anything so I told him to make something up.  He thought about it for awhile and said, "I have something.  Actually, it isn't a fear, but a concern.  I don't what to believe.  Some people believe in God, some people believe in something else, and other's don't believe in anything else."

These are 6th graders.  I was shocked at how deeply he had thought about this.

He started talking about how he wishes he could just see God so he knew what to believe.  To this, another student responded with, "I have pretty good vision.  I've never seen God."  And I sort of just loved that response.

It was just a brief conversation, but it got me thinking.  I have been so blessed.  When I was in 6th grade, I had a good idea of what I believed and an even better grasp on what my parent's did.  There was one thing I was sure about by the time I was in 6th grade - I knew God was real and that He loved me.

I am so thankful for that testimony that started so long ago.  I am thankful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  I am thankful for the sweet peace and comfort that comes through the knowledge of the gospel.  I am thankful for the examples of my parents, who shared their testimonies often simply by living them.  I am grateful for prayer.  What an amazing blessing it is to pray to my Heavenly Father and know that He hears me.  Prayer is how I know he is real.  I am grateful for the scriptures and the power I gain by reading them.  I am grateful for Joseph Smith.  I know that he was a prophet of God and restored the truth to this earth.  I grateful that we continue to be led by a prophet.  Thomas S. Monson.  What a blessing it is to know that Heavenly Father is still leading us through a prophet.  I am especially grateful to know my Savior loves me.  He loves each of us so much that He atoned for our sins.  He gave His life for us!  And I know He lives.  I often think of that day, the day when I get to see Jesus Christ again.  I look forward to that special moment.

Today, I am thankful.  So very thankful.

today, I am thankful for...(part 5)

Costco pumpkin pie.

Did you know all of that goodness is only $6.00?!!

I have been eating pumpkin pie for breakfast, lunch, and then with whipped cream for dessert all weekend long.

It is definitely the reason my weigh in on Saturday was depressing, but hey, Costco pumpkin pie only comes around once a year.

today, I am thankful for...(part 4)

my sweet dad.

My parents have supported me in every decision I have made.  My dad was a huge part of me getting into BYU.  He encouraged me to do volunteer work while in high school and to find a club that I could make my own.  That is how I found Best Buddies.

Now, Best Buddies is something I am thankful for as well.  Signing up for Best Buddies led me to a career that I love.  It has led me to people who have changed my life and made me a better person.

My dad moved to a new office early this summer.  One of the first things he told me about his new office was that the Utah chapter of Best Buddies had an office in the same building.  He was so excited about it and would tell me about his interactions with the people who worked there.  On Saturday, my dad sent me this:

I love how much what is important to me is important to me.  I love that he supports me, supports such an amazing organization, and is excited to tell me about it!  I am grateful for the times he came with my class on our field trip to the zoo and would just lug all of our lunches around.  I am grateful for his strength, his conviction, his love, and his honesty.  I am grateful for his love, his humor, and the way he has always protected me.  I am grateful that he is still willing to help me find the best deals on tires and give me computer advice.  I am proud to call him dad.

today, I am thankful for...(part 3)

my mama.

Grateful that she knows exactly what I need to hear and when I need to hear it!

Grateful that she listens when I just need to vent.  Grateful for her practical life tips.  Grateful for her laugh. Grateful for her example.  Grateful for her testimony.  Grateful for the life she has dedicated to her family. Grateful to call her mom.

today, I am thankful for...(part 2)

I am thankful for my husband.  There are lots of things I am thankful for about him, but today, I am thankful for how he warms up my side of the bed.  It is the best!

I just love waking up to that face.

today, I am thankful for...

...my eyes!

As a kid, doctors were always impressed with how great my eye sight was.  I never thought that would change.

Oh, how wrong I was!

Over the last few months, I realized that Ashton could read things that only appeared blurry to me.  Then, I began to doubt myself while I was driving at night.  Ashton kept telling me I needed glasses, but I was still convinced that my vision was just fine.  Plus, I have never been one to even wear sunglasses, let alone regular glasses!

Last week, I finally gave in and had my eyes checked at Costco.  My eyes aren't too bad.  My right eye is definitely worse than my left.  I still have 20/20 vision when it comes to reading, but distance isn't great.  I have glasses for driving and movie watching - just like my mama.

The eye doctor gave me a prescription, Ashton and I spent half an hour looking for the right frames, and this weekend, the first pair came.

I have been absolutely amazed with the details I am seeing now!  Everything appears a little sharper and colors are a little brighter.  It is like I am seeing the world all over again! I am seriously blown away.

I feel a little silly with them on.  The frames are pretty big! But Ashton really likes them and that's all that matters right?

Either way, I am so grateful for this new power of perfect vision. It feels like I have a new super hero power! It is helping me find the little details to be thankful for like - seeing cracks in the road, lights without halos, each individual leaf, confidence in night driving and no more squinting!

why I love november

November is a magical month.

We get to watch both football and basketball!  We get to enjoy the last of fall before winter sets in.  Everything is pumpkin - pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin cookies, and pumpkin pie.  Yum!   Facebook becomes a happy place where people leave daily gratitude statuses.  Thanksgiving makes everyone stop and think about the many blessings we have, all the many things we can and should be thankful for.

I want to join in expressing my gratitude.  Each of my posts this month will be on something I am grateful for.

To start, I am thankful for:

Reese's pumpkins - weakness.

The extra hour of sleep I got last night.

The testimonies that were shared in my ward today.  In fact, I am just so grateful to be in the Bloomington ward.

Minnesota weather recently.  We haven't had our first snow yet and Utah has already had a few snow storms.  Who would have thought?!

My job and Ashton being able to go to school.  Ps.  He got a job too!  He is going to be de-icing planes at the St. Paul/Minneapolis airport.  He is really excited for this adventure.

My wonderful husband.  He does so much for me and I am so blessed to have married my best friend.  Be prepared, I am sure I will have many more grateful posts about this amazing man.

Family.  I am so glad some of Ashton's family was here to visit a few weeks ago.  And I am counting down until we get to make it home for Christmas - 48 days!

The month of November.

I could go on and on, but I need to finish the laundry and make sure I am ready for a new week of work.