1. Cats! Sorry, I know that I am such a crazy cat lady... I am just so grateful for my sweet little kitties! They bring so many messes, oops I mean joy into my life.
2. Lylah. I just love this girl so much! She is such a sassy, sweet little girl who never ceases to make me laugh!! Also, the way she sings along to songs on the radio... So freaking cute!!
3. Dance parties. You may not know this about me, but I love impromptu dance parties. Especially when they involve the kiddos! We have a few choice songs we really love to boogie out to! During a dance party, nothing can go wrong!
4. I'm so glad to live in a city that actually has fall weather! There are leaves everywhere and the crisp air is so delightful! Our backyard is so pretty, it takes your breath away!
5. Welp, you knew this was coming! I am super grateful for my husband. He has helped me in so many ways.
6. Perhaps my body isn't perfect, but I am very grateful that it is healthy!
7. Today, I am super thankful for books. They provide a necessary escape from the stresses of life. Reading brings joy and new knowledge into my life. I am so grateful that my Mom instilled a great thirst for reading into my life at a young age. I was super excited to find these books! They were my favorites as a kid. Although, this particular collection has a different illustrator than the original so beware!
8. Even though this election has been kind of a stinker, I am still very grateful for the opportunity to vote. (I know this picture has little to do with the election, but I really like it! Patriotic colors? I don't know...)
9. This might be silly for some people, but it is so amazing to have a Costco so close! It just makes everything easier.
10. Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of my class because of privacy reasons, but I am still super grateful for them! They stretch me and teach me so much. (Also, super thankful for all the lesson resources that can be found online!)
11. Truly thankful for our service men and women who dedicate their lives to the protection of our country. (Don't really have an appropriate picture for this!)
12. It has been so awesome to have my sister so close! I am so grateful for her ability to always make me laugh and know what to say to make me feel better.
13. I am so thankful to be able to have such good relationships with my extended family. A lot of people do not have the opportunity to have such experiences with their relatives because of distance or other factors. I was lucky enough to be able to make these relationships happen because my parents clearly valued these people in their lives. So grateful for that!
14. Even though there are some negative things about social media, I am very glad for the positive aspects. Being able to see a little snippet of the lives of relatives and friends means everything to me.
15. Also thankful for Instagram making me feel the need to document everything! (As if I didn't have that compulsion already...) Without my crazy need to take pictures of all activities, we wouldn't have these gems posted above.
16. Even though these two can drive me crazy sometimes, I am grateful for them. It's like a little mirror that can look back to my past with. It really does make me thankful for the sibling relationships I have built now. I remember never believing my Mom when she told me that my family would be my best friends in the world.
17. This move has been a very bittersweet experience. It has really made me so thankful for the relationships I have cultivated with Cameron's family. They have been so wonderful in including us in every possible way we can be while being hours and hours apart.
18. I have been feeling so lucky to live in an age where information is right at our fingertips. If you want to learn about something, you can with little effort on your part. What a blessing! (TBT to when I did nail art those few times. I've been thinking about doing it again but I'm not sure...)
19. My Mom has been a super big help to me in many ways. She diligently helped me work on a project that I truly screwed up three separate times. I will post a picture of it here later, once it has been gifted to the receiver. Love you Mom!
20. It has been SUPER HARD to have Jeremy gone on a mission. BUT I am still grateful for the opportunity he has to serve and have such personal growth.
21. We finally have a semi-working kitchen!!! It is so nice to have running water and actual kitchen cupboards to use!! It allows me to make yummy meals as pictured above. I never realized how much of a blessing a kitchen is!!
22. Today, I'm thankful for Christmas music. I know, I know it's not after Thanksgiving yet, but this year I'm trying something new. Christmas music is so uplifting and brings back such happy memories. The songs are full of hope and joy, what more could you want?
23. The blessings of the temple are truly eternal, so thankful for that.
24. This challenge always brings such insight into my many blessings. I am going to cheat today and post a video of someone else, but this song is what I am thankful for today.
This week, I have been seeing people put their gratitude posts up on Facebook. It made me realize how much I miss blogging!! So I reopened up my blog, dusted it off and saw all the people that I love to read are still out there!! Through this writing adventure, I've received so much love and support and it's also great for a journal type thingy. So, even though this blog has been started and restarted about a million times, will you stick with me through one more?
Love,
Courtney
PS-Look forward to a little bit different type of grateful post this year! It will be all in picture form with a small caption.
I am SO excited to be doing this in 2014! The opportunity to examine my life and really see the blessings that I have is such a great opportunity. I am hoping to write what I'm thankful for daily in this post and just publish it on Thanksgiving day (just like last year).
1. November 1, 2014
Today, I am thankful for prayer. Our life has been pretty hectic and it seemed like we were barely scraping by. We have been praying constantly for me to be able to find a job. I was able to get two interviews last week!! I know that was truly a blessing from Heavenly Father, and it just makes me realize that He really does listen to our prayers.
2. November 2,2014
As I was listening to testimonies in Sacrament Meeting, it made me realize how thankful I am for the Gospel. It is true no matter where you are. It can be applied to any situation and bring peace. I'm so thankful for my personal testimony and the people who have helped me build and strengthen it.
3. November 3, 2014
Job searching is super hard. (I think this has been mentioned one-two billion times on this blog previously). I hate it. A lot. I especially hate rejection and today I'm thankful for supportive cheerleaders who help me get back up after a crushing defeat. Family, friends, you know who you are. Thank you so much for your help!
4. November 4, 2014
Today, I'm thankful for the right to vote! It is so amazing that we as the people have a say in who leads our government. I was able to exercise my right as an American to elect leaders today and it feels pretty awesome! I am so grateful to live in a free country.
5. November 5, 2014
It's fall (hey, I heard that duh in your mind) and the best thing about fall is pumpkin spice! Today I am so grateful for pumpkin spice. It makes everything better. The combination of spices is just amazing. Love, love, love it!!
6. November 6, 2014
Today, I'm grateful for the knowledge that God is in charge. Sometimes things don't go the way we plan them and that is super hard. (That is such an understatement!) But, I feel comforted in knowing that Heavenly Father has a plan for me and all I have to do is keep the commandments etc. On Sunday, our lesson was about accountability. The teacher read this quote: If I do my duty, according to my understanding of the requirements that the Lord has made of me, then I ought to have a conscience void of offense. I ought to have satisfaction in my soul that I have simply done my duty as I understand it, and I will accept the consequences. With me, it is a matter between me and the Lord; so it is with every one of us.
-Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Fielding Smith, (2013), 286–96
What a freeing thought! All I have to do is what the Lord requires of me! A weight was lifted off my shoulders as I realized this. I am so thankful for that!
7. November 7, 2014
Sometimes you have to see what you're NOT thankful for to realize what you are thankful for. Today I came to the conclusion that although health insurance is constantly a thorn in my side, I'm thankful to live in a country where I can choose my healthcare (sometimes).
8. November 8, 2014
I believe we have successfully established the fact that I'm a cat lady. You guessed it, I'm thankful for my cat today. He has been such a blessing in our lives. He is can be a pain sometimes, but he is also sweet (very rarely).
9. November 9, 2014
Today, I'm thankful for the concept of unconditional love. This is especially present among our family members. No matter what I do, I know that my family will always love me. It is such a reassuring feeling for me. You can't really find that (except maybe with a few special kind friends that you consider family) anywhere else in the world. I am so thankful for that!
10. November 10, 2014
Okay, here comes a little thankful-ception: I'm grateful for this opportunity to examine my blessings and see how many things I've been given. That song really is correct:
Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings; ev'ry doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by.
I have been feeling very stressed and under a lot of pressure lately, but when I sit down to do this post, everything changes. I realize how many things the Lord has given me and my heart grows full. I am so thankful for the opportunity to do this post and read others' posts on assorted social media/blogs.
11. November 11, 2014
Today I am truly thankful for the people who fought for our freedoms. This country would not be what it is without those people's sacrifices. And continuing sacrifices. Thank you.
12. November 12, 2014
Cameron's work has been VERY stressful lately as they are moving into a new building. But, it just made me see how much of a blessing this job has been. It has been a steady source of employment but it has also given Cameron lots of opportunities to grow. They are always encouraging him to improve and stretch his knowledge. We really were guided to that job opportunity by the Spirit. Heavenly Father truly knows what is best for us and will take us to that point if we listen.
13. November 13, 2014 Being far away from your family is hard. REALLY HARD! Naturally, I have realize that absence does make the heart grow fonder. It also makes me realize how much my siblings mean to me. They are the best friends a girl could ask for! They are always so supportive and frankly, hilarious. (BTW: I am very lucky to have a few sweet sisters close, but that will be covered in another post). Jeremy, Miranda, Kitty and Jonathan, I sure do miss you guys! You are the best!!
14. November 14, 2014 So thankful for music today. It makes such a profound difference in the atmosphere of our home. I love the concept of a song being a prayer. I have such a strong testimony of that! There is this one hymn that I sing whenever I feel anxious/nervous. It relieves the stress every single time! It has truly made a difference in my life.
15, November 15, 2014 After being away from parents awhile, it becomes apparent (hehe) that I owe so much to them! If not for their teachings, I would be up the creek. I am so thankful for their patience and unconditional love.
16. November 16, 2014 Today, I'm thankful for my love of reading. It has brought so much joy into my life! I have learned so much from reading books, and I would not have had these experiences without a love of books. If you have any good book recommendations please leave them in the comments!
17. November 17, 2014
This blog has been such a wonderful thing in my life. I just wanted to say thank you to my dedicated readers! You guys are my motivation to write about my life! Thank you so much for your kind comments, they make this whole thing worth it. I am so grateful for you guys!
18. November 18, 2014
Black Friday. These two words can send different members of my family/extended family into very different conversations. Some hate it, others love it. I find myself in the latter category. Beforehand, I love to look at the ads, plan what gifts to get for friends/family and dream about the possibilities! The actual day brings loooooooong waits, excitement, the first non-guilty listening of Christmas music and amazing deals! Now, does that mean other people who would prefer skip Black Friday are bad? No, of course not. People are allowed to have their own opinions! So, what am I grateful for? I am thankful to be part of several families that value each person's opinion instead of instantly putting it down as silly/stupid.
19. November 19, 2014
Ah, crafting. It is either my best friend, or my most evil nemesis. I am so thankful that crafting is something that I'm able to do (even if it's not done very well) because it is so enjoyable for me. My big project is this ornament exchange that I've been working on for the past few months. I have had nothing but trouble with these ornaments I'm trying to make. But, I have learned a TON from the experience as well, so I suppose that's the part to be grateful for.
20. November 20, 2014
As this year draws to a close, it makes me reflect upon my goals that I set last year. One of my goals was to try to write more blog posts, which I successfully did! I am so looking forward to 2015!
21. November 21, 2014
Today, Kitty's adoption into my family is legally complete! She is now officially an Alder! I am so grateful for her and how much she has changed our family. She became part of our family long before the piece of paper was signed though. I can't believe that they started this whole process a year ago!
22. November 22, 2014 This is going to sound really lame, but nonetheless, I am thankful for Pandora! It has introduced me to a whole new range of music and saves me the time of making an awesome playlist. It's always good to try new things, right?
23. November 23, 2014 I am so thankful for the peace that the scriptures bring into my life. Each time I read the Book of Mormon, I am guided to a new meaning/nuance. These new meanings tend to be something that I needed to hear. It is so amazing to me! This book that was written many, many years ago and is still applicable today! And each time you read it, you glean something new. How awesome is that?
24. November 24, 2014 I have been working on this ornament exchange for several months now. It has been a LOT of work, but it helped me to realize a few things about myself. It really made me see how strong of a person I can be. I am so thankful for this experience!
25. November 25, 2014 Our car suddenly started to have some major issues and we had to take it in to the mechanic. I am so grateful for them! They always do such a great job, and they are very trustworthy too. Also, I am thankful for our car! It has been such a reliable and sturdy car for our many travels throughout the land. We are very fortunate that it came our way.
26. November 26, 2014
My Mom is here!!! I am so grateful that she could come and visit! We had so much fun together. It was so amazing to have her here and be able to spend some time with her.
27. November 27, 2014
Wow, I can't believe this is over already! Today, I am thankful for the great food that we partook of at Cameron's parent's home. It was super delicious! It has been such a fun month of realizing how many blessings I have! I am looking forward to Christmas, but I'm also sad to see November go. Thanks so much for reading all the way to the bottom! Hope you have a great week! Love, Courtney
