Day 30 of Gratitude-Self-Portait

I am so not a fan of seeing myself in pictures. I always have some criticism of my face, my nose (getting longer and pointier....) etc. I need to learn to get over that.

Day 29 of Gratitude-Light

Day 28 of Gratitude-Nighttime

I asked Kurt the other day if the sunsets are always this spectacular or if I am just not noticing them until now. Amazing what you can see if you just stop and take a minute to look....

Day 27 of Gratitude-Daily Routine

I am the kind of person who likes a daily routine. But I like to be spontaneous as well. I think a good balance of both is what works best for me.

My daily routine these days is to wake up about 6:50 am, wake up Indy and Emerson, do what they need to be out the door by 7:30 and then enjoy the peace and quiet when everyone is gone! As soon as they are gone I can do my studying. Then I start laundry, pick up the house or do any other little things that need to be taken care of. By 9:30 or 10 I am off to the gym or out the door on a run.

If I can do that part of my daily routine, I don't usually mind how the rest of the day goes. And once the kids get home from school there is no real routine at all!

Day 26 of Gratitude-Transportation

I am so grateful for my car! I love my Tahoe. I think it's the most favorite car I have ever owned. It's not too big but big enough to haul all the kids and all the junk I need for work.

Day 25 of Gratitude-Artwork

When I lived in London for BYU Study Abroad, we visited a LOT of art museums. It was pretty amazing to see so many famous works of art in person. I couldn't really name a single favorite artist---that would be too hard! But I love art. Here are a few of my favorite works:

Cassandra Barney-Fleur

Vermeer-Girl with a pearl earring

Vincent Van Gogh-Starry Night

Day 24 of Gratitude-Thanksgiving Day

Today I feel blessed to have a family--not only my immediate family but extended family to spend the holiday with. I am so grateful for the anticipation of spending uninterrupted time with them. I feel so lucky that we have an abundance of blessings; that we have more food that we could ever want or need; that we are healthy and able to physically do all the things we want to do; Mostly I am grateful to know my purpose here on this earth. How lucky I am to have a loving Heavenly Father who loves me in spite of my weaknesses and shortcomings.

Day 23 of Gratitude-In My Closet

My closet is SMALL! With a closet this size I have to stay pretty organized. Thank goodness there are lots of drawers and shelves to help me stay neat. I just wish I had a little more room for shoes....

Day 22 of Gratitude-Clothing

I have always loved a good cardigan sweater! That has been the case for many years. Maybe I'm just a grandma in a 42-year old body. My favorite outfit is a white button-down shirt of some sort and a cardigan sweater.

Day 21 of Gratitude-Where I Sleep

Our bedroom is pretty boring----not much color, furniture we have had almost our whole married life and even lack of a real bed. It has always been the last room in the house that we really decorate or pay any attention to. But I am grateful to have a place to sleep in a warm house.

Day 20 of Gratitude-Seasonal??? (not sure what that means)

Since I'm not exactly sure what it means when they say to be grateful for something seasonal, I am posting a picture of Lake Powell. Our family LOVES to go to Lake Powell. It is such a beautiful place. We are so lucky that we got to spend some time with the Holmes' there this summer! And we are so grateful for great friends!

Day 19 of Gratitude-Best Friend

Day 18 of Gratitude-Something New

Okay, so maybe I'm being shallow but I am so grateful for these new shoes! I love them! They remind me of the oxfords I used to wear in high school. They are so comfortable----and what's so wrong about being grateful for comfortable shoes???

Day 17 of Gratitude-Memories

Since the actual day of Thanksgiving is a week away I thought I would look back at our first year of Thanksgiving at the ranch (2009). It was also our first time using the new ranch house. Crazy how fast time flies. These boys look so much older now.

That's quite a memory! I'm sure this will be a good blackmail picture when Noah is a teenager!

And, of course, this was our last Thanksgiving with Pat. He sure loved that ranch house. I'm so thankful for all the wonderful memories we have had and continue to make in Grover.

Day 16 of Gratitude-Pets

Day 15 of Gratitude-Technology

Technology is pretty amazing these days. I am grateful for my cell phone for sure!

Day 14 of Gratitude-Movement

I am grateful that I have a healthy body and am able to do the things I want to do---especially running!

Day 12 of Gratitude-Hands

Day 11 of Gratitude-Something Old

So I guess old is relative... I'm sure my kids would look at these and say they look old! Boy I remember these "lip lickers". I think peach was my favorite. These were popular about the time I was in junior high----right about Emerson's age now. How time flies. I am grateful that I can still remember that far back!

Day 10 of Gratitude-Nature

Mt. Timpanogos

I think it's pretty easy to have gratitude for nature when you live in Utah! There is such diversity here.

Capitol Reef

Hawaiian rainbow

Is the color on these flowers not amazing!!

More Capitol Reef

Capistrano Beach