Gratitude

I have just visited my friend, Teri's blog and she has listed things that she is grateful for. It has inspired me to do the same.

I've been stuck in a rut lately. I struggle a lot with depression and trying to stay a step ahead of needing to be institutionalized.... But lately, I've had to play the game of talking myself into getting out of bed in the morning more often than I'd like to. So, I'm determined to snap out of it!! I think the best way to do that is to look at what I have and recognize who it all comes from.

Of course, I have a beautiful family. My kids are smart and entertaining but most importantly, they are good!! I just got an email from Chase's teacher that said he is always on task, he does what he is told and he is one of her best helpers!! I love that about him. Carter's primary teacher told me how reverent he has been over the last few weeks which is a HUGE thing for Carter. I am so happy that his teacher told me that. When I praised Carter for his good behavior, his response was that he was in Heavenly Father's house and that's just how we act there. I love it!! I also love that it's so important to all of my kids to be good. I get reports of who in their classes had to go to time out or had to move their behavior card to another color and I'm so grateful that it's important to my kids to be on their best behavior at school and at church.

I am extremely grateful for a husband who is willing to work TWO jobs to support his family. It is not fun at all for either of us, but he does it cheerfully and even though selling electronics at Best Buy isn't glamorous, he does it so well that he's winning awards!! It means a lot to me that he not only works hard and takes pride in his REAL job at Henry-Schein but he also takes pride in a part time job. It's a great example to my kids that they have a dad with that much integrity and such an awesome work ethic. It can't be fun to work over 70 hours in a week. But he does it and still manages to come home and be an amazing dad and husband.

I am also grateful for being able to live in a wonderful neighborhood. I remember when that little girl was killed in Salt Lake by her neighbor and I freaked out a little that something like that could happen. Then I looked around me and realized that my kids couldn't be safer!! We are surrounded by people who we love and who love my children as if they were their own. My immediate neighbors have taken on the responsibility of being surrogate grandparents to my kids. My kids just go over there to hang out all the time. I went over there on Friday night to get Mckenzie and Carter who were jumping on the Oldroyd's trampoline (apparently it's better than ours) and the Oldroyd's had friends from out of town there visiting. I couldn't believe that they would let me kids hang out there while they had company but they just laughed and said they enjoyed being grandma and grandpa to my kids. How cool is that? How lucky we are!!

I am blessed with lots of things that I mostly don't need, like a closet full of shoes, and I am blessed with people who I do need, like my crazy family and wonderful friends. I forget to thank God for what I have so I'm writing all of this as a reminder that I do need to thank him as often as I can.

Well, I've gone on and on but I think I've hit the most important parts.